From Reality TV To Hat Making
What is your name and where are you from?
Allyson Mandelbaum, Allyson Mandelbaum
What do you like most about where you live or what’s something interesting about where you live?
We live by the beach which I love! It feeds my soul. My family has made so many memories at the beach; it is why we give back a percentage of our proceeds every year to clean up our beaches and oceans.
What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
The idea for Shady Lady (baseball hats for women) came from rarely having time to do my hair, but still wanting to leave the house looking put together.
I was jealous my husband could throw on a baseball cap and run out the door.
I tried to search for a hat that looked good and fit well. Either my ears stuck out, or the hat had a huge brim. I discovered baseball hats are based on measurements from a man's head...no wonder they didn't fit me. I found a manufacturer and we were off to the races making the best fitting women's hats.
Currently, what are your income streams? Online, in-person, craft fairs, brick & mortar?
Ron Jon Surf Shops and over 50 boutiques across the country
How have you attracted new customers/grown the business to where it is today? What action made the greatest impact?
Instagram has been a huge part of our growth. We work with some micro influencers to bring attention to the brand. We have been featured in our local news station, Esquire, Intouch and Life and Style magazines.
But the best way we have grown our business is from word of mouth. Customers love the unique fit of our hats and buy them for friends as gifts. This is the growth we are most proud of.
What is your favorite product and what makes it special to you?
My new favorite product is our line of Sporty Lady performance hats, made from a sweat wicking material. The material is so soft and works so well to keep the head dry.
If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
Early on I think we expanded our SKUs too soon. I got so excited about our success. We made beach hats, totes and winter hats. Our best seller has always been our trucker hats. Improving baseball and trucker hats is the reason I started the business. Focusing on these categories is best.
What are your goals for the future?
We are hoping to partner with women's sports teams and organizations to help get our brand out there and show how much of a difference the fit can make.
What platform and tools do you use?
Shopify has been a lifesaver in terms of building the website and online sales. We use Klavio for sending out emails to our customers. We are on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tik Tok. Instagram is where we spend most of our time. You have to pick one or two social media platforms to use or else you spend all day posting.
Do you have a favorite motivational quote, cooking/baking recipe, book or podcast to share?
My favorite quote I have up in my office is:
"Don't quit before the miracle happens."
I also love listening to business podcasts such as How I Built This and Proof to Product.
If you have a pet, what is your pet’s name?
I have an elderly cat named Chewy and a puppy named Maggie.
Where can we find you online?
The best place to find us online is shopshadylady.com
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Deborah@HandmadeTo100k.com