LEADERSHIP CORNER
Store owner finds way to motivate her employees
Interviewed by Debbie Sokei
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Age: 30
Title: Owner and manager of the Hawai'i Doggie Bakery & Gift Shop and Cottage by the Sea at Ward Warehouse.
Organization: Hawai'i Doggie Bakery & Gift Shop is a bakery and upscale boutique for dog lovers. Cottage by the Sea is a "shabby chic" decor and gift store for women.
College: University of California-Berkeley, and the University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law.
High school: Punahou School
Little-known fact: Has a black belt in karate and competed in national competitions. "I started to learn karate when I was 13 years old and stopped when I was 27. I got started in it because of my brother, who was born with a series of neurological and physical disabilities. It was a sport we could do together and it helped him overcome his disabilities. He also has his black belt and today attends Kapi'olani Community College."
Breakthrough job: "Before I started law school I was one of the original founders of Native Books & Beautiful Things LLC. The company started with a group of partners and I was the youngest. It taught me a lot about niche marketing and how to find a niche in retail that hasn't been done before."
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Q. As a business owner, what is your biggest challenge?
A. The biggest challenge is always trying to come up with new things and ways to grow the business. I try not to do the same things over, otherwise you'll get stale. Another challenge is to create an atmosphere where our employees will always want to come to work. It's a small business and I'm the backup person if anyone calls in sick or can't make it. If you have employees who enjoy coming to work, it keeps the business strong and allows me to do the things I need to do.
Q. Where do you find your employees?
A. It's been a lot of luck. I have a lot of support from my family and my sister is my creative partner.
Q. How many employees do you have?
A. We have about nine, and during the holidays we have about 15.
Q. How do you motivate your employees?
A. The best way to motivate people is to work with them on the floor. I spend a lot of hours working side by side with them. I let them know their input counts and is valued — I think that motivates them. I like to hire people who have no experience in retail, and work with them to develop their talents.
Q. Where did you get motivated to start your own business?
A. My parents are risk-takers. My dad has always been his own boss. He has a design firm. My mom runs a very large tutoring center. They are very supportive in thinking outside of the box.
Q. What made you take the risk to quit practicing law and start your own business?
A. It was risky, but I knew law was something that I could always fall back on. I gave myself at least a year to try it out. I didn't have a cushion of savings that I could play with. I had to work fast, and my hours weren't any shorter than working at the law firm. I couldn't afford to be in the red. I really wanted to be the captain of my own ship and not have any regrets later on. When I younger, I told myself, 'I want to be in a job that I thoroughly enjoy.' When I figured out the concept of Hawai'i Doggie Bakery, I knew I would enjoy it.
Q. How did you get your money to start Hawai'i Doggie Bakery?
A. I took out a $20,000 personal loan, which I already paid back. I think my background in law made it a lot easier for me to start my business. I knew how to read leases and also knew about labor laws. It helped me to do a lot of things in business that somebody my age at that time wouldn't be able to do.
Q. Where did you get the idea to open your second store, Cottage by the Sea?
A. The Cottage was something I always had in the back of my mind to do since I was 15. The store is "shabby chic," selling home decor, furniture and really thoughtful kinds of gifts, but not clothing.
Q. Did you take out a loan to start the Cottage by the Sea?
A. No, what I did was set up a $50,000 line of credit.
Q. How did you decide to open your store at Ward Warehouse?
A. I love the feel of Ward Warehouse. The reason I signed on here was because I had a good relationship with Mitch D'Olier, former president of Victoria Ward. He turned this place into a destination shopping area. I wanted to be in a place that fits a boutique rather than being at a strip mall or a big mall that has tons of department stores. However, I do open up Hawai'i Doggie Bakery at Pearlridge Center during the holidays. I like being among the smaller boutiques.
Q. Was it hard negotiating your leases with the property owner?
A. The first time it wasn't. The second time it was, and that was after Victoria Ward sold the property to General Growth Properties. General Growth was a little bit more strict on looking at their bottom line. But, on the other hand, they knew my track record and knew I could get people down to the mall.
Q. What are some of the challenges you had to overcome as a female business owner?
A. I don't think it was so much being a female, but being young. I have to conduct myself in a way that is convincing and credible, especially when I talk to bankers. It's still a challenge for me today. Some of these people still think I'm a kid.
Q. Do you think Hawai'i is a difficult place to start a business?
A. Hawai'i is too small. If you think you can do the same thing someone else has done and be successful, I highly doubt it — unless you're the first to start that type of business. Being the first is key to a successful business.
Q. Do you have plans to expand your business?
A. No, Hawai'i doesn't need five Hawai'i Doggie Bakery shops. It's a niche market. That's why, when I wanted to start a new business, I did something totally different.
Q. If someone came up to you for advice to start a company, what would your advice be?
A. Surround yourself with good people who are encouraging. The worst thing, I think, is when you hear all the negatives. You have to hear the positives and the encouragements, because it's very scary when you're starting something new. You need that. I needed it.
Q. What is the best part about your job?
A. Working and interacting with all the people who come into the stores. The most rewarding thing to hear is when the customers tell you they love your store.
