Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacquelyn Raudabaugh.
Hi Jacquelyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was in college, I was working a fulfillment job and picked up a second job at a coffee shop as well. I absolutely fell in love with the coffee shop vibe and had a real passion for customer service, learning about coffee and the industry, and predominantly I loved training new employees. After 4 years, I accepted a job with a larger coffee company. I immediately realized this was a path that I enjoyed and voiced my desire to move forward. So, within that year, I worked from a Team Member to Supervisor and then was given my first store as a manager. I thrived in running a store…I loved marketing and coming up with promotions, I loved serving the community I was working in, I loved connecting to my employees and my customers each day. Within the first year, I was promoted to a higher volume store and I stayed there for years while also becoming a District Training Manager and training within my district’s stores as well as stores at the airport and local hospitals. It was a great experience and I learned so much. In the end, I worked in the coffee industry for 12 years. My final year in that industry was hard. I lost my brother to his battle with Cancer and everyday life became hard…I was struggling to show up the way I needed to be a great manager and serve my customers. I, with hesitation, left a job I loved all while planning my wedding and having no idea what my new direction should be.
Here started my pivot into the second half of my life after college, I decided if I struggled to be ‘live’ daily, I needed to find a job that allowed me more flexibility. I started by diving into entrepreneurship which was admittedly scary. However, I knew I had the tools from my previous career to sell, to market, to train, to execute. From 2012 to 2018, I admittedly tried it all. I started a fairly successful recycled jewelry company, interned for a wedding planner, began wedding planning myself, started a wedding decor company, and started a company baking sweets for weddings and showers. Each business or job I attempted did well and I felt I could be successful in each but none felt truly like my path was fully realized. As a firm believer in dreaming and doing something with your life that excites you and brings you joy, I continued on. When I think back on those days, I am sure I looked crazy to so many people…most entrepreneurs do, it comes with the territory.
Finally, in September 2018, I took some of my previous skills and applied them to creating my current business The Posh Shop Co. The Posh Shop Co was born originally as a company that sold fun and sassy mugs and pencil sets, and then key tags. We became well known for our products featuring pop-culture sayings and for our affinity for a little swear word now and again…it was the perfect add-on gift that you were not finding anywhere else. Through time and more success, we began adding additional products to our lineup. Currently, we have our original offerings but have added apparel, accessories, and some small home decor items as well! We sell on our own online boutique www.theposhshopco.com as well as run our Etsy store that is in the top 0.1% of all Etsy stores worldwide. We are very excited to add our Posh Wedding Etsy store in 2023, which will focus on acrylic wedding decor as well as fun bachelorette gifts and favors!
In addition to being the Owner of The Posh Shop Co, I also founded an organization called Dame Scouts where we empower women to step away from their every day and embrace a life of fun and creativity through art projects and a sisterhood of women. We run virtual events like a craft club, book club, and more, and also have a crafty subscription box. It’s a fun campy take on scouting but as adults…with cocktails. We plan on continuing and growing both Dame Scouts and The Posh Shop Co with a never-ending book of ideas that we continue to execute one by one!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Very rarely is the road of entrepreneurship smooth. I feel that social media often presents the image that running a business is easy and glamorous. The behind-the-scenes often paints a different picture. Starting a business, you will face undeniable struggles. I personally have struggled financially as entrepreneurship can be unpredictable from one moment to the next, especially in the beginning before you find your footing. I have struggled mentally in many ways as well – with overwhelm, with imposter syndrome, and with feeling like I am not showing up enough for people in my life at times. I guess, in sum, the biggest struggle is finding the balance between life and business, but also in accepting that finding balance is not a one-and-done. You will have to continuously have to work towards creating and maintaining something that works for you in your life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Posh Shop Co is an Online Boutique and Etsy Shop for the sassy, sarcastic, and strong babe. We create unique gift items including apparel, accessories, home decor, and more! We are probably most known for our pop culture keychains, and pencil sets that we hand-stamp ourselves. We create our items from concept, design, and the making process in our home studio. I think what sets us apart from others is that many brands with similar products are not creating their items on their own, they are often sourcing products from out of the country or from larger, mass-production companies. I am very proud of making our products which does work as a benefit for us as we can customize and wholesale our product offerings. Also, we love the feel of community our brand creates through our products and social media. We extended that feeling of community when we created our sister company, Dame Scouts.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am so excited about what the future holds for my businesses. I have created so many pathways that I can choose to take in the future of my business and that feels so open and free. Entrepreneurship has allowed me so many freedoms that I never assumed would be possible. I am a huge advocate for finding your path in life whether it be a traditional career, a trade, or entrepreneurship. Find what brings you happiness and find a way to keep doing that. Life is much more fulfilling when you enjoy what you do every day.
Pricing:
- Most products are under $50!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theposhshopco.com / www.damescouts.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theposhshopco / www.instagram.com/damescouts
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/PoshShopCo / www.facebook.com/DameScouts
