Business Spotlight: In Ya Feelings
1. Tell us about your business, In Ya Feelings
In Ya Feelings is a creative business that designs greeting cards inspired by Black culture. What we like to call "Cards for the Culture".
We're a close-knit family business - it’s me, my two talented daughters, and our friend's gifted daughter. My daughters are the creative forces behind our venture. My eldest pursued her passion for Media Communications, specialising in music video directing and producing. She has already worked with clients like Afro Nation and on top of that she offers private graphic design services. Meanwhile, my youngest daughter and our friend's daughter are both studying Psychology and have a shared dream of becoming art therapists.
As for myself, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the creative type, haha! Instead, I handle all the essential business aspects, including managing operations, planning, and taking care of our business strategy. Together, we make a well-rounded team, each contributing our unique strengths to drive our family-run business forward.
2. What was your inspiration for In Ya Feelings
After seeing the incredible wealth of culturally representative gifts and cards in the US, we were inspired to bring that experience to the UK. In January 2021, In Ya Feelings was born, offering a vibrant collection of gifts and cards that celebrate our unique UK culture.
3. One tip to other business owners who might be just starting out
Owning a business isn't easy, and it's super important to take care of yourself in the process! Believe me, I get it. At times, it can feel like there simply aren't enough hours in the day. That's why my one tip is to remind you to prioritise your health and well-being. Set cut-off times every week and over the weekend, and stick to them like glue. If an urgent matter comes up, plan around it.
The bottom line is, you don't want to burn out. You're no use to anyone when you're totally exhausted. So, please take care of yourself. Your business won't fall apart if you take a break! In fact, it'll probably make you more productive and creative in the long run.
4. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The current economic environment poses significant challenges for businesses, and it presents a steep learning curve for us as well. Due to increased interest rates, our supplier costs have surged significantly. Despite being a new player in the industry, we are working hard to absorb these expenses while keeping our prices lower to stay competitive.However, we have come to a point where we have to consider adjusting our prices slightly to sustain our operations. We value the support of our customers and will always strive to offer the best possible value without compromising quality.
5. How could Lukango help you?
With Lukango, we finally have a game changer that truly understands and caters to the unique needs of small online business owners. When we started In Ya Feelings, finding an insurer was quite painful as there were very few options for a company like ours - a small online business that focused on greeting cards. It felt like insurers only focused on well-known retail businesses like clothes or shoes. The world has changed with small online independent companies definitely being a thing and are here to stay. Thankfully Lukango has realised that, offering options that take the pain away for us smaller business owners when looking for company insurance. Lukango is a much-needed company to enter the small business insurance market.
