Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Buchmiller.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
BIO- {Accomplished Solar Executive (Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies, Utah Fast 50)}.
My career began in helping run and grow a family-owned Oilfield services company starting in 2005, amounting in over fifteen years as an executive in the contracting and Skilled Trades industry.
I am known for standing firm in my authenticity, upholding my values of integrity and honesty, and for being unwavering in my tenacity and determination to deliver unthinkable results through innovative means, craft goal-smashing strategies without compromising creativity, fun, and enthusiasm.
E X P E R I E N C E
As the Chief, co-founder, and face of a successful national solar EPC company (Empire Solar Group), I proudly led a team of over 550 people across our headquarters and field offices.
Achievements:
- Construction and scaling of a team of over 600 people across our headquarters and field offices, in addition to an outsourced/contracted sales force of greater than 900 sales professionals.
- Generation of $180MM+ in Annual revenue.
- Delivery (Installation) 150+ MW solar to more than 20,000 residential homes in the US.
- Expansion of business nationally to include 20 operational (fully-internal) branches in just 4 years time.
- Creation of a strong and unique brand message including an industry-renowned “culture of empowerment” which served as a recruiting behemoth- along with all other marketing strategies and efforts.
After selling and exiting Empire, I founded an e-commerce co, Labeled design as a passion project serving my 3 biggest passions, empowering and elevating women, building incredible brands with purpose, and giving back and creating positive impact.
Additionally, I offer business consulting services and CEO coaching to help share my experiences (wins and losses along the way) with other entrepreneurs. www.abbybuchmiller.com.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. I’ve been faced with many challenges as a young entrepreneur.
As an essential business in 2020, we faced many challenges due to fast growth and managing people nationally in remote environments and contunuous struggles to continue operating during the pandemic.
My exit from Empire was a very difficult one as well. The company grew rapidly in its four years in business, and after experiencing ongoing challenges in raising the capital needed to fund its massive growth, the team and I decided to sell a majority stake in the company to an industry competitor whom we believed would serve our partners and customers best. Unfortunately, the company’s new managers filed the company into a chapter 7 bankruptcy within weeks of the transaction.
I learned some devastating lessons on a professional and personal level, and it is my hope to turn those painful lessons into a bright future for myself and others by sharing those lessons – positive and negative – with other young entrepreneurs.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Labeled Design?
Labeled Design is a streetwear brand on a mission to empower women by creating a community of women dedicated to supporting one another and celebrating their #femininepower.
We sell high- quality womenś clothing featuring empowering messages and elevated designs with a purpose- to donate proceeds to organizations globally who do great work improving the lives of women. Our 2021 partnership of choice is the Girls, not Brides foundation which is on a mission to end child marriage.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Ask for advice! Seek mentorship from those with qualities you want to emulate, and ask all the ¨stupid¨ questions. But at the end of the day, trust your gut. You know what is best for your business better than anyone else.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@labeleddesign.com
- Website: www.labeleddesign.com, www.abbybuchmiller.com
- Instagram: @labeled.design, @abbybuchmiller
- Facebook: @labeled.design
