Today we’d like to introduce you to Sumin Bae.
Hi Sumin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Sumin Bae; I am originally from Seoul, South Korea. I moved to California right after college. I majored in theatre arts and had dreams of one day being in a broadway musical. Fast forward several years later. I am happily married and have one lovely daughter. My previous occupation was in the fashion industry. I was a woman’s fashion designer for 10 years. After taking temporary maternity leave and returning back to work after giving birth, I had developed post partum depression. This caused me to quit my job and take more time for my newly born daughter and myself. I had dreams of one day possibly owning my own business but had no idea how and where to start. After shopping around for baby clothes, blankets, and general baby needs, I noticed the lack of quality and aesthetically appealing items for children. That is when I decided to create “Secret_Manitto”, which means “secret santa” in Korean. I wanted to provide parents with high quality children’s products. I initially began selling items through exclusively Instagram and using my home as my office, storefront and warehouse. After 3 straight years of hard work, I was able to open a physical location and have employees. As everyone knows 2020 was too tough year because of COVID, but I am really grateful that during that time my customers supported me a lot and they gave me so much love.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most entrepreneurs and small business owners, the rising cost of logistics has always been a challenge for us. I always want to provide my customers with the best deals and the best products without compromising quality. In order to do that, I constantly stay on the pulse of any price advantages I can get. Ordering more in bulk, maintaining great relations with vendors, and consistently being transparent with my customers about any shipping changes. A second challenge I faced was communicating with my vendors who live in a different country with a different time zone. In order to stay to stay relevant and continue to refresh my product line. I need to constantly be
As you know, we’re big fans of Secret Manitto. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business model is importing high-quality South Korean-made children’s items, such as: Blankets, pillows, clothing, bottles, toys, and various children’s needs. I am proud to bring over well-known South Korean brands and share them to a broader audience.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
The initial risk I took was starting a business with little knowledge or experience and using much of my savings to get it up and running. I also worried about the strain it would cause on maintaining a healthy family relationship. I have had endless days of work and sleepless nights but my family continuously provided love and support.
Contact Info:
- Website: secretmanitto.com
- Instagram: @secret_manitto
