Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Siebert
Hi Zoe, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved creating things– whether it was crocheting, knitting, or sewing, I always had multiple projects going when I was little. In the fall of my junior year of high school I saw a fleece hat being sold at REI and decided to make one of my own. I made the “6 Peak” pattern from scratch and made the first ever Steeze hat out of some old scraps of fleece. After I finished the first hat my brother wore it to school and next thing I knew all of his friends wanted one. I got some new fleece and created a google docs “order form”. Within a week I had over 20 orders and started to think this could actually become real. From there I started my instagram and website, and the rest is history! I started my venture with no knowledge of running a business, a website, or a brand social media. As I have grown, so have my abilities and so has my brand overall. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store!
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?
Starting something from scratch is never easy. Sewing has always been one of my passions but that is not to say there havent been many bumps along the way. Sewing machines are notoriously finicky, and the more high tech and advanced machines you get, the more this is true. Starting off I was using my old hobby sewing machine I had been gifted when I was 11 or 12. Very quickly it became apparent that I needed to step up my game. My aunt had a embroidery and normal sewing machine that she never used and agreed to sell it to me for a small price. This changed the game, I was now able to add logos to my hats. This machine was no doubt an improvement, but it was also not easy to deal with all the time. I had many frustrating nights trying to troubleshoot numerous things going wrong, when one thing was solved something new would come up. Around this same time I decided I needed to add a professional edge to my hats, and purchased a specialized machine called a serger. This made a world of difference. The learning curve was pretty intense but after a few long days I got the hang of it. The addition of the serger to my growing number of machines improved my production speed substantially. I was still using the embroidery machine from my aunt and had begun my first big custom bulk order for the University of Washington Snow Club. Making 50 embroidered hats was much more than my beginner embroidery machine could handle and it started to consistently malfunction. My parents were very generous in helping me buy a brand new embroidery only machine. My new machine is incredibly well designed, yet there are still problems that pop up and I have no idea how to solve.
I have spent so many days frustrated to the point of tears, cursing my machines and their challenging complicated technology. This being said, I have learned SO much and now have an immense knowledge of all the ins and outs of my machines.
Another struggle has been my ability to balance school and Seize The Steeze. While in high school I was having to balance my time between school, sports, homework, college applications, and Seize The Steeze all while trying to have a normal high school experience and hang out with friends. Now in college I have more control over my schedule which has made this balance a little easier.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As the owner of Seize The Steeze I am also the manufacturer (currently, changes are coming in that aspect!), the social media manager, and the retailer. As the sole employee I juggle all these different positions. Many small businesses have steep prices since the effort that goes into each item is much more than a big corporation. While I understand the need to pay yourself fairly in order to make it worth it, I know my audience (primarily ski bums and college kids as of right now) and expensive goods just wont sell. I strive to bring unique products to my community at a price that is affordable. I started off just making fleece hats but I am stoked to be adding fleece sweatshirts to my store in the coming months. I also am working to start creating snow pants and webbing belts which will hopefully be the next big step up for me! I am known for my unique style of fleece hat which I call the “6 Peak Beanie.” I am most proud of how far I have come and how much I have managed to grow. Running a business as a full time student has not been easy, but every time I see one of my products out in the wild or I see someones face light up when they try on a hat I am reminded why I love doing what I do.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Patience and passion. Ordering from fabric suppliers and trying to navigate the world of small businesses is incredibly frustrating. Having patience is key to keeping everything running smoothly. Without passion though, patience will only get you so far. Running a business is hard. Often times it feels like it may not all be worth the stress and work load. Being passionate is so important because of this. At the end of the day, I sew because I love it.
Pricing:
- 6 Peak Beanie: $17-25
- Hoodies and Sweatshirts: $45-75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seizethesteeze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seizethesteeze/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731340397
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethesteeze
Image Credits
Frida Renner
