Team Size
2
Revenue
Currently on Hiatus – Restructuring
Location
Toronto, Canada
STart Date
Jun 2019
Today our female entrepreneur is Tati Petkovic, founder of Moon Sign Supplies. Moon Sign Supplies is an astrology-inspired lifestyle brand designed to spark introspection, reflection, and conversation. Tati says her brand was inspired by her love for astrology.
This Toronto-based entrepreneur tops up as a poet, graphic designer, artist, and educator. Read on to find out more about this creative female entrepreneur. It’s an interview you don’t want to miss.
INTRODUCTION
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE BUSINESS YOU STARTED.
I am an Artist, Poet and Designer currently based in Toronto. In 2014, I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from OCAD University, and in 2018, my Master’s Degree in Digital Media from Ryerson University. I am the Creative Director of Tatjana Petkovic Design and Moon Sign Supplies, as well as, a Sessional Instructor at OCAD University.
I launched Moon Sign Supplies in 2019, inspired by my love of astrology and its ability to create more community and connection within the creative sector.
I am currently in the process of self-publishing my first poetry book called “Revisions of the Moon” which can be found on Moon Sign Supplies.
My current financial situation is that my prior skills of Graphic Design are currently helping me financially support my new business Moon Sign Supplies, as well as my poetry book “Revisions of the Moon”. I know that this is a process, and right now, I am trying to take the necessary steps to establish my current brand, as well as look for publishers to publish the second edition of my poetry book.
WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO YOU STAY PRODUCTIVE?
I will say my routine has changed quite a bit based on the COVID-19 situation currently happening. I’ve established a new routine where I wake up, have my coffee and breakfast while I watch tarot card videos (which I’m currently learning). I then meditate for 20 minutes and then workout for 25 minutes. After my workout, I shower, I have lunch, and then start doing my priority action for the day, which is the thing I know I need to get done for that day.
After this, I take a short break, and then try and hit a few of my to-do list tasks based on time. Afterwards, I usually have dinner, relax for a bit, read a chapter of a book I’m currently on, meditate for another 20 mins, and I call it a day.
Sometimes I have meetings, and I don’t get all my to-do tasks done. Sometimes, I get more than I thought done. I think understanding and being forgiving to yourself is extremely important. I usually have weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals to keep myself on track. I check in with these goals either Sunday night or Mondays to remind myself what I need to get done. I also have weekly calls with an Accountability buddy which I highly recommend.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING YOUR BUSINESS.
I launched my business in June 2019, and I had a really small budget. I was working on the branding myself for 5 months before launching, completely from scratch. I had really gotten into astrology mainly for the fact that I keep attracting Scorpios. It was really strange, all the guys who liked me were Scorpios, and I only dated Scorpios for nine and a half years. I always wanted to create my own brand and wanted it to be everyday supplies (totes and notebooks).
Most people know what their zodiac sun sign is (i.e., those horoscopes you’ll find in the back of a magazine). But when you begin to explore the deeper parts of yourself through astrology, you may learn about your moon sign, which is where we got our name.
Your moon sign represents where the moon was positioned in the sky at the time you were born, and is attributed to your inner self, emotions, and feelings. Your moon sign works in the background and represents a side of yourself that may not usually be seen.
I will be completely transparent and say that I spent about $5000 to start my brand, and lost most of it in my first year. I’m currently re-strategizing for my second year. I hired a business and mindset coach, and that really helped me rethink a lot of what I want to accomplish for this coming year.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT AND YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR BUSINESS?
My biggest achievement as an entrepreneur was doing a brand giveaway with the astrologer The Daily Hunch! I was over the top thrilled!
My biggest challenge was sales. It’s made me rethink my strategy.
WHAT STRATEGY DID YOU USE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? AND HOW?
Currently, I am setting up monthly and quarterly goals. I do my best with social media marketing and brand building through Instagram and now with YouTube, as well as sending a monthly newsletter. I also did a lot of popups in Toronto in 2019, which helped me raise my brand awareness locally.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS?
My next step is to create a new product for Moon Sign Supplies (still under wraps). My business is in hiatus only until the end of April. I do plan to hire social media and business interns to grow my team.
RECOMMENDATIONS & FINAL THOUGHTS
ARE THERE ANY RESOURCES OR TOOLS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS?
One of my favourite books is “You are a badass at making money” by Jen Sincero.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Just start! You need to push your product or service out there and get as much feedback as possible. See if it works. If it doesn’t, pivot. Also- ask for advice when you need it.
WHAT BUSINESS IDEA DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE WITH OTHERS?
If anyone wants to make an app that finds the best way to invest based on your age and income, that would be great.
Violeta Semenova
Founder
theBizLadies
Welcome to the Biz Ladies interview series!
If you’re new to these series, I interview women entrepreneurs on how they started their business, what was the idea behind it, how they got where they are, the struggles, the reality and more.
By sharing their stories, we want to inspire other women to get started.
If you are interested to share your own story on the Biz Ladies LET ME KNOW!