HOW TO START A BUSINESS WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS
We caught up with Wilet (formerly Flax Home) co-founders Anna, Vivian and Oana about opening a showroom, starting a business with your besties, and of course - all things linen.
Anna Heyd, Vivian McCormick and Oana Papuc
ALL Studio is no stranger to Wilet, we love your products and use your towels in all our group classes! How would you describe Wilet to our audience who may not already be familiar?
W: Wilet is your one-stop shop for linen home essentials. We started with linen bedding, but always knew we would expand beyond the bedroom and now offer waffle towels in our Bathe Collection as well as linen napkins, towels, aprons and tablecloths in our Dine Collection.
We have witnessed the growth of Flax Home since starting the company in 2017. What would you say has been the biggest accomplishment during this time and on the flip side what is one of the challengers you have faced as a company?
W: We’ve had a lot of memorable milestones since we started but our biggest accomplishment to date would be moving into our current home in Strathcona. This is where our team works and where our flagship showroom is!
Like many product-based businesses, navigating the supply chain challenges created by a global pandemic is top of mind for us. It keeps us on our toes, trying our best to find solutions as situations continue to shift.
As a small business we admire companies that align their values right here in the community they reside in. Talk to use about your connection to Atira Women’s Resource Society?
W: From day 1, we wanted to give back to our community. There are so many incredible organizations out there helping people around the world, but where we live is super important to us and helping closer to home felt the most right. As a women-founded, women-run business, we also wanted our charity partner to support women in our community and we are so proud to work with Atira.
We know first-hand the wild journey that is entrepreneurism, what practices have you all incorporated into your lives to find balance?
W: There’s always more that can be done for balance! Movement is definitely one, but we also balance each other out on this wild ride. Being co-founders has been crucial to our success.
Congrats on opening a showroom this past year! How has the experience been now having a brick & mortar?
W: As a primarily online business, opening a showroom was both exciting and scary. We love being able to meet our customers in person, as we get so much energy from those interactions and we get a lot more feedback than we do just online. It’s the reason we also do pop-ups in different cities, so that we can meet our customers and bring our love of linen directly to them.
What advice would you have to people wanting to start a business with their besties?
W: It is so fun, but boundaries and communication are absolute musts. We’ve done a lot of work to keep our communication channels strong so that when business challenges arise, we can handle them without the added challenge of not being able to properly communicate with each other.
Finally, the real question everyone wants to know. When will you be dropping linen jumpsuits or a clothing line? ;)
W: Oooh, that is a good question. Love a linen jumpsuit. There are some plans in the works – join our community to stay in the loop!
Who would win between the 3 of you in a boxing match?
W: Oana.
What Netflix show best describes the Wilet team?
W: This is so hard! What show has an ensemble cast of hilarious, kick-ass women building a business? None – someone should make one.
Hobby that you would low key love to do for a living…oh, wait you’re doing it.
W: Ha yes, exactly. But Anna would also say architecture.
If you could each only eat one meal forever what would it be?
W: Dumplings.
Something you are all really thankful for?
W: Community, including our ALL Studio friends!