Jill Apgar is the founder of Coco Beans, a luxury bedding and sleepwear brand offering luxurious silk crib sheets and pillow cases using the world’s softest, most innovative fabrics that families can trust. The company is best known for their machine-washable, 100% silk crib sheets. Following a forced layoff from her corporate career in 2020, Jill launched her company with a desire to source the best crib sheet fabrics that not only felt luxurious to the skin, but also helped reduced tangled hair for children and adults. Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and is a member of the Board of Directors for Harper’s Corner Foundation, Inc. She has over 12 years of experience in the corporate retail merchandising industry with some of the most iconic brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria Secret.

Jill joins us today to share what it was like to launch a luxury bedding and sleepwear company during a worldwide pandemic. She shares the initial steps she took to launch her company and why it’s important to learn from your mistakes and failures as well as your successes. We discuss how her personal painpoint led to launching the company and the value of networking and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Jill shares her experience with crowdfunding and how her products have evolved over the last two years. We also discuss tips for being ‘media-ready’ and ‘camera-ready’ as a new startup founder and how to craft your startup story to have the most impact.

“For 30 to 45 days, you’re selling. If you want to be successful at that - you need a strategy and marketing plan.” - Jill Apgar

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

This week on Startups in Stilettos:

How a painpoint in Jill’s personal life led to launching the Coco Beans companyWhat it was like to launch a new business during the pandemicThe importance of learning from your mistakes and failures as well as your successesThe initial steps Jill took to launch her businessThe value of networking, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and keeping yourself accountableBootstrapping the product development costs and how Jill financed the launch of her businessThe lessons Jill learned while raising money to launch her businessWhat kept Jill going despite facing challenges and setbacksThe process of creating the Coco Beans brandHow the Coco Beans products have evolved over the last two yearsEmbracing and understanding your inherent strengths as an entrepreneurThe PR journey and how Jill promoted her productThe value of joining a business community of like-minded entrepreneursTips for being media and camera ready as a new startup founderHow to craft your startup story and identify what to include and what to leave outWhat’s next for Coco Beans

Resources Mentioned:

Columbus College of Arts & DesignShopifyKlaviyo Email Marketing

Our Favorite Quotes:

“You have to start somewhere.” - Jill Apgar“Have a day-by-day marketing strategy to get you through that crowdfunding campaign.” - Jill Apgar“Understand what you are inherently good at as an entrepreneur, and find people to fill the gaps.” - Jill Apgar

Connect with Jill Apgar:

Coco Beans - use Promo Code: Entreprenista15 to get 15% off your first order!Coco Beans on LinkedInCoco Beans on InstagramCoco Beans on FacebookCoco Beans on TwitterJill Apgar on LinkedIn