From a childhood business selling painted buckeyes to a multi-million dollar loungewear brand, Kelly Degnan has always been a creative entrepreneur. She built Skivys Femme from a simple idea during the pandemic into a seven-figure success story, only to face a domain hack and an inventory crisis that threatened to derail it all.

In this episode, Kelly shares her rollercoaster journey, from bootstrapping her first business to making the tough decision to sell—even when her books weren't at their peak.

• How a simple problem during the pandemic turned into a seven-figure business
• The pros and cons of bootstrapping your brand to millions in revenue
• The devastating impact of a domain hack and how to protect your business
• Why "off-peak" sales seasons can present the biggest challenges
• How to find the right broker who will be a "therapist" through the emotional journey of selling
• The surprising benefits of a fast sale with a strategic buyer
• The joy of staying on with the new company and focusing only on the work you love

Timestamps:

00:01:00 – From a childhood side hustle to launching Skivys Femme

00:05:41 – Bootstrapping and finding the perfect overseas manufacturer

00:10:00 – How ad agencies and then a single expert helped drive massive growth

00:15:20 – The "Oh crap" moment: a domain hack and inventory crisis

00:20:41 – Why Kelly started exploring an exit

00:23:05 – Eric Pittman's initial advice on selling and when the timing is right

00:27:00 – The benefits of selling to a strategic buyer

00:28:03 – Staying on and focusing on the roles you love

00:29:19 – Kelly's advice for other business owners thinking about an exit

00:32:41 – Introducing her new brand, Vital Youth Blends (Vibe)

00:37:34 – How Kelly celebrated the sale with her son

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.