Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sandi Wise. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sandi, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
We didn’t have much money when I was a kid. My mom had to get state assistance at various times during my childhood in order to pay the rent and keep food on the table for 5 kids. She couldn’t afford to buy me the things my peers had so I started learning how to make my own money very early on. At 9 years old, I handmade little pillows and stuffed animals with button faces on them using old sheets and polyfill stuffing which I sold to neighbor kids for .10¢ – .25¢. At 11 years old I started going around the neighborhood leaving handwritten notes offering babysitting services to everyone I knew who had kids. I was only getting paid 75¢- $1.00 per hour (this was mid 1970’s) but I had so many jobs that I was able to make enough money to buy myself some trendy cloths. I had neighbors who hired me to babysit their 4 children (6 mo, 2 yrs, 6 yrs, & 8 yrs) every single weekend when I was 12 years old! Can you believe that?! I would never hire a 12 year old to watch my infant, much less 4 kids under 8! (haha) Things were different back then though. This kind of upbringing etched patterns in my brain that gave me a good work ethic and drive. I learned very early that taking initiative and working hard rewarded me with the ability to buy what I wanted.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I own a small swimwear business, which I started at age 55. I had been wanting to get back to work after taking so much time off to be a stay-home-mom and had been trying out various entrepreneurial ideas for a business over the years but wasn’t finding the right fit. I made custom drapery, bedding, & accessory pilllows for awhile, learned how to make websites and did that for awhile, studied real estate investing and did that for a while. But, those things didn’t get me excited to get to work like making swimwear does. I love the process, I love working with my daughter, and I love learning! There is always something to learn in this business, especially in technology and marketing. It’s exciting and fun!
My daughter and I started the business together during covid lockdowns. We had so much free time to be creative! Although she is a busy college student, she still finds time to set up photo shoots and do some of the modeling for our brand. She’s a perfect size medium fit model too so that’s a plus! She also helps with design and marketing. I have a fashion design background, with 15 years in the industry designing and developing activewear, sportswear, sleepwear, triathlon, and swimwear. I make all the patterns, sew everything, and manage the website and meta marketing. I hand craft each piece with meticulous attention to detail, using only the highest quality materials . My aim is to blend fashion with function and sustainability for those who live active lifestyles as well as those who just enjoy chilling on the beach.
I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams nomatter what age they are. It’s never too late to start something new, travel down a new path, and step out of your comfort zone. You can create whatever kind of life you want with a little effort every day. Like I always tell my daughter; your direction is more important than your speed. Keep moving forward and never give up.
If anyone would like to see us and check out our swimwear, we will be at the Venice Fest on June 22, 2024: https://www.thevenicefest.com/
You can also see us online at: https://sandbornswim.com/ and follow us on instagram or facebook @sandbornswim
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Patience, Perseverance, and an attitude of graditute.
Be patient with yourself and your journey when you aren’t getting there as fast as you want or as fast as you had planned to. You’ll get there in time.
Perseverance even when you don’t think you’re achieving the level of success you expected and you feel like giving up. Set achievable goals for each day because the small wins feel good too. Set goals for the week, the month, the year, and 5 to 10 years out. Visualize yourself attaining those goals and keep taking steps each day to get there. Thinking about your goals naturally moves you into action toward them. Even if the steps you take each day are small ones, they are still moving you in the direction you want to go.
Ask the question; “What am I grateful for?” and come up with as many answers as you can. We all have something to be grateful for and thankfulness makes lifes journey a more joyful one.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We’re always on the lookout for swimwear models and are currently looking for a freelance graphic artist with experience creating repeat patterns for fabric printing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandbornswim.com
- Instagram: @sandbornswim
- Facebook: @sandbornswim
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandi-wise-4b956320/
Image Credits
Stephanie Wise
