In this episode I interview Renia Pruchnicki, owner of Truth Belts in Canada.
After graduating from her studies in fashion design at Ryerson University in Toronto, Renia worked for various companies, designing skiwear, backpacks, and soft-sided coolers, gaining an extensive knowledge of human-made, technical materials.
She started Truth Belts in 2001 from her apartment in downtown Toronto, with a desire to create a life she loved while doing something positive for the planet. Having no experience with leather as a material, her belts could be called ‘accidentally’ vegan or as she likes to call them ‘Genuine Non-Leather’!
As her business progressed, she connected with the vegan and animal rights communities and shifted her lifestyle accordingly. Her newest belt styles are made from recycled car tires.
In this interview Renia discusses:
• How being laid off from your job can sometimes be a blessing in disguise for budding entrepreneurs
• Why it’s ok – and not a failure – to go back to a regular part-time or even full-time job while running your business, in order to make it sustainable over the long term
• Why manufacturing products locally, even though it’s more expensive, can be the smart move
• The use of competitions to build an email list
• And much more
Visit the Truth Belts website
Brands mentioned in the vegan business news roundup:
Bourgeois Boheme
Fabanaise
Purple Carrot
Gelzen
RESOURCES:
My Online PR Course for Vegan Business Owners & Entrepreneurs: Vegans in the Limelight
My book Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business
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Connect with me personally at:
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Vegan Business Media is a multi-media, multi-author blog for aspiring and existing owners of vegan-run businesses, designed to equip them with the information, tools, inspiration and resources they need to start and grow their enterprises. It is hosted by award-winning journalist Katrina Fox.
