Many people find their way into the decorated apparel industry because they have the entrepreneurial bug. The idea of owning a business that runs off creativity, design work, networking, and more is appealing to anyone with that competitive edge. For some, they find their way in right off the bat, having made the leap almost as soon as they could walk. For others, like Chanel Stovall of Tee Guru USA, they find their way in after having worked in another industry.

With roots in the accounting world, Chanel brings something to the table that many new business owners don’t always have: bookkeeping and financial experience. After taking inventory of her professional skills and work experiences, she decided to take a leap of faith and get into the world of apparel decorating, launching the Tee Guru USA website amid one of the most chaotic economic times: the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Lot of Hard Work

“I am currently the CEO of my company Tee Guru USA and I got here because of a lot of hard work and faith in myself,” Chanel says of her current business venture. The company utilizes an online design studio software that allows clients to create personalized printed or embroidered apparel and accessory items. But for Chanel, the entry into the industry was a bit different thanks to COVID.

Tee Guru USA’s website was officially launched during the pandemic, so one of the best things about the decorated apparel industry (networking) has been a different experience for her. She notes that while face-to-face events haven’t been a part of her adventure the last two years, she is looking forward to getting into those spaces.

That positive attitude has already carried her a long way. That, and her financial experience, which has proved useful when it came to the obstacle of securing capital, something most new business owners can relate to. “Another challenge was and still is access to capital,” Chanel states. But she hurdled that roadblock through persistence. “I had to rely on personal savings and reinvesting profits to fund the business because loans weren’t accessible.”

That hasn’t been the only challenge she’s faced. As a minority woman, she notes that there are a few giants she’s had to conquer. “I almost feel like it has become cliché to talk about, but imposter syndrome is real,” Chanel says. “It can really make you doubt your ability to carve out your own lane, or quite simply, your chances of being successful.”

It’s something Chanel still grapples with to this day, though with a different mindset. “As far as overcoming imposter syndrome, I can’t say that I have,” she says. “Instead, I am becoming comfortable with accepting that I’m only in competition with myself. There will always be something new to learn as technology advances and that’s ok.”

In addition to her competitive will and persistence, Chanel also credits a few people in her professional life as influencing her success. “My mentor is a godsend,” she says. “During our first call, he recommended a book for me to read, which was technically my first assignment. I think he was testing me to see my dedication. Needless to say, I completed the book within two weeks and it’s like my Bible.”

But it’s not just the book that Chanel gained from him. “Having him along for the journey has helped me avoid expensive mistakes,” she acknowledges. “To be able to pass ideas by someone with proven success in the industry before taking action allows me to make calculated moves.”

Some Advice Along the Way

Having now been in the industry for a few years, Chanel openly admits that she still has a lot of growing to do, but lets other women out there know that utilizing the available resources is a big key to success. “To get to the top, you have to climb and there is a lot to learn on the way up that is vital to you maintaining your success when you get there,” she emphasizes.

And for those budding entrepreneurial women who may be hesitant to make the leap, she also has a few words of wisdom gleaned from her own journey: “Get started. Don’t delay because you’re distracted trying to make everything perfect.” Once you are rolling, she says, you can always change and adjust. It’s perhaps one of the biggest lessons COVID taught us: how to be flexible and to keep going.

It’s advice that she still follows on a personal level today. “I am preaching [enjoy the journey] to myself … because it is so tempting to want to already be at the top of your game,” she says. “For the record, I am still climbing and I’m enjoying it.”