One Woman + One Pup Team
Today's guest is Yan Tan. She's a 9-5 corporate worker during the day, small business owner at night. Her company is The Happy Floof: handmade dog accessories and apparel for the dog parents/moms/dads. Her latest collection is called “No Room for Hate”, from which 40% of proceeds will be donated to her neighborhood Chinatown in New York City. Check it out and support here: https://thehappyfloof.com/collections/no-room-for-hate
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SUMMARY KEYWORDS
dog, people, bandanas, happy, instagram, hire, boyfriend, daisy, aaron, product, pet, good, tick tock, crazy, sell, feel, fun, friends, random, ideas
00:05
Hi, everyone, welcome
Erin 00:06
to call me crazy. I'm Aaron Massa Pietro along with my host Michael Benatar. And on this show, we interview inspiring entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the world like today's guest, Yan Tam, and she is an amazing woman entrepreneur who is the founder of the happy flute. She's also in the pet space, and has a full time job. So she's making it happen on all levels. Yan, welcome to call me crazy.
00:31
Thank you so much, Michael and Aaron. So happy to be here.
Michael Benatar 00:35
Yeah, we're excited. And I always like to start off, because when we have somebody on that does a full time job, and then does a side job and you're making all the products I'm always curious. What got you to that point where like, I'm gonna do this, like, when did you start carving out time to actually start your own products?
00:55
Okay, so Well, first, there's not a lot of sleep going on. Just want to say that it's been kind of hard. Try, like finding like the balance. But I wanted to so when I started everything, I didn't want to, like, push everything to like other people. Like I kind of didn't want to, like outsource it. Because like a like financially, it's kind of expensive. And then I was just like, you know, if I could do it, it's just like better because it's like homemade homemade handmade Yeah, I'm like more proud because like it actually like I was the one that did it. If there's any issues like I don't like want to like circle back to someone and like say, hey, like, there was an issue with this, like, just lie on me. So like, I don't know, I just feel like I just wanted to
Erin 01:46
like make everything myself which is honestly getting a little bit overwhelming, but I kind of love it in a sense. I can only imagine let's back up and tell everyone what what your side hustle is what the happy floof is and what you make just a little bit about itself and then we can talk about like how you started it.
02:03
Okay, so the happy floof we sell pet accessories or stuff like dog bandana is actually starting to like branch out and do more other stuff. Like I'm looking at doing bow ties leashes. Eventually I would like to do toys. And then we also make apparel for the dog parents. So doll mom sell goods or you know, honestly, anyone that just loves dogs basically.
Erin 02:30
Yeah, match with your dog.
Michael Benatar 02:32
So what what was kind of the inspiration to start the happy fluidly? What where's the name come from? It's like a very fun name. Like, where did that all kind of come from?
02:41
So like it was actually like really random. Like I just like everyone has like this cool backstory of like their brand, but ours just can't like mine just came very random. So I have a dog. Her name is Daisy. She's a golden retriever. So before we got her, I was like, prepping like the house like getting everything ready. But I couldn't find anything that I really wanted. And actually, it's funny because I wanted to build like, I wanted to have like this like little I guess like a dresser for just like her stuff. But I couldn't find one that like really matched like my style really match like what I wanted. So I just told my boyfriend I'm like, you know what, I'm just gonna build it. I'm just gonna build it myself. I can't find it. Like no one has it so that I just built it. And then I kind of liked it. I like like, crafty stuff. So then, like when I couldn't find stuff, like for her, like the bandanas and stuff. I'm like, you know, I'm just gonna sell it. I'm just gonna make it myself. Wow. Okay, so
Michael Benatar 03:42
you sewed it together?
Erin 03:44
Is the draft Yeah, your current project? Or was that just a special thing you made for yourself?
03:48
Because that's not that's just a special thing that I don't think I would ever do it again. It was that hard. It was it was a lot. But I mean, it came out pretty nice. Awesome. feature.
Michael Benatar 04:00
Yeah. And what what kind of, were the resources that you were looking to when you started kind of making you know, your first product to sell? Like, when did it become an idea? Like, I gotta sell this because this is great. Like, my dog loves it. Other my friends love it. Because that's always the like, that spark that kind of gets it going.
04:19
Right? Yeah, so I made the pet bandanas. And then I kind of like a lot of my friends also have dogs. So I was kind of like, you know, like showing them and like, they're like, Oh, these are really cute. And my boyfriend was like, you should try to sell these. Daisy. Daisy, she's having a little bit of an attitude right now. Sorry. Um, so like my boy pod, right? So my boyfriend was like, you know, you should sell these like you should make a business out of them. And I've always wanted to, you know, have a business like that was always like a long term dream of mine, but I just didn't really know what I wanted to do. And I wanted to make sure whatever I did I was passionate about I just don't want to do it for the money because then there's no fun in that, you know? So then when I was like making all this stuff and sewing the bandanas, she's like, what a cute face. Just thank you. So when I was making it, I was like, you know, I enjoy doing it, like sewing, like making all this stuff. It's kind of like my Zen. It's kind of like, that's great. Yeah, like, it's like my piece, like, you know, like, like, I enjoy it. And I actually used to be like, I used to do event planning on the side. And I just didn't like it. Like, I didn't enjoy it. So this is something that I actually enjoy.
Michael Benatar 05:42
And good.
Erin 05:43
What was your? Did you like, make a bunch of bandanas and then figure out where to sell it? Or did you like make one and then post it somewhere? Like, what was your first channel? And how do you go about like,
Michael Benatar 05:53
Who's your first sale?
05:55
Um, honestly, my friends, okay.
Michael Benatar 05:58
No, it's okay.
05:59
Hi. She wants to weigh in on her pain. She's like,
Erin 06:03
I was your first customer. I'm Daisy. Just so your friends supported you? And then when did you decide to kind of try to reach new customers? And where do you do that?
06:13
So I have a friend who she has like an Instagram for her dog. And she has like, you know, she she's very active on it. She makes a lot of content. And she kind of told me, she was just kind of like, you know, a lot of this stuff that you have, like, I've never really seen another small shop have. So she was like, honestly, like, you should try to like, make something out of it. And I'm like, Okay, and then I guess that's when I decided, Okay, I'm gonna take the leap. I'm gonna do it. Like I honestly was very hesitant, like a type of person. And we're like, I overthink everything. And like, I overanalyze, and it gets so nervous. And I'm like, oh, but what if like, No one likes myself, like nobody, nobody buys anything. I'm just gonna, like, cry all day and stuff, like, you know, like, I'm like that type of person. So my boyfriend was like, No, just take the leap and just do it. You never know. And that's what I did. And honestly, it's been great. Like, I've had a lot of good feedback. And everyone's been so supportive, like I said, like, the dog community is, like, so crazy, like, the overwhelming support is just insane.
Michael Benatar 07:15
And have you gotten out into the dog? I mean, I know, everybody's been kind of on lockdown, or whatever, for a year. But have you gotten out or tried to participate in any community events out there and kind of mingle with people online? Because I know that's a big part of you know, what we're doing a dope dog, but I think it is. You see the power in it, when you're actually in it. You know, sometimes you're on the outside looking in, and you never realize like, oh, wow, like, that's what you want to be a part of, because it is fun. And people are interacting, and they're sharing ideas and sharing, you know, new products that they find. And, you know, I'm on like Facebook groups, and people are sharing all these random things. And sometimes you discover something because somebody else was out there kind of curating it for you.
Erin 07:58
We learned the most from doing those pet events, like just meeting the customers and anything and there's a ton I forgot to ask, Where are you located? And have you done any,
08:06
I guess, have you done events there? Or where you are. So I'm actually in New York City. So I've done a few like pop ups like here in there. Just to like, I guess I kind of get exposure and just like meet everybody and stuff like that. So it's been really good. I did them in like the fall and winter. So it was a little bit slow. I have a few coming up in the spring and summer, which I'm really excited about. Because in the spring and summertime, everybody takes their dog out. Like Yeah, so I'm very excited about those. And I'm actually doing like a dog. It's like a dog fashion show. Oh, fun. Okay, yeah, they're having one here in New York. So somebody actually reached out and asked if I would be interested in so I'm going to be part of that.
Michael Benatar 08:53
And what's next for the happy happy flu? Like are you trying to scale it where you're selling in more places or in more shops? Kind of what's the vision there?
09:07
I think ideally, yeah, I would want to be able to offer my products in like smaller shops and just work with other small business owners and stuff. And then from then on, I just, I guess if it goes higher than that, then yeah, I'm all for it, you know? But I do want to expand like my product line. I don't want to just stick with like apparel and like pet bandanas you know,
Michael Benatar 09:33
so have you found kind of that MVP that that first product that everybody loves? So you know, that's like that's the winner to expand on.
09:43
I'm not yet I think I'm still like experimenting, because I'm still relatively new. I only launched in November of 20. Yeah, so I'm still kind of like learning the ropes. I guess like testing waters, but I Just want to offer like stuff that not everyone else has or not everyone like comes up with because like I like these are like my ideas like and yeah, like I design like literally everything like I design, the packaging I design. Like the stuff that goes on the bandana I designed the T shirts and stuff. So I just want to be different. I think that's like my main thing I don't want like to be. I don't want to have the same thing as everybody else.
Michael Benatar 10:28
And what's your what's your day job? Are you designer? full time? Or?
10:34
Oh my God? No, I'm the complete opposite. So have you guys ever watched Ozark?
Michael Benatar 10:39
Yeah.
10:41
So I basically I work in compliance on basically. Do I know you're trying? I'm trying to catch them money laundering. So.
Michael Benatar 10:52
Okay, so yeah, you're the person that goes around like, Okay, let me see your books. That's Yeah,
10:57
my boyfriend calls me a snitch. He's like, you're technically a snitch. Oh my gosh.
Erin 11:02
So you must have really clean books and be very organized on the back end of your business. If that's Yeah, maybe No,
11:09
no, no, I definitely am very, like, organized. And yeah, so I so what I do, like, in my full time job is like the complete opposite of what I
Erin 11:17
do with the small business. Do you find any challenges when you have to put your like entrepreneur cap on and make decisions for the happy fleuve versus your other job, which is more, you know, by the books and stuff? Um, I know, I struggle with that, too, you know, coming from corporate and now being an entrepreneur full time, it's just kind of a different change pace for sure.
11:39
Yeah, it's definitely hard to balance. I've definitely been, when I first started, it was extremely hard. Just because, like, the timing and everything, because it is like, you know, like I use Aaron, you said yourself, you were in corporate. So it's like nine to five. And then Normally, I log out and then I just go straight into, like, the business stuff.
Michael Benatar 12:04
And how are you? How are you growing? The business today? Are you doing ads? Are you just partnering with people in the community? How are you kind of scaling that now?
12:13
So I partnered with a few people, and then I mainly just rely on ads. And then Instagram, I really want to get into tik tok. But it's so hard. Like it's so much time. Yeah, that too. And like, I just I don't like being on camera. Like I don't like taking pictures. Like I feel like self conscious sometimes. So I think I'm like, I'm trying to get over that. So I can make like reels and tic tocs because I feel like that's like the new thing now. like nobody really cares about Instagram posts. They just watch like the videos.
Michael Benatar 12:50
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely changing the way people interact with it. And I think I mean, this time last year, you know, tik tok was barely a thing to me. And then I started dancing. We made videos throughout the year and I really seen a few
13:05
with your dog. Like on your portrait like your back? Oh, yeah.
Erin 13:12
Michael Dan.
Michael Benatar 13:13
So I think it's like it changes the way we've interacted with social media because I I feel that Instagram is such a stagnant place like there's no growth. No one's it's not the interactions aren't there anymore. It just became this like dark place kind of like, what Facebook was to Instagram. Now Instagram is becoming the Facebook of for Tick tock, you know, it's Tick Tock is so much more. I don't know. I don't know what it means it's raw, but you're also allowed to make comments and do all this and there doesn't seem to be a lot of judgment. It's just like, Alright, I'm scrolling next thing scrolled. Next thing, and that's what I like about Instagram is very, like, we're manicured. We're doing this and you know, we're on Instagram. We tried to go to Instagram lives and all this but lately for me, I just haven't found it to be a place of growth or a place of community because no one wants it. There's no like, hub, even Facebook, you get more community out of Facebook. But yeah, tik tok is definitely, definitely a way we want to go.
14:13
And it's not like I feel like sometimes Instagram is so polished. Yeah, like, like Tick Tock. You don't really you can post bra content and some people will love it. Yeah, like that. That might make you go viral. And it's like wow, you know?
Michael Benatar 14:26
Yeah, like that girl that like ask What does she's like So tell me a time that you didn't you know all those questions and people stitched together
Erin 14:33
a dog person Yeah, what oh, yeah, you're a dog person. Yeah,
14:37
right and then like the guy who like was it he with the Ocean Spray?
Michael Benatar 14:43
Oh yeah, right yeah, yeah.
14:49
lifetime of Ocean Spray now Yeah,
Michael Benatar 14:51
Ocean Spray and he got like a truck. Yeah, he's he's living life now. But yeah, that's the thing. It's like Tick Tock made these people Because it everything went viral. And you haven't seen that on on Instagram, which is wild, like what is happening to Instagram. So it is really hard getting in the social networks and working with influencers. Are you working with any influencers? Or doggy influencers or
15:15
a few dog influencers? Some that kind of like followed me from like, before I launched, and then I kind of like connected with, I always try to, like, connect with my, like, a few of my followers like engaging them because I don't want I don't want it to seem like Oh, hey, like, I want you to follow my business. And that's it. Like I kinda like like the interaction and like the connections. One, yeah, so one of like, the dog influencers that I work with, she actually followed me from the get go, and I'm actually supposed to meet up with her. I think in like, the next month, she's from New York to Oh, cool. So I'm pretty excited about that new community. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It's so good to like, talk to other people.
Michael Benatar 15:58
Yeah. Just to like, get out.
Erin 16:01
Well, how much time would you say you'll because you only have a limited amount of time, you know, weekends later in that evening? What percentage time do you spend on the product development? And like actually making it versus the marketing side? Like, have you found your balance yet? Or are you kind of focused on that?
16:16
I won't lie. I've definitely been neglecting the marketing side a little bit lately. Because creating content is so much work. I didn't think it was gonna be that much work, but it's actually a lot.
Erin 16:31
Yeah, here you are on a podcast this, this counts, right? Yeah.
Michael Benatar 16:35
Here you are, you're out in the world. So when, when you go ahead, were you gonna say?
16:43
No, I was gonna say like, I think with the whole timing thing, I think it's like, most of my time goes to like, making the products and making sure that they're good. And then I spend, so I would say that's like, 50% of the time. And I'd say like, 10% is really like the marketing. And then other 40% is just like coming up with new ideas, experimenting, testing stuff out?
Michael Benatar 17:08
Have you have you delegated any work to anybody else to kind of help you continue this, because I feel like after a while, it becomes a lot, you know, there's not only you know, accounting, there's the website, there's marketing, there's email, there's production, you know, it starts adding up, and then it's all there. And you're doing it all all of a sudden,
17:27
yeah, for sure. Like, I mean, sometimes, like, my boyfriend will help. Like, if, you know, I have like, yeah, basically, really, if I have like, a pop up, he'll, you know, stay with me and like, he'll help me like, like, cut the thread the extra threads off, like the bandana. and stuff like that stuff like that. Or like, sometimes, if I need him to, like, help me like run to the post office, he'll do it. But in terms of like, being hands on hands on, it's literally just me. And I've actually been strongly considering like hiring like a content manager or something like that, to like, at least handle like the website and the social media. But I don't know, it's just been a thought, I don't know.
Michael Benatar 18:14
There's a lot of good services. Like, if you're just looking for SEO, we know there's a lot of good people that could do that. And even like Upwork or Fiverr, you can hire a lot of good people just to handle like little things here and there, which in then becomes more managing, because then you have to actually manage those people, which I guess you don't actually have to do the work, but you have to manage them. And I started reading I mean, it's literally right there. Like what the book that I'm reading, it's like the personal MBA, and like starts out with like the CEO, you know, the CEO delegates like, do you eventually just stop doing the work and just managing the work? And like, the overarching, you know, there's like bullet points of how to manage your time and how to manage the meetings and that say no, a lot more. So you don't have to do as much because you're already doing so much. And it's just, I mean, we're on year, we're going on year four, right? We're going on year four with dope dog in for us. Like, where are we when you were when we were where you were four years ago. It didn't it like slowly just starts adding up. And then like one a year later from now, you'll be so surprised at where you are because you've learned so much. You had you don't hire these people. And you're delegating this. And now you're only working on making the product. And it's kind of crazy, because you can't even you don't even know what that looks like until you actually get there. And it's wild. Like we never thought we would be where we are today because you just slowly kind of learn as you go and make mistakes like Today on our website. Our credit card wasn't processed and it didn't process for four days, but we didn't realize it because we were getting sales through PayPal. So it's just like this crazy thing we had to solve and put out Fire this morning. And we had no idea. So it's just like these random things that come up. So.
Erin 20:06
But at the beginning stages, I think where your head's at is like loving the product. Yeah, like always innovating. And we still love the product and where we were at too. And I think that brings you like, far enough or like, until you need to start making those more operational decisions. But yeah,
Michael Benatar 20:21
it's a, it's a lot. Yeah, it becomes a lot. So definitely look for somebody before it gets too overwhelming. And check out Upwork check out there's so many great places now that you can hire people. For you know, we have a social media manager, she works in our day, she posts, she makes some content, we work with her directly helping her with content. So it's, we don't actually have to do the posting. But you know, we have the app on our phone. And we're always checking and responding to people, but we're not actually doing the posting or the content. So it's, it's kind of nice, but it's also you, you start feeling less connected, but you can be as connected as you want, as long as you make that attempt in BNN. And I think, you know, we're in it. We're like, you know, we have a whole I don't know, we have a notion board. We have all this stuff of everybody what they're doing. So the communication becomes really key. And we've been talking about a lot.
Erin 21:11
Yeah. and have it Yeah, just having a team to lean on to is everything. So hire your boyfriend? Yeah. Hire your friend.
Michael Benatar 21:17
don't hire them. Just keep them for free.
21:20
Just keep it for free.
21:21
Yeah, he's no, he's actually, he's actually been very helpful. Because he had, he's an entrepreneur himself. So like, he kind of gives me like tips and stuff. We're in completely different, different industries. But you know, he kind of like, like, what I like is that when I overanalyze, or when I freak out, he kind of just hones me, like, he grabs me down, he's like, just chill out. And then he's like, just be patient. Like, it'll get better. Yeah, you know, he, he's always like, because I've been like, very on edge about hiring someone, like I said, like the Content Manager. And he's like, you know, just do it. The amount Time is money. And he's like, would you rather waste your time doing that? Or would you just hire somebody, like a reasonable price? And they know what they're doing. And they'll probably do it so much better than you. And like, and you get like a little breather, because then you don't have to worry about it. And you could divert that time to something else. Yeah, I'm just like, Yeah,
Erin 22:20
sometimes you have to just let
Michael Benatar 22:21
go. There are people that can do it better. Like the, you know, the girl that we hired for social media, she's great, amazing. She does a great job. And she knows more than we know and knows, you know, when the posts or ideas about it. And it is a totally different thing, because, you know, we're not good at accounting. So the first thing we did was how hire an accountant like we have somebody doing it all. Check it on it because we don't want it I didn't I didn't want to do that. At least.
22:47
I mean, yeah, nobody does. No, no, taxes aren't fun.
Michael Benatar 22:51
No. Yeah.
Erin 22:52
So you seem to have such like a focus level approach to like work and even your business now. So we want to hear your call me crazy story, if you have one. Because that's what what we're all about on the podcast, like taking risks and making bold moves. So what was the time in your life or career where you did that? And maybe were called crazy. Um,
23:16
I mean, I would say I'm crazy right now for those who you know, like, I'm doing the whole, like, the happy flew from working full time and then I got to take care of Daisy. I also take care of like my mother, so I feel like I'm in that crazy right now.
Erin 23:33
That might be true. I
23:37
know. I feel like I won't hit like the crazy until I can actually. I would say quit my job. Oh, yeah. Happy who full time
Michael Benatar 23:48
Yeah, we'll have you back on when you finish the call me crazy story when you're you actually quit? That'd be great.
23:55
Oh, my God. I know like, like Aaron didn't did not feel awesome. When you left your corporate job. Well, I
Erin 24:01
get this I love I left one started dope dog. And then I started another one. I
Michael Benatar 24:07
met another company but another corporate job another corporate
Erin 24:09
job. You know, I you know, I was like, Oh, it's a good opportunity. So I continued to do both and then when I finally did quit, then it felt Yes, it felt really really good. But
Michael Benatar 24:20
you were just less stressed. I think Aaron was doing both a lot of like you're always trying to catch up at night and do some stuff. And it was only a small period but I think when when we went to the What is it? What was the one in Orlando what was that show? global pet global we went yeah global Pet Expo was that the first time that we that you were like fully on board or is it
Erin 24:44
oubli cuz I probably couldn't get that much time off work yeah, so Yeah, it definitely things change and you're have a whole new mindset towards it. Yeah. becomes and it becomes like your the way you pay your bills. So it's like that much more but in a good way. So it's yours. Yeah, and you're doing something that you're happy about versus like, like now I'm just stuck on a computer screen, like catching those criminals.
25:10
Looking at everyone's bank account except mine. Yeah, I guess. So. Yeah, I guess I'm in the crazy, but my peak crazy would be when I can officially say that. I love my job for that. Yeah,
Michael Benatar 25:27
Yeah, that'd be great. I think it's coming. That will be fun. So it's the happy flu, calm, Yan, thank you so much for coming on the show. We appreciate it. All the links to your Instagram and the website will be in the description so everybody can find you. And we'll definitely have you back on when you officially reached your call me crazy moment and quit the job because I'll be fun.
25:49
I hope so. And I just want to say so I don't know if I can announce this. But I'm actually I actually have a collection that I launched last week. Because I am, you know, Asian American. And I know there's a lot going on in the Asian community right now. So the collection I have, it's called the no room for heat. And all 40% of the proceeds will be donated to my local New York Chinatown. Oh, yeah. So feel free to check it out. Oh, take a look. Share. I would really appreciate it. I'm trying to raise. Like, my goal is $300. I don't I'm not really there yet. But I'm trying. I'm trying our will we're
Michael Benatar 26:28
gonna pump you I will promote it to we'll try to get this out. How long is the collection going to be up for because usually we hear these, you know, month or so like later, but if we want to get it out earlier, we can always get it out earlier. And it's going up until mid May. So that cut it around like the 15. Okay, so we'll try to get this out sooner than later and get get everybody out there. And, and that'd be great if you have a direct link to that collection that we can put in here as well. Yeah, I'll
26:56
send it to you. Great, awesome. That'd
Michael Benatar 26:58
be great.
26:59
Thank you so much. Yeah,
Michael Benatar 27:00
thanks for coming on.
27:01
Yeah, of course. You
27:02
guys so great. And I definitely want to check out dope dog because yes,
Michael Benatar 27:06
we're gonna send you some. Yeah, you should. We are going to send you a whole bunch. Thanks for coming.
27:13
Thank you guys. Have a good day.