Pink states that entrepreneurship “demands traditional selling and non-sales selling in equal measure. Such is the life of a small entrepreneur. Instead of doing one thing, he must do both…” (p 27) Thus, the entrepreneur must necessarily take on the sales role by (1) selling the original idea, (2) selling to early adopters of the product, and (3) selling the story of the company. As an entrepreneur, I’ve embraced the dual role of traditional selling and non-sales selling, as outlined by Pink through my work and development of my business Radiate Truth.
First and foremost, I embarked on selling the original idea behind Radiate Truth: to “share the Gospel through what you wear.” This concept lead to creating cute Christian clothing geared towards teens and young adults. My goal was clear – to provide apparel that allows individuals to radiate the truth of God’s word through their attire. Inspired by Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20 to spread the Gospel to all nations, I sought to translate this mission into tangible products.
The initial spark for Radiate Truth came during a summer search for cute Christian sweatshirts. It struck me that there was a gap in the market for fun, colorful, vibrant yet faith-driven clothing. The idea began to grow in my mind as it evolved into designs that not only were cute apparel but also served as vessels for sharing meaningful Bible verses and concepts. For instance, the “whatever” sweatshirt was created by putting the contents and main points of the verse inside the letters of the word in a fun, bubbly font.
The journey continued as I started an entrepreneurship class that required me to “start” a t-shirt business in a month. This provided an opportunity to continue to expand upon my ideas. Over Thanksgiving break of 2022, I took a leap of faith, experimenting with my designs using my mom’s cricut and heat transfer vinyl. I shared these products on my personal Instagram to gauge interest, and the response was overwhelming with 30 Christmas orders placed. This marked the official birth of Radiate Truth.
Through every step of building my business, I’ve strived to be a storyteller as I share the journey of Radiate Truth. From humble beginnings on Instagram stories to the establishment of an Etsy shop and the introduction of new product lines like hats, the journey has been one of growth and learning.
Through it all, I’ve learned the importance of patience, strategic communication, and relationship-building in selling. Each interaction with a customer is an opportunity to share about my products and to connect on a deeper level and share the heart behind Radiate Truth, and I’m looking forward to continuing to do this.
BoweryJE22
Alex, love the post!
Not only is your small business super cool, but the story behind it is super fascinating. I love how you added that you understood the balance between traditional selling and non-sales selling, which is crucial for an entrepreneur. I also love how you added that each interaction with a customer is an opportunity to tell them what you’re selling, but also tell them the story behind it. That’s the best kind of selling!
Always amazing to see someone doing this in the real world. The experiences you have because you’ve been through it are invaluable and I think the way you use sales opportunities to deepen relationships and share the heart behind your business is incredible.