From a childhood business selling painted buckeyes to a multi-million dollar loungewear brand, Kelly Degnan has always been a creative entrepreneur. She built Skivys Femme from a simple idea during the pandemic into a seven-figure success story, only to face a domain hack and an inventory crisis that threatened to derail it all.
In this episode, Kelly shares her rollercoaster journey, from bootstrapping her first business to making the tough decision to sell—even when her books weren't at their peak.
You’ll learn:
- How a simple problem during the pandemic turned into a seven-figure business
- The pros and cons of bootstrapping your brand to millions in revenue
- The devastating impact of a domain hack and how to protect your business
- Why "off-peak" sales seasons can present the biggest challenges
- How to find the right broker who will be a "therapist" through the emotional journey of selling
- The surprising benefits of a fast sale with a strategic buyer
- The joy of staying on with the new company and focusing only on the work you love
Timestamps:
00:01:00 – From a childhood side hustle to launching Skivys Femme
00:05:41 – Bootstrapping and finding the perfect overseas manufacturer
00:10:00 – How ad agencies and then a single expert helped drive massive growth
00:15:20 – The "Oh crap" moment: a domain hack and inventory crisis
00:20:41 – Why Kelly started exploring an exit
00:23:05 – Eric Pittman's initial advice on selling and when the timing is right
00:27:00 – The benefits of selling to a strategic buyer
00:28:03 – Staying on and focusing on the roles you love
00:29:19 – Kelly's advice for other business owners thinking about an exit
00:32:41 – Introducing her new brand, Vital Youth Blends (Vibe)
00:37:34 – How Kelly celebrated the sale with her son
For 30% off from Kelly's new product, go to https://www.vitalyouthblends.com/ and use promo code VIBE30.
This episode of Deal Closers is hosted by Jason Gillikin, brought to you by WebsiteClosers.com, and is produced by Walk West.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.