Hear from Fellow Female Entrepreneurs—Home With Hechart

A struggle we face as people of a digital age, and especially as consumers of social media, is the temptation to believe only in the highlight reels of others. And perhaps as someone aspiring toward small business ownership, you’re tempted particularly to believe that others’ journeys were immediately rewarded with confidence, profits, and public success, and that you’re the only one facing the risk of failure and/or a long road ahead.

Here to help us resist comparison’s pressure to fold early are a series of previous Sela Vie clients who achieved success, not out of no where, but by walking the same road before you. They developed confidence by taking risks, churned profits by regrouping and reimagining until they found what works, and landed where they are today by staying in the game even when they felt unsure. Now they’re making waves across their industries, and we’re both proud to root for them and grateful for their openness as they lend us a realistic look into their inspiring stories.

Up first—Home With Hechart

Complete a fresh and timeless look. Achieve a lasting impression.

Home With Hechart is known for reliably curated furniture, decor, and gifts. Each team member believes deeply in the power of ‘home’ for representing unique identity, bonding close relationships, and creating lasting memories. They invite you to give, either to yourself or to someone you love, the gift of everyday comfort, joy, and confidence when you shop at Home With Hechart.

Founder and owner Alex Hechart answered the following questions.

How did the idea for Home With Hechart originate?
“Home With Hechart was born from a love of furniture and home decor that my mom and I have always shared! When we started, we had no idea what would come of it.”

How did you officially get started? Where did your first sale come from? 
“We first hosted a launch party at my mom’s house. We invited all of our friends and family out to support the idea, and it truly blew me away how supportive, encouraging, and welcoming everyone was toward us!”

When was the first ‘growth spurt’ for Home With Hechart, and what do you think was the trigger? 
”I feel like we’ve grown pretty gradually since 2020. There have certainly been pivotal points in our trajectory—for example, going from all online, to moving into an office, to eventually opening a physical store. But overall, growth has taken place pretty steadily and organically.”

How did you know if/when you were ready to support a physical location?
“Honestly, we just got to a point where we either needed to settle with the level of revenue we were generating or take a next big step to grow. We decided it was worth it to take the risk! It was very scary, but now we’re so happy we did it!”

How did you increase your reach (what marketing methods have worked, and which have not)? 
“We currently use Instagram and Facebook for our marketing, and both have proven to work well for us so far! In the coming months, we hope to examine additional options and strategies.”

What are some of the behind-the-scenes things you do that people might not know about, in case they’re exploring the idea of starting an e-commerce shop? 
“When you start an online business, you become not just the buyer, but also the organizer, accountant, shipper, and receptionist. You wear all the hats, especially at the beginning, and it can be a lot!”

What are your goals for 2023 and beyond?
“We want to continue to grow awareness of our store. We would love to be one of the main stores people think of when looking for furniture, home decor, and gifts!”