After seeing real poverty around her, Sarah decided to use her love for design to create something bigger that would help those who struggle to make ends meet.
She started Givesie where she designs the most adorable Onsies! She donates a portion of her profits to local charities in her area.
Read her feature below to see how she is growing her business and where she wants to go with this amazing brand!
Tell us about yourself.
Hey there! My name is Sarah Baig. I was born in Miami, FL - but moved to Portland, OR with my family when I was 10 years old. Been living here ever since! After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics, I worked in the financial industry for a few years at Morgan Stanley…But had this itch to do something more, something that I was passionate about. There was a part of me that always had a love for the design industry. I remember doodling on napkins as a kid and would ask for art kits and paint sets for birthdays and holidays!
My mom would sew clothes for me when I was young and I’d love watching her create patterns, cut fabric and then sew them into these beautiful outfits! I grew up learning to sew and would design and buy patterns with the money I would save from my summer jobs and would design and create my own pieces and do the same for friends and family.
Though, this was just a side hobby initially – While working at Morgan Stanley – the urge I was having, to do something that was more fulfilling - grew bigger, I knew I needed to shift gears in order to fill the void.
Hence, I decided to leave the corporate world, take a leap of faith and pursue my MFA in apparel design, with my supportive husband and family by my side every step of the way.
How did you get into your business?
Growing up in a traditional Pakistani home, pursuing careers in medicine, law and engineering are considered prestigious. Therefore, my family wanted me to follow in the same footsteps. I however, had no interest in any of those fields! Even though I received by Bachelor’s degree in Economics - thinking I would pursue law to make my family proud, I just didn’t have the desire to invest the time and money into it. It took some time for my family to open up to the idea of me chasing a dream that was very non-conventional, but when they finally came around to it – I had this weight lifted off my shoulders and I hit the ground running!
After visiting family in Pakistan over the years, seeing the level of poverty and families living on the streets with their children, broke my heart and I felt this passion to use my love for design and do something that would also help local families in need. I love kids and have always enjoyed working with them, so I felt that this was the path for me!
Thus, the idea of Givesie was born while I was in graduate school working on my thesis. Givesie is a play on the word “Give” and “Onesie” All apparel is made in the USA of 100% organic cotton. Every baby bodysuit comes with a snap-bib and with each purchase, we donate a portion of the proceeds to local charities in Portland that help families and children in need.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Breaking out of my shell and facing uncomfortable/challenging situations!
What do you wish you’d known when you started?
Focusing on my strengths and not trying to do it ALL – asking for help when necessary!
If you could narrow your success down to one thing, what would it be?
That I took a risk, invested in myself and went for it.
Where do you see yourself in a year?
Starting a family of my own and growing the Givesie brand.
What are your top three tips for women starting a business?
1) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
2) Be patient. “Rome was not built in a day”.
3) Put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable!
What is a typical day for you like?
My days vary; but usually consist of spending the first part of my morning going through emails – reaching out to bloggers, brands, local organizations regarding collaborations, hosting pop-ups/events, scheduling meetings -- in the afternoon; I spend time managing my social media accounts, posts, follows, likes -- while listening to an audiobook or podcasts! Alli Web’s Drybar podcast is fantastic! I’m also currently, listening to “Crushing It” by Gary Vaynerchuck.
Late afternoon; I update and manage my website and inventory, expense sheets, follow-up on emails, research and create blog content and coordinate seasonal photoshoots.
Some evenings are busier than others depending on my schedule and work load, but I try to purposely set aside time for myself in the evenings to recharge and regroup for the next day. My husband and I try to keep a couple evenings a week for ourselves to either catch-up over a home-cooked dinner, grab a bite out, watch a movie, workout (I love evening walks) and see family and friends. Balance is key!!!!
What’s your business motto or quote you live by?
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
If you were starting your business over again, what would you do differently?
I would hire a good lawyer, accountant/bookkeeper and keep careful track of all financial records.
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