Meet Chloe Gardiner, an entrepreneur from Co Galway who founded The Wonky Woolins at the young age of 15 years old. Chloe has won many awards for her business already. The Wonky Woolins have been sold at the Arnotts’ Christmas fair and John Lewis in Co Dublin.
Where did you get the idea for The Wonky Woolins?
Six handmade toys were passed through my family for generations. When my granny passed these toys down to me, I knew that because they had been handmade with such high-quality materials and such age-old techniques, they would last for many more generations. I realised that toys today lack that same handmade longevity and character, not to mention how little they care for the world, or the people who made them. This inspired me to start The Wonky Woolins as a teenager with just €50, and a box of wool, at home.
How did your idea become a business?
I launched The Wonky Woolins in Transition Year. Throughout my final years of school, I ran the business on a small scale, but I knew I wanted to pursue it fulltime. After my Leaving Cert, I took a gap year to focus on it, and later enrolled in a commerce degree at the University of Galway.
I found that college wasn’t for me; I preferred hands-on learning, and felt that the coursework didn’t reflect the business world I was already navigating. So, I made the decision to leave, so that I could fully commit to The Wonky Woolins. By then, the business was growing to the point where I could make a salary, and I had job offers, so I felt secure in my choice – even without a degree.
What has been the biggest challenge to date?
The biggest challenge we’ve faced is production. For the first three or four years, I made all the toys myself. There were many 20-hour days when I’d stumble into college after spending an all-nighter producing orders. I didn’t want to outsource production to a faceless factory, so I sought ethical alternatives. We now partner with non-profits, social enterprises, and fair-trade manufacturers that employ marginalised women. Training has taken time, and production issues have been stressful, but we now have reliable partners.
Is money a big motivator for you?
No entrepreneur is in it just for the money. We go through too much, and often earn too little, for that to be the only reason. My biggest motivation is doing what I love every day; whether that’s creating new products, developing our Woolin Wisdom web series, or knowing our toys are providing fair work for women in difficult situations worldwide.
It may not be on your horizon yet, but have you considered pension plans?
I will be brutally honest and say that, at 22 years old, retirement is something I rarely think about, but I will begin squaring away for it in the near future.
Do you follow the stock market or have any plans to invest?
It’s an area that interests me. I occasionally read about it, but for now my focus is on growing my business. With more business and life experience, I’ll explore these areas.
What’s the best money advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to invest in production partners. I’ve bootstrapped the business from the start, which made me cautious about spending. Over time, I’ve learned that instead of working with multiple suppliers for lower costs, it’s better to invest in strong partners; building a symbiotic relationship that benefits both sides.
You can buy The Wonky Woolins online at www.thewonkywoolins.com @thewonkywoolins
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