This month we are talking to Mica Pflug, a senior Entrepreneurship major, about her business
Tell us a little about Rags Related.
It is an online boutique that sells everyday clothing items for the modern day woman. We strive to deliver affordable, trendy, confident clothing pieces in an ethical manner; always returning back to our main focuses on environmental sustainability, self-improvement, and women’s empowerment. We hold ourselves to a high standard of integrity and truly value our customer relationships in order to promote equal opportunity for all — but especially to women who may be in specific need of that opportunity.
I got started a few years ago by re-selling thrifted items I had purchased at my local thrift store. I’ve always had a passion for saving money and finding hidden treasures, so I started an Instagram page dedicated to selling a curation of clothes that I had previously been interested in myself. My company has evolved over the past three years, and I now have a website, a business partner, and have established a relationship with Zach from LaunchNET over this past summer, when he helped me out with some milestone planning and extra advice when I needed it.
What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture?
I took a speaker-series course in Entrepreneurship early in my college career, as a student undecided about her major. I fell completely in love with the idea of working for yourself and being your own boss. I liked the concept of limitless potential in what you earn, and your production matching your grind — without the middle man taking your hard-earned money and under-appreciating you.
What's the best entrepreneurial advice you’ve gotten?
Be unafraid. You will miss 100% of the shots you don't take, and by letting fear run your mind and dictate how you put your skills to use, you will never be ready to take that next step you've been waiting for. Take the step even if you aren't ready. Take the step even if it is unsteady. Be brave, follow your passion, listen to the world around you as they react to you, and keep moving forward even if it scares you; move forward ESPECIALLY if it scares you.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur/innovator?
I would say that the top three skills someone needs to be a successful entrepreneur are perseverance, drive, and ambition. To be a successful entrepreneur and innovator, one must understand that the work will go as far as you do. When working for yourself, you are your own greatest limitation. You must understand that failure is a vital part of the process, and you must have the courage to keep getting back up after you fail — even if you fail one-thousand-and-one times in a row. You need perseverance to do that. It is up to you to get yourself up in the morning and make the most of your day.
We all have the same 24 hours. It is your responsibility to make them count. You need drive to do that. You don't need a million dollar idea, or to create the next iPhone. You must be flexible and willing to try new things, while listening to the feedback you get and not getting discouraged by it. Always be ready to pivot if that's what it takes to make the money. You need ambition do this. The best news is this: most people already have all three of these skills. You get ahead in this game by putting those skills to work.
Favorite entrepreneurial book or movie?
Although these may not be your typically thought of entrepreneurship movies, I love Anne Hathaway in both The Intern and The Devil Wears Prada. I'd recommend them both, with some tissues and a glass of wine. They aren't sad movies, they'll just inspire you and make you shed a tear for the female entrepreneur everywhere.
How has being an entrepreneur helped your studies and/or college life?
Being an entrepreneur means working for yourself, and this means that every success and every failure is felt intensely. It's important not to get discouraged, because as soon as you stop the work, you limit your own potential. I've learned to apply this principle within my college life by recognizing that "coasting" through classes isn't an option. Class work does not wait for anyone, and you have to keep the bigger picture in mind when the work load gets tough. Keep moving towards your goals and final destinations! When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
What have you always wanted to try?
Skydiving! Scares me to even admit it, but I feel like the exhilaration would be hard to beat.
What problem do you wish you could solve?
Homelessness. I feel like everybody should have the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, AND a place to call home. Everybody should be entitled to that. That's a basic necessity for a human being and a liftable weight that should be a right guaranteed at birth. How do we make that happen?