60 - Building a Business on Your Own Terms with Brooke Happe from b.e. happe designs Artwork

Local to Legend

Local to Legend is the podcast for local business owners like you, looking for the resources and tools needed to create a scalable, profitable, simply irresistible brand. What makes local businesses different than small businesses? Local businesses have their own little ecosystems they work within. Some local business owners have the hopes of being sold to Unilever (Schmidt’s) or getting a HGTV show (Joanna Gaines) or being sold in Target (Ben & Jerry’s). Others want to be a legend in their own community where people know, love, trust, and refer them all the time. The cool thing about being a legend is it’s fairly subjective, right? We have legends in Des Moines, Iowa (my home base), but they aren’t legends in the country. We have legends in the country, but they aren’t legends in the world. What I’ve come to discover in hundreds of conversations with local business owner is this: they desire MORE for themselves. They want to expand, but how? They want to grow their business, but what do they do? They want to pivot, but what will that mean? Local to Legend is about that conversation. And I'm thrilled to have you here.

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Local to Legend

60 - Building a Business on Your Own Terms with Brooke Happe from b.e. happe designs

April 11, 2022 • Emily Steele

In this week’s podcast episode, Emily chats with Brooke Happe, owner of b.e. happe designs, an evergreen apparel brand. Brooke joins to share more about her unconventional business and life path, running b.e. happe as she travels the country with her family in an RV, crocheting hats and producing products.

In 2015, Brooke stepped away from her role as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and opted to stay home with her two young boys and a daughter on the way. She started crocheting hats to keep her hands strong, intending to go back to work one day. But then more and more people started asking for the hats they saw Brooke wearing and b.e. happe was born.

In 2019, Brooke and her husband decided they wanted to enjoy this season of life with young children for as long as possible so they sold almost all of their belongings, bought an RV and have been traveling the country ever since. She’s continued to grow her business from a one-woman-show to a team of twelve, selling her products directly to her consumers and through wholesale.

Brooke joins to chat more about taking the leap and choosing a path that’s a little less traveled. She shares the experiences that led up to the change in her life and how she’s continued to stay happy on the road. Brooke explains why b.e. happe also offers a portion of their profits to children’s hospitals and child life services. Listen for a peek into her business and the reason why flexibility is such an important trait to have as an entrepreneur. Brooke hopes to dispel any misconceptions our listeners may have about believing you need to have all the tools, space and processes ready to go before you start. Just start!

If you’re someone who likes to venture off the predictable path and do things a little differently, tune in to this episode with Brooke!

Tune in for topics like:

Brooke’s leap into entrepreneurship
What it’s like to sell everything and live the RV lifestyle
How to tap into the resources you already have
External factors to be aware of in your business
How to live without regrets

Links from the episode:

b.e. happe website
b.e. happe Instagram
b.e. happe Facebook

Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!