Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Ullrich.
Hi Iris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, I had just gotten back from India, where I finished my yoga teacher license. With all Gyms and workout places closed, I could not start teaching Yoga as planned. Instead, I started making face masks for my family, neighbors and friends. I also put about 10 masks on my Etsy shop, to see if I could sell them. I could not believe it but in less than 10 minutes my masked were sold online. Highly motivated I added more and more and more again. For about a month I could hardly keep up, getting the supplies, making masks and shipping them. In May the mask business slowed down for me. The gyms slowly started reopening and I was ready to go and teach Yoga. When the impossible happened, I ruptured my Achillis tendon. This put an end to my Yoga career for now, maybe even forever. Trapped at home, not being able to walk or leave the house by myself, actually, I was not even able to shower myself. I got depressed and had way too much time to think. My left leg was injured, but my right foot was fine. Nothing could stop me, I sat on the sawing machine all day, back to making face masks. At about the same time we fostered a dog, Toffee. My leg slowly healed, and I learned to walk again. Toffee gave me the love and the confidence I needed. (I don’t think I need to mention, that we failed the foster and adopted Toffee) With my love for Toffee the urge to dress him and match with him grew. So, I made a bandana for him to match my face mask. And I made another set and another one. I gave them to friends as gifts, and all my friends absolutely loved it. They wanted to get Bandana-Mask Sets for their friends and told me I should sell them. This is how in February 2021 Shop Shantii was born.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Mainly I had to learn how to run a business. This includes tasks like finding a business name and designing a Logo, building and running a website, taking product photos, creating social media content and posting regular, running sales and promotions, creating marketing material and teaching Toffee how to model. 😉
Another challenge was the space issues in a two-bedroom house. This sounds like nothing. But let me tell you it is not easy to share a 150 square feet room with your step kids and a queen-size bed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shop Shantii?
Shop Shantii is a local, woman owned business in south Minneapolis. I make pet bandanas and matching accessories for humans. My main focus is on dog bandanas and matching scrunchies or matching scarfs for the owner. All products are handmade in Minneapolis with great attention to detail.
Things are changing, my husband got transferred to CA (through work). In April Toffee, my Husband and me are moving to Oakland, CA area. While we move, I will most likely close my website for a little bit. After we settle in, I will continue my business from there.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I am born and raised in Germany. Every Friday afternoon I would go to my grandma’s house, where she spoiled me and my cousin with homemade cake. Afterwards, we played games and watched TV together (I was not allowed to watch TV at home).
Pricing:
- bandana size S – $16
- bandana size M – $18
- bandana size L – $20
Contact Info:
- Email: iris@shopshantii.com
- Website: www.shopshantii.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopshantii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shopshantii
