Hi fellow Females of Filadelphia readers 🌻 Hope everyone is staying safe and practicing self-care. I am so pumped about today’s story spotlight: Becca! I met Becca a few years ago and was so excited when I saw she was starting her own brand. Quarantine ruined a lot of things for the Class of 2020, but Becca was inspired during this time and went after what she’s always wanted to do! During this interview, Becca talks about the challenges that come with starting a small business and all the things that inspired her company: Merak Activewear. But before I give too much away, let’s start the interview…
1. QUESTION
What inspired you to start your instagram account @balanced_becs (a health & wellness account that preceded Merak)?
BECCA
Health and fitness has always been a passion of mine, but growing up, I was always shy and didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself. As soon as quarantine hit, I had a sort of mental shift where I realized I wasn’t doing anything for myself that I wanted to do. I always wanted to take my fitness journey to the next level and educate myself more in that area. I created @balanced_becs almost as a motivator for me to stay on track, stay focused with my goals and it ended up turning into a place where people were asking for advice. It felt really great seeing it turn into a community of girls that were on the same journey to wellness and health.
It felt really great seeing it turn into a community of girls that were on the same journey to wellness and health.
Becca, Owner of Merak Activewear
2. QUESTION
Yes! I love your health recipes on that account and try to recreate them sometimes. Transitioning into your business how did @balanced_becs turn into @merakactivewear? Where did that inspiration come from?
BECCA
Yeah @merakactivewear also started with quarantine. My dad was asking me, “What do you want to do?” And I was just thinking, “I’ll apply to jobs and just figure something out”. And he was like, “No but really, what do you want to do?” My dream was always to be to go back to school and get a degree in nutrition but stay connected to that field in the meantime. And although this sounds corny, activewear was always where I wanted to spend my money. Putting on a pair of leggings or a sports bra is what motivates me.
3. QUESTION
And what was that process like? How long did it take?
BECCA
I started researching and found a manufacturer in China. I worked with a rep there, starting in March, the past several months. It was a lot of time sending samples back and forth, giving my take on some designs, and then, eventually, working on the website and things like that. We didn’t get the final designs until July. There’s a lot I didn’t think about at first like packaging, and marketing, but it all came together at the end!
4. QUESTION
There’s definitely so much people don’t notice! What is your #1 advice as a new business owner to people who want to take that leap and start something themselves?
BECCA
My number one advice is to just do it. There’s really no reason not to do something you want to do. I think something that always helps me is knowing that someone is always going to have something to say. I’ve already gotten some negative feedback and some amazing positive support. You have to put yourself out there. I put myself out there and I’m learning and growing as I go. I’m 22 years old and I hope that I can grow old with my business.
You have to put yourself out there. I put myself out there and I’m learning and growing as I go.
Becca, Owner of Merak Activewear
5. QUESTION
To a certain extent it’s like the saying goes “all press is good press”. If people are already talking about you, that means you’re reaching people with your brand. That probably ties into my next question which is: what has been the hardest part of starting @merakactivewear?
BECCA
I think the biggest challenge is expanding sizing as a small business. It’s our goal one day to be able to accommodate everyone and reach all of our customers!
6. QUESTION
It definitely sounds like a challenge lots of small businesses encounter but I’m sure as your brand grows, those options will grow with it. Okay time for my last question, what’s something people wouldn’t know about you from your accounts?
BECCA
I think a lot of people think I’m super healthy and work out every single day. But that’s not always the reality. I try to live a healthy lifestyle because it’s good for my mental health and that’s what I try to promote. Merak is all about moving your body in a way that makes you happy and frees your mind because that’s what working out does for me. You can’t always see that reality on my IG accounts even if I try to point it out. I always think “you have the ability to move your body and some people don’t” and it wakes me up every single day because it’s such a beautiful gift we are given to even be able to go on a walk. It doesn’t matter what you do, just move your body.
VALERIA
I really love that advice and will definitely keep it with me every time I wake up. It’s so important to be grateful for the things we take for granted. Thank you so much again Becca for doing this interview! For all my readers, make sure to check out Merak and support Becca’s small business if you can!
If you liked Becca’s story and want to read more like it, make sure to follow our Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on new stories coming out! Stay safe 💛 XOXO, V
Images on this blog post are not mine. All credit to the photographer @mikestyerphotography.