Join us on the entrepreneurial journey of Hell Babes, a lifestyle brand founded by motorcycle enthusiast Jessica Wise, also founder of The Litas, an all-female motorcycle group. This case study explores Jessica's experiences as a female entrepreneur in the motorcycle industry, the challenges she faced as a small business owner, and how Shopify Capital fueled Hell Babes' remarkable growth.
Jessica's love for motorcycles ignited when she witnessed a woman riding through her university campus. Inspired by this encounter, she purchased her own bike a year later, marking the beginning of her motorcycle journey. Recognizing the evolving landscape for women riders, she founded Hell Babes to create a brand celebrating freedom and empowerment in motorcycle culture.
Challenge: Navigating the Speed Bumps of Small Business Ownership
As a small business owner, Jessica faced numerous challenges. From managing cash flow to acquiring customers and ensuring timely product delivery, she had to tackle a wide range of daily obstacles. However, Jessica's entrepreneurial spirit thrived on problem-solving, finding excitement in overcoming obstacles. Despite the difficulties, she embraced the dynamic nature of entrepreneurship, which kept her engaged and motivated.
Initially, Jessica relied on credit cards to support Hell Babes' growth, unaware of the need for alternative funding. But as her business expanded, she realized the limitations of this approach. Jessica discovered Shopify Capital through her store dashboard, which presented her with funding options tailored to her business. Intrigued by the simplicity and ease of the process, she saw Shopify Capital as a viable solution to fuel Hell Babes' growth.
Solution: Accelerating Growth with Shopify Capital
Jessica found several advantages in using Shopify Capital over traditional credit cards and other funding options. Firstly, the interest rates offered by Shopify Capital were significantly lower, providing a more favorable financial arrangement. Additionally, the funding was based on Hell Babes' sales, instilling confidence in both Jessica and Shopify that the loan could be repaid. The automated repayment process, deducting small amounts from daily sales, made it seamless and unobtrusive, allowing Jessica to focus on growing her business.
“The first time that I needed Shopify Capital was when we started spending money on ads. We ran them on Instagram and Facebook. I think it was just the next step necessary to reach a broader audience in comparison to what we could do organically. It opened up a bunch of doors that were previously closed. We had grown organically until this point, but when we started running ads, our sales nearly doubled.” Jessica Wise – CEO, Hell Babes
Jessica highlighted the challenges of navigating funding options outside of Shopify Capital. She described the relentless calls from various financing companies, making it difficult to discern legitimate offers from predatory lending. The complicated process of applying for credit lines and waiting for approval was not only time-consuming, but also frustrating. In contrast, Shopify Capital provided a streamlined and trustworthy solution, eliminating the need to explore alternative funding sources.
Results: Hell Babes' Rapid Growth with Shopify Capital
Since launching her Shopify store in 2017, Jessica has fostered a strong relationship with the platform. Encouraged by her positive experience, she turned to Shopify Capital for funding and has successfully secured multiple rounds.
With Shopify Capital, Hell Babes was able to:
- Secure eight rounds of funding
- Get cash in as fast as two or three days
- Double sales through ad spend
- Invest in inventory and growth with cash flow
Hell Babes' journey illustrates the challenges and triumphs of a small business in a niche market. Jessica's passion for motorcycles and determination to create an empowering brand have propelled Hell Babes forward. With Shopify Capital support, Jessica successfully funded her inventory, overcame financial obstacles, and focused on scaling her business. And as Hell Babes continues to grow, Jessica remains committed to reaching new customers and pushing the industry's boundaries.
“Being a small business owner, there are different problems to solve from cash flow to finding customers and Shopify capital was crucial.”
Unlock your capital offer today - check eligibility now! To learn more about Shopify Capital visit Shopify.com/capital/2024.
All loans through Shopify Capital in the United States are issued by WebBank.
