More Questions from Andrea

We are SO excited to have made the top 10 in the 5xHIVE Seed Grant through Wunderkammer in Fort Wayne. And Megan Elizabeth's cousin, Andrea, was also pretty excited. (Remember Andrea? She asks a lot of questions!). 

In her excitement, she, of course, had some extra questions for us. And we are happy to answer them! 

Andrea: How to you plan to expand your business?
Traci: Right now our focus is on getting a storefront, expanding past our own kitchens to a place where we can interact with our customers in a space designed just for this project. 
Megan Elizabeth: I believe that our business values will lead us to meeting the needs of our customers. With a strong base, anything can grow. I'd like to see the Narwhal and the Manatee be the hub for expansion all around the world. Fort Wayne could act as our solid center, similar to what Vera Bradley is in the world of purses and bags!

Andrea: What do you see as your gateway to success?
Traci: Persistence and our faith in what we are creating and trying to accomplish. We know that we can have small failures along the way and that we can overcome them. The bumps along the way aren't going to stop us, they will drive us.
Megan Elizabeth: Honesty.  Traci and I both live our lives with a high expectation of integrity, which also applies to our business. I believe that being transparent in what we are making and how we relate to our employees and customers will be what sets us apart and launches our business forward.

Andrea: Where do you see yourselves in five years?
Both: We believe we will have a manufacturing hub in Fort Wayne, a strong online presence and shops in various cities all over the USA (and maybe the world!).
Traci: My personal goal is that I want to be finishing up my Master's degree in whatever form of European history that I can.
Megan Elizabeth: Traveling, both for research and for pleasure. I want to be able to see the whole world and bring what I learn back to help make this community stronger. I want my children to grow with an understanding that life looks different in other places, and those lives are exciting and enriching. I want my husband and I to grow closer and gain more tools for raising responsible adults (which, in my opinion, is the greatest gift I could ever give to the world). 

This is Andrea. She is 16 and beautiful. She's spent a LOT of time with Megan Elizabeth and Traci, helping in the kitchen, going on vacations, and keeping them both on their toes. She's smart and thoughtful. We are SO proud of her and super happy that she keeps asking questions. It keeps us thinking and dreaming. Keep it up, Andrea!

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