OEN Member Spotlight - Daniel Clancey of Homeschool Snowboarding
Homeschool Snowboarding designs and Manufactures highly breathable technical outerwear for the snowboard market featuring CoconaXcellerator technology.
Q: What does your business do?
A: Homeschool Snowboarding designs and manufactures technical snowboard apparel built on the cornerstones of durability, timeless design, and is functionality. We say if it works here in the Northwest it works anywhere.
Q: What problem does it solve?
A: Our product is based on 3 things: Breathability, Durability and Timelessness. Our stuff will last multiple seasons, is hyper breathable and not super trendy. We focus on good fabrics, colors and a timeless snowboard style.
Q: How did you come up with this business idea?
A: Really from my own experience working at large companies and being a snowboarder. With homeschool we address a lot of the “issues” I’ve had with outerwear for a long time. Breathability is Key and a big part of our technical story. Our stuff is all about being functional and not trying too hard to follow any specific trend. That, and basically create a product with far fewer compromises. What we end up with is very close to what we startedwith. Not a lot of bigger companies can really say that.
Q: What are your biggest challenges?
A: Manufacturing costs and minimums require a significantly large investment. Also development time from concept to market is typically quite long for this type of product.
Q: What are your goals for the company?
A: Short term our goal is to ship all our product on time, we are on plan to accomplish that. For Year two, to expand our reach to the rest of the country and Canada and secure some financing. Beyond that to grow the product line and go international.
Q: Are you looking for funding?
A: Yes, we are beginning that process and hope to get in front of some investors in the fall.
Q: What would funding enable you to do?
A: It would help us flush out our team. We are doing this very bare bones at the moment people wise. It would allow us to hire on some full time help and expand our reach.
Q: Have you been an entrepreneur before?
A: No, my Dad was an entrepreneur and founded a successful business so it’s something I’ve aspired to. I guess it’s in my blood so to speak.
Q: What brought you to OEN? What do you hope to gain from membership?
A: I came to OEN to learn from other people trying to get something going and connect with the entrepreneurial community.
Q: What has been the biggest surprise in your entrepreneurial experience to date?
A: There have been many. Probably that being an entrepreneur is a mindset. Whatever business you happen to be starting is almost secondary. To do this you have to really be willing to put your head down and do whatever it takes and have the long term goal in mind. It takes a great deal of conviction and perseverance. I ‘ve found a lot of entrepreneurs have those qualities.
Q: What has been the best entrepreneurial advice you’ve received?
A: Take the hard road and keep your eye on the prize...and don’t quit.