Meet Cynthia Sadler of Signature Cuffs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Sadler.

Cynthia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
With a degree in Public Relations, I started my career for a major Houston bank in 1979. I married and moved to Fort Worth where I worked in the banking industry for the next thirty years, attempting to climb that proverbial corporate ladder.

I worked for three banks, served on more than fifty committees and sat on more than a dozen different boards. Through those experiences, I received a first-hand education in business management and built many relationships within the business community. I learned the importance of personal integrity and how your personal appearance and confidence level can impact how well other professionals perceive you.

In 2015, I was scheduled to attend an after-work event where a prestigious network of business professionals would be in attendance. I wanted an easy way to transform my work attire into an after-five, professional look. I searched online for a French cuff accessory but could not find such an item. That is when I began to toy with the idea of creating the product myself. Over the next two years, I continued to think about my idea and discussed the possibility with friends and colleagues who encouraged me, talked me through the process and even helped me lay out a plan for implementing my idea.

In January 2017, I began working at a rapid pace to put my idea into action. I was fortunate, through my business connections, to line up a team to help me make Signature Cuffs a reality. Signature Cuffs LLC officially launched in August 2017, just nine months after my retirement. Our website went live in October 2017, and since that time we have worked tirelessly with manufacturers in New York City’s garment district, with distribution, fulfillment and assembly companies here in Fort Worth and designers and artists across Texas.

We opened our headquarters in the eclectic, Near Southside District of Fort Worth with plans to expand our operation within the same neighborhood. We have a creative team of six amazing professionals whom I respect immensely and enjoy working with on every project. Their ability to think outside the proverbial box to help us focus, energize and strategically tackle each and every challenge keeps me on my toes. It’s their work ethic and enthusiasm for our growing business that keeps me grounded and humbled.

Signature Cuffs launched with Corporate Cuffs and quickly expanded with the Christmas Cuff Collection, our Collegiate Collection (including our licensed TCU Cuffs) and our newest Cowgirl Chic Collection, which just debuted in the Western Market at Dallas Market Center in March.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I won’t say it has been a smooth road to launch Signature Cuffs, because it’s expensive and risky and scary to put your hard-earned money up to ‘try’ a new endeavor, but it has taught me the value of finding really talented people with whom you place your trust to make every day count. One of the things I enjoy the most about owning my company is making a difference in the lives of others.

We have been able to accomplish more than we thought possible in less than a year of doing business. Certainly, we have hit bumps along the road, from delaying the launch of our e-commerce website to often trying to take advantage of opportunities at the eleventh hour. However, I think the road bumps we have experienced are par for the course when it comes to entrepreneurship. I am very fortunate to have a brain trust of advisors to call on in any situation and a supportive community to surround us along the journey.

The main challenge (and opportunity) for Signature Cuffs is customer education and awareness. Because we have a one-of-kind product, not previously available on the market, women do not know we exist. We are using every marketing tool at our disposal to build awareness about the products and how they are used. We continue to search for new avenues, partnerships and strategies that will help us make big strides in this particular business challenge.

Please tell us about Signature Cuffs.
Signature Cuffs are a never-before-seen, faux-French Cuff accessory for women. They are easily fastened around the wrist and can be worn under any long-sleeved blouse, jacket, dress or sweater to transform the look of the clothes women love to wear. Signature Cuffs are the first fashion accessories of their kind and allow our customers to maximize their existing wardrobe. It is our goal to help women boost their self-confidence by providing a way to elevate the clothes they feel most comfortable wearing.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
There’s something to be said about starting a business with a well-known product that’s in demand, but that’s not where we started!

In fact, it was quite the opposite … a new product requiring tremendous effort to “get out there” AND educate the customer! With that said, I would do it ALL again! Every challenge we faced has been overcome and/or met as an opportunity. We’ve been methodical about introducing each new cuff design and category — from debuting our Christmas / Holiday cuffs at the Bass Performance Hall to unveiling our Cowgirl Chic category at the Dallas Western Market. We maintained diligence for acquiring our collegiate license with TCU; we added experts to our team appropriately; sought professional council as needed; and worked tirelessly to accomplish ‘one more step forward’ each day.

In manufacturing, we’ve learned just because we print it doesn’t mean we have to sew it; purchasing 6k designer boxes at once saves a lot of money, and industry relationships are key. We are rock solid with the tools needed to continue on this journey. Our unique product design, vendors and providers, inventory, a beautiful website and social media presence, and our phenomenal CUFF team are all crucial to building a stronger market presence. We will continue catering to our target market; partnering with industry Influencers and educating our customers to build brand recognition to take Cuff sales to the next level.

Contact Info:

• Address: 705 W Magnolia Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76104
• Website: www.signaturecuffs.com
• Phone: 866.SIG.CUFF (866.744.2833)
• Email: info@signaturecuffs.com

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