From Influencer to Founder: Krista LeRay's Journey to Building Penny Linn Designs

Krista LeRay first made a name for herself as a lifestyle influencer, sharing her daily outfits and adventures with her social followers. But after falling back in love with needlepoint during the pandemic, she spotted an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to this traditional craft. Enter Penny Linn Designs - the needlepoint kit company Krista built from scratch, combining her eye for design with her knack for creating content that resonates. Fast forward to today, and Penny Linn has grown into a multi-million dollar brand, with Krista at the helm as Founder and CEO. For many influencers, the idea of starting a business feels like a natural evolution. After all, when you've spent years building a loyal community and honing your skills in content creation, marketing, and connecting with an audience, you've got a leg up in the entrepreneurship game. But taking that leap from influencer to founder isn’t simple. It means stepping into a whole new world of product development, team building, financial planning - not to mention pushing past the inevitable self-doubt and imposter syndrome. In this episode of The Marketing Factor, Krista shares raw insights on what it takes to make the jump from content creator to business owner, and how her influencer background has shaped her approach every step of the way.