Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Chialtas.
Hi Debbie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Noodles Laces was a little experiment that really worked out!
I love tie dyeing and textile arts, so during Covid, I started an upcycled, hand-dyed clothing business. It was struggling to catch on. One day, when I was ordering more dye supplies, I noticed the shop carried shoelaces. As a roller skater, I wanted to try some for my skates. So, I got the longest length they had, dyed them up, and my laces became my best-selling item!
Once I realized what a great business model the laces would be, I bit the bullet and ordered literally thousands of pairs (the minimum order) of white cotton laces, custom-made to fit roller skates (even the longest available shoelaces were too short for most skates). I opened my online store and started posting on Instagram, and voila! I’ll celebrate 3 years of business in June.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The thrill of launching Noodles was exhilarating! My timing was excellent.
In 2020, roller skating skyrocketed in popularity due to the lockdown. I launched my business in June of 2021, so not only were there tons of new, passionate roller-skaters, but it was also the beginning of the summer skating season. So, immediately, I was super busy.
I do everything myself – content creation, graphic design, e-commerce management, dyeing laces, packaging, filling orders, designing new items, etc! I wanted to meet all of the demand, including offering wholesale to shops, but this turned out to be too hard to manage with all of the retail orders coming in.
In 2022, I went strictly retail. Some of my videos and photos on Instagram got huge exposure. In June of 2022, I sold $9000 worth of laces. It was intense, and I worked my tail off.
By the end of 2022, I was pretty exhausted. The busy season ends around September, so things were quieter, but in a way, I was addicted to the pace of orders. Being slower didn’t entirely feel like a relief.
In early 2023, I was managing some heavy family stuff. I realized that I needed to take a break and take care of my mental and emotional health. I stepped away from Noodles in April, not knowing if I would start again.
After months of soul searching, I realized that Noodles is my calling. Not only do I love color, design, and roller skating, but I love the connection it gives me with people all over the world. The skating community is the most loving, supportive collection of people I’ve ever known.
Since relaunching Noodles in January, it’s like I never left. Coming back has felt like a warm hug.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My background and degree is in fashion design. Although I love clothing, I never felt like designing clothes was my strength. Color, however, always lit up my heart.
I have tie-dyed off and on since the 1990s. It was just a hobby, but I loved it so much that I often taught workshops at my place of employment or at my home.
When the pandemic began, I pulled out my stash of tie-dyed fabrics and started sewing masks. When I ran out of scraps, I ordered cotton sheets and dyed more so I could make more masks. Although I had been dyeing fabric for almost 30 years at this point, I never considered making it a job. Suddenly, I had a reason to just dye fabric. I was so excited and inspired!
Now that Noodles is established, my shop is known for vibrant colors, beautiful gradients, fun color combinations, and creative textile treatments. I keep trying new things and am now developing a line of custom-dyed clothing! So, things are coming full circle!
How do you think about luck?
I believe in luck to a degree, but I also think that seeing an opportunity and jumping on it is key. In my case, I was searching for a new profession during the pandemic and saw a way that I could combine several of my skill sets and passions. It was like the planets aligned! Noodles was meant to be.
Pricing:
- Shoelaces start at $11.99
- Roller skate laces go up to $20.99
Contact Info:
- Website: noodleslaces.com
- Instagram: noodleslaces
- Other: Reddit: noodleslaces
