Meet sonia horn | Founder, Co-Owner and Creative Developer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with sonia horn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi sonia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
What was your thought process behind starting your business?

I would have to say that there were two main components that inspired me to start my business. First, I wanted to create a quality product that connected children to one another, just as well-known children’s brands like Disney, Sesame Street, and Nickelodeon did for me. Those popular children’s brands offer joyous memories to children all around the world.
No matter what language a young child may speak, they are usually familiar with the name and image of “Mickey Mouse” (the main character associated with the Disney brand). The Mickey Mouse character acts as a universal emotion of joy, excitement, and wonder, an emotion that connects not only adults but children to one another. This symbol allows children to share a language that was thoughtfully crafted with them in mind. The concept of connection captivated me, I began to truly understand the value in it, so I wanted to offer children my own rendition of a beautiful connector.

The second components that inspired my entrepreneur endeavors are my lifestyle and personality.
As a creative, educator, and up-and- coming female entrepreneur, I was motivated to create quality products that offers the same aspects that inspired me as a child: impactful, innovative, enjoyable, and vibrant products.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
ZuZoo Kids ( Zuri’s Zoo Kids) is a children’s zoo-themed shoe centered around early childhood education. Our ZuZoo Shoe offers several beautiful, unique and vibrant styles, designed with young children in mind. What sets the ZuZoo Kids brand apart from others is my personal story. As an early childhood educator, developer, and art/culture enthusiast, I have been able to create a brand that includes the many facets of my professional and creative experience. This is evident when observing the different elements that make up the ZuZoo Kids brand. I have included my love for fashion, culture, animals, color, contrast, art, conversation, innovation, and my 20 years of experience as an early childhood educator. These specific elements make the ZuZoo Kids brand the distinctive and vibrant brand it is today.

I am most proud of my reliance, commitment, and grit. Like many fouders and owners of a small businesses—may find, starting a business is no easy feat. There are many ebbs and flows that arise when starting a new business. At times, these challenges not only test your professional skill set but also who you are as an individual—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Learning to operate within contrasts is a major component alongside gaining resources and establishing a space and adequate time to build your business. While there are books that offer techniques, being a small business owner often means carving out your own path to success. Sure, there are times I’ve wanted to give up, but there was always that voice, moment, or person who reminded me that “I can do tricky and hard things.” I’ve had to overcome trickier and more challenging things in life that have prepared me for this moment. So when I get to the point of over exhaustion, I pause and remind myself that this is just a thing. This is a beautiful thing that I have the privilege and honor to not only be a part of but also develop. I remind myself of my strength, the beauty of my creativity, and the depth of my intelligence. I remind myself of where I come from. I am an LA Native through and through. My resilience echoes the spirit of being an LA Native- tenacious and unyielding in the face of adversity.

I am still in the process of completing specific business goals; however, at this poing I would say my ability to take risks, expand the ZuZoo Kids team, offer vulnerability, and, more importanyly, remembering my why hace acted as a compass to point me in the right direction in times of chaos or uncertainty.

The lessons I leanred along the way are be you, say what you mean and mean what you say. Find a wellness practice that helps you recenter, youre going to need it.
It is ok to pivot, reset and change your mind after having new information or experiences. Do not allow anyone to devalue you as a creative, developer and/or entrepernuer for thier own self-serving motives. Most important, do not allow anyone to steal your joy.
I want people to know that I am a regular woman with big ideas and plans who wants to add beauty, joy and inspiration to the ecosystem. I have worked for everything that I have and will continue to do so as long as I am able to do so. The ZuZoo was inspried by some of the best parts of my life, working with young children and expericing the magic that happens in that space. My love for art and cultur which are represented my the ZuZoo Kids Safari themed shoe and upcoming book series. Finally, who I am as a emerging business woman, who has a repsect for the art of business and product development.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This will depend on who I’m with, but if we’re thinking of a typical weekend, we would start the day by doing something in the wellness space. LA has many natural and/or events that support holistic living. We could start by relaxing or riding bikes at the beach, followed by at Back on The Beach cafe. Afterwards, we would maybe check out a local event, gallery showing, or museum (LACMA). This event could range from showing in Malibu (The Getty Malibu), Beverly Hills (Gagosian gallery) to DTLA (The Braod) and everywhere in between. Towards the evening, we can get dinner in West Adams in mid city. Either Vickys cafe, Atla (a black owned resturant), or the swanky, rustic inspired Chulita (mexican resturant with a great atomsphere. There is also the 1010 winde bar and resturant in Inglewood, CA where you can enjoy a lovely dinner, great wine selction, live music or a dj playing beautiful R&B classics. After dinner, we would check out live music (which I am a big fan of) at Level 8 DTLA, potentially followed by endign the night dancing at an @EarryHall event

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My mother and grandmother.
My mother who in her our way made space for creativity by allowing me and my siblings the freedom to explore different genres. Whether that meant listening to a wide range of music in the house, teaching me how to sew my own doll clothes or showing interest and excitement towards to those of other cultures. These aspects taught me to be open minded and curious about others in a authentic way.

Then there is my grandmother Frances Harville, who in her own right, was my first behind the scenes experience of a entrepreneur at work. For as long as I could remember, my grandmother was a homemaker, while my grandfather was the breadwinner of the house. Though my grandmother Frances did not work at a formal business, she was a very smart and crafty woman. She always kept herself well put together, was a caregiver to her mother in law, a mother of three, grandmother to many and, the owner of a small-business that sold customized one of kind jewelry pieces. I would go with her on the weekends at a various swap meets where she would rent a area to sell her jewelry.
She was very particular about her product, she liked it held and presented in a very specific way. She was usually a very nice, calm person, but she turned into a direct, astute business woman on those weekend swap meet days. As the years went on, I started hosted jewelry events for her. These events were so beautiful because she was able to introduce her custom jewelry to a different generation that extended beyond her friends at church, the ladies in her bi weekly hair salon appointments, family and friends.
I realized that my grandmother didn’t necessarily sale jewelry to become rich or famous (alothguh that wouldn’t have hurt), she did it because she truly enjoyed it! In the world where she wore many hats, always taking care of others, the business of making and selling jewelry was her space. I was able to learn alot about who she was as a woman, through her jewelry business.

She always inspired me to be my best, be a leader, live lightly, follow my dreams, don’t take any mess, and don’t forget to laugh. She was a women of grace and class, a class act. I named one of my characters after my grandmother, Franny (nickname to Frances) the Flamingo! One of the seven ZuZoo Kids characters.

Website: www.zuzookids.fun

Instagram: @zuzookids

Linkedin: ZuZoo Kids

Twitter: ZuZooKids

Facebook: ZuZoo Kids

Youtube: ZuZoo Kids

Image Credits
I own all of the rights and permissions for the personal images used in part 7 of the form.