Hitting 1,000+ Orders: The Power of Small Business Mentoring
Today we’re sharing a story that shows the true power of small business mentoring!
This is the story of Soni Panda’s incredible journey to building By Soni Panda X – a premium gender-inclusive hosiery brand!
It’s a story that goes from a single moment of panic on a 30th birthday, to a thriving hosiery empire just a few years later.
Let’s dive in!
A Fashion Love Affair
For as long as she can remember, Soni has loved all things fashion.
As she grew up, she developed a special passion for hosiery after seeing the self-confidence it can bring wearers.
For many, hosiery can carry a stigma, but Soni became passionate about changing those perceptions about how and why people wear hosiery.
“Starting off with […] stockings, you think bedroom attire, you think, you’re wearing it for another person instead of yourself. And actually I wanted to change those norms.”
She began writing a blog to share her love for hosiery and built a loyal following on social media!
The Birthday Panic
Soni’s community loved her hosiery reviews and recommendations, but they kept asking if she’d ever considered creating her own brand.
Having never owned a business before, Soni was gripped with fear at the thought of having her own line.
But the seed of inspiration had been planted.
When Soni’s 30th birthday rolled around, she had an epiphany in her hotel room!
“I literally sat on my bed and I’m like, what am I doing in my life? Am I going to start a business or not? You know what, people are onto something. Let’s give it a go.”
Soni decided then and there to face her fears and launch By Soni Panda X -and four years later, she’s hit over 1,000 orders with a thriving global customer base!
Credit: By Soni Panda X
Navigating a Business Alone
Starting a business wasn’t the glamorous journey social media often portrays. Soni quickly faced the lonely reality of being a founder, despite having her online community.
The early days hit hard and imposter syndrome crept in big time. Soni describes swinging between tears of joy and complete breakdowns questioning why she was building a business.
Navigating those feelings alone was tough, so to keep herself accountable, she started documenting her journey on YouTube and LinkedIn. Fondly referring to LinkedIn as her ‘business diary’, Soni says that when she’s having a bad day, she can now scroll back through her ‘diary’ and find highlights that motivate her to keep going 😊
Finding Her People
Whilst the accountability of social media helped, Soni was still feeling alone and disconnected on her business journey. Luckily, it wasn’t long until she found Digital Boost!
Soni joined the community and very quickly had the opportunity to attend a Digital Boost International Women’s Day event. An event she says that “changed [her] life”.
Surrounded by women at every stage of the business journey, Soni was inspired by their stories and reassured that she wasn’t the only one experiencing loneliness.
By the end of the event, Soni knew she’d found a community where she’d be supported and championed!
How Small Business Mentoring Made All the Difference
While the community provided emotional support, it was Digital Boost’s free mentoring that delivered the transformation Soni needed.
Initially hesitant to ask for help (something she admits she’d never been comfortable with), Soni realised Digital Boost’s mentoring was “a godsend.”
Soni was matched with Claire, a Digital Boost mentor and huge supporter of female founders, who quickly became an ongoing support for Soni.
Claire helped Soni tackle her perfectionist tendencies and realise that asking for help was actually a strength, not a weakness. The regular check-ins provided both strategic guidance and the accountability Soni needed to implement real changes.
“She’s helped me so much. She’s my accountability person. And so we kind of catch up every six weeks to two months… And it keeps me in check.”
A Social Media Breakthrough
One of Soni’s biggest pain points was social media overwhelm. Spending hours daily on platforms was starting to really affect her mental health ❤️🩹
Through the support of her mentors, Soni figured out how to be more strategic with her scheduling and how to show up authentically online. Scheduling her content freed up masses of time and improved her business’s sales!
The transformation went deeper than just time management – Soni started showing up more authentically, sharing her real self rather than just the ‘business version’. The result? Better connections and more sales.
A Marketing Jumpstart
Having several years of trading under her belt, Soni is a lifelong student and recognises the power of always learning 📚
Having enjoyed Digital Boost’s small business mentoring, when the opportunity to join the Small Business Jumpstart programme arose, Soni jumped at the chance to spend 6 weeks jumpstarting her marketing!
The programme delivered immediate value, particularly with SEO and website optimisation. Soni credits this newfound knowledge with making “the world of difference” to her business visibility.
Milestone Moments
Four years after that hotel room decision, Soni has experienced what she calls “a whirlwind” of success. Since then, she’s celebrated major achievements, including:
- Her brand’s fourth anniversary
- Hitting over 1,100 orders
- Completing her first public speaking engagement
Looking back, Soni recalls, “there [were] days where I thought I would never make it four years [ago]” but these milestones are a reminder of the hard work that pays off as a founder!
Soni speaking at Digital Boost’s 2025 International Women’s Day event, exactly a year after she first joined our community!
Conclusion
Soni’s story is a true testament to the power of passion. It’s this passion that helped her overcome self-doubt, loneliness, and imposter syndrome to create a thriving business.
We’re so proud of the journey that Soni’s been on, and we can’t wait to see what she does next!
Interested in how small business mentoring could support you? Find out more below 😊
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