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

Hi Chris, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my business because I believed that the idea behind it was strong, and it would fill an open gap in the basketball market. Without any formal experience, I began taking action on the vision in my head, day after day, until I had a tangible product ready to sell about 3 months later. I questioned the validity of my business idea early on, but my vast experience as a basketball player gave me confidence that we picked a good niche. On top of that, the support we’ve received since launching in December has further solidified my belief in the business idea, and even allowed me to envision new routes to explore with it.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
hoopn is a basketball clothing brand that allows hoopers to represent their game through simple & relatable basketball phrases across their chest. We are in our first year of business, currently selling t-shirts and hoodies. What’s unique about our brand is the simplicity in the designs, which allows the message behind the words to be the focal point.

I’m both proud and surprised by my ability to have willed this project forward over the past year, while also working multiple jobs. I never considered myself a creative person before this venture, but I am learning to release limitations on my potential. I’ve learned that there are no limitations to the opportunities that I can create, so long as I put in the work and put myself in a position to succeed. Being a student my whole life, that was never obvious to me. It wasn’t until I put myself into a position with infinite possibilities that I realized I am in complete control of my future.

With that being said, it certainly hasn’t been easy. It is difficult to balance all the essential components of the business all at once – production, distribution, social media, marketing, managing relationships, customer service, planning, and more… Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with everything going on, while trying to prepare for the future and earn a stable income at the same time. But I am enjoying the process of challenging myself on a consistent basis. My passion keeps me disciplined.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shout out my girlfriend, Sylwia, for the unconditional love & support that we share. Besides being my best friend, she is an excellent partner to be starting my business alongside. She is super creative, with an eye for detail that I often miss. I tend to do the bulk of the basketball-related work within the business, then she comes in and cleans everything up to make it look pretty and presentable. She is a perfect fit for our team. She inspires me to strive for success every single day. Love you Siya! <3

Website: www.hoopnBrand.com

Instagram: @hoopnBranf

Facebook: @hoopnBrand

Image Credits
Justus Cesar

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