TomboyX: How We're Growing By Listening To Our Customers

Fran Dunaway

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Published: May 10th, 2020

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Fran Dunaway

Founder, TomboyX

$2M

revenue/mo

Founders

Employees

TomboyX

tomboyx.com

from Seattle, Washington, USA

started March 2013

$2,000,000

revenue/mo

Founders

Employees

Discover what tools recommends to grow your business!

Discover what books Fran recommends to grow your business!

Shoe Dog Phil Knight

Want more updates on TomboyX? Check out these stories:

1. How A Gender Neutral Garment Became A $500K/Month Business (2018) ➜

This is a follow up story for TomboyX. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published over 6 years ago, check it out here.

Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.

I’m Fran Dunaway, CEO, and Co-Founder of TomboyX, a gender-inclusive underwear company that is focused on fit and quality for everybody. We introduced the first boxer briefs made for a feminine body but quickly understood that when you get the fit and quality right, it fits people of all body types. Our product line has expanded to swimwear, sleepwear, and loungewear and we carry all styles in sizes XS to 4X, and are extending into 5 and 6X this summer. We are queer-owned and our community gives back includes donations to various organizations that are LGBTQ focused.

how-we-expanded-our-sales-channels-for-our-business-growth

Tell us about what you’ve been up to! Has the business been growing?

We continue to grow and scale as we work to get the word out about our sustainability, our commitment to ensuring our factories pay a living wage, and our deep appreciation for our customers and community. In the past few months, we have hired digital marketing experts with a keen eye for data analysis and the importance that plays in building a world-class eCommerce engine.

Find mentors who can help you sort through the most important issues at hand so that you can address the urgent needs of your business, as you prioritize urgent from important and stay focused.

We continue to innovate and pay close attention to customer requests. We recently expanded our sales channels to include Pinterest and Youtube as well as podcasts and ads on Apple. Facebook is becoming an expensive and competitive playground, so we are continually trying new ways to reach our customers. Our customers are at the core of everything we do and we care deeply about that community. Our customer support team keeps detailed records of requests, issues, and praise, reading a review to our entire team on a weekly basis. We are excited to be included in The Advocate magazines Women of the Year.

Our customers love us and reward us with amazing UGC.

What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?

The importance of data analytics and the impact it has on our bottom line. And hiring the right people to evaluate and build plans on how to execute to best utilize that data.

What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?

We are scaling and building out the team to be our leanest and most efficient. We want to become a household name and have at least one pair of TomboyX undies in every home.

Have you read any good books in the last year?

The Advantage is one I’d recommend. The Dutch House was interesting to listen to while doing a puzzle.

Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?

Find mentors who can help you sort through the most important issues at hand so that you can address the urgent needs of your business, as you prioritize urgent from important and stay focused.