In her lively memoir, Sophia Amoruso, the founder and “chief troublemaker” of online fashion retailer Nasty Gal, merrily recounts her journey from dropout and dumpster diver to CEO of a $100 million company. The catalyst for her transformation from delinquent to mogul was her passion for vintage clothing and a long recovery from hernia surgery. While recuperating, she read Starting an eBay Business for Dummies
Amoruso chronicles how she did it—from the software she used to how she dealt with the mean girls (and guys) on eBay. Amoruso shines in presenting details such as her take on how to roll with the punches and throw punches (figuratively) when necessary. She launched on eBay in 2006, eventually left the platform and created her own website with exponential growth. Today she has 350 employees and a fashion empire.
Amoruso infuses her refreshing take on entrepreneurship with irreverent yet practical advice ranging from how to hire and fire to keeping your finances in check to dealing with investors. On the last subject, she lists investor turn-ons: good people (investors look for people with passion and integrity); scalability (how your business will change with the times); evidence of demand (proof that people want what you’re selling); outside validation (references and recommendations from others) and uniqueness (the originality and creativity of your idea). #GIRLBOSS
by Sophia Amoruso
May
Putnam; $26.95
