In 2020, this single mother set out to fix that age-old problem – while also setting an example for her son. The lesson she wanted to teach? Perseverance. Out of that vision came Signé Sarah, a brand of durable, affordable rip-resistant tights. Today, Sarah Herscheid is proud to serve as President and CEO.
Watch Sarah in action and hear her explain the passion and vision behind her innovative product
Facing snags along the way
Sarah’s idea required time and research to bring to life. The first materials she sourced, from Asia and Europe, fell short of her quality standards and couldn’t deliver the product she had in mind. Many would have stopped there. Sarah chose to persevere.
Sarah recently spoke with La Presse (This link leads to a website with content in French only) to share her story and shared, “When you feel like giving up, hang in there. You’re almost there,” she says. “As entrepreneurs, we start out as ‘uninformed optimists’, ready to take on the world. Then reality catches up with us; we lack time and resources, and we become ‘informed pessimists’. That’s the moment when quitting feels easiest. But if you hold on, you come through as an “informed optimist” – with renewed energy and the experience you need to succeed.”
Sarah spent several more months gathering information until one day she met an Italian manufacturer, who introduced her to a durable textile she could trust. Together, they refined an innovative weaving technology that combines comfort and durability.
Sarah knows from her experience that not everything can be perfect from the start. “You have to start somewhere,” she says. “The rest will come.”
So long, snags!
In 2020, from her apartment in Carignan, Sarah prepared her first twenty-two orders for clients eager to say goodbye to ripped tights. As her customer list grew, so did her need for space. She moved from an apartment to a house – only to find her basement was quickly filling up with boxes of Signé Sarah products.
Rapid growth can easily cloud perspective. Sarah admits she underestimated her success and lost sales when her top seller was out of stock. The shortage meant thousands of lost revenue, cancelled orders and disappointed clients.
Instead of seeing the moment as a failure, however, Sarah reframed it as an important lesson: to prepare for growth and accept the unpredictability of entrepreneurship.
Stitching up the market
Sarah’s appearance on the show Dans l’oeil du dragon led to another run of success. She generated $26,540 within one hour of the show’s broadcast. And the next day, the pace continued.
Four months later, Signé Sarah had grown from 40 to 450 points of sale – a 500% increase compared to before her TV appearance. The next challenge? Financing that growth.
“After building the business on my own, RBC provided us with the financial support we needed to support our rapid growth, with valuable advice every step of the way,” says Sarah.
Today, Signé Sarah is preparing to expand into Ontario, thanks to partnerships with various selling points across the province. The next stage of growth is already underway.
Enduring impact
Sarah is now a finalist for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and the Quebec Business Women Awards, both of which will be presented in the fall of 2025. “In difficult times, it is important to remember that you grow from challenge and discomfort,” she says.
Committed to making a difference, Signé Sarah also has a direct – and positive – impact on the environment. Thanks to the quality and durability of its products, the company is helping to break the cycle of overconsumption and waste caused by the appalling number of ripped stockings thrown away every year.
In the past year alone, Signé Sarah says she has saved no less than half a million tights that would have been thrown in the trash. This year, that number could double.
Starting a business comes with all kinds of firsts. Here’s how to make them easier.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
