Cynthia Schames, Savvy Creator of Custom Clothing for Plus-Size Women & Fan of Golden Retrievers

Entrepreneur Cynthia Schames knows business development, starting from her “suit” years in corporate America to her first luxury-handbag venture, La Boite Orange.  As the Founder and CEO of AbbeyPost, she is passionate about building an innovative solution: custom-tailored, made-to-measure clothing for the underserved yet growing $18B Plus- Size fashion market.

I’ve known Cynthia — dynamic, outspoken, driven — since she launched AbbeyPost, so while I can imagine Cynthia kicking-butt and taking names over her ten+ years of enterprise software sales, I’m glad she took the leap to found her own startup. And it’s not too surprising that Cynthia is an entrepreneur. She’s one of those naturally curious people with an interest in how things work and looks for answers, knowing fully well that there is often no right or wrong answer.

A New Yorker, Cynthia is taking on Silicon Valley and succeeding: AbbeyPost is a 500 Startups portfolio company, and she has successfully raised a seed round in the valley. As to her perspective on life, it’s quality over quantity, and red wine and golden retrievers are a happy component of her existence. (Note: I’d also apply Cynthia’s smart, quality-first perspective to investors looking at early-stage ventures!)

Who are your heroes? 
I’m not big on hero worship, but I admire many people, including some personal friends, some business associates, and some tech industry luminaries.  If I had to choose just one person, I’d say I’m most impressed by Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures. He manages to balance incredible success as a Venture Capitalist with being an actual mensch. That’s not really easy.

What is your current challenge? 
Hiring great people fast enough to keep up with the demands of a growing company!

Your greatest achievement?
I helped make two beautiful, intelligent, loving little people who will one day grow up to change their world.

What is your motto?
“It is what it is…but I can fix that.”

Why are you an entrepreneur?
I never had a choice! It’s in my DNA.  I can’t not work to solve problems and make things better.

What problem are you solving?
We’re addressing a problem nearly all women can appreciate: why don’t clothes fit? We provide “made-to-measure” apparel for all women, using a combination of proprietary software and innovative manufacturing processes.

What problem would you like solved?
Passive-aggression.

Item you wish you had invented?
Spanx.

Biggest regret?
That’s NSFW. 

Which talent would you like to have?
I wish I could dance. 

Best pat on the back you’ve ever received?
When our earliest investor made a subsequent investment – that was incredibly validating.

Advice you wish you’d had (or had followed)?
I wish I had been given better advice on choosing colleges.

Your pitch in 140 characters? 
“AbbeyPost uses cutting edge technology to create beautiful, affordable fashion that really fits. Every body.”

Your bio in 6 words?
“Fashionable, kick-ass entrepreneur.” That’s all. 

The Twitter follower you can’t live without?
@davemcclure [entrepreneur and angel investor who founded and runs 500Startups]

Your nails-on-a-chalkboard moment is?
Being asked “How will you balance running a company and having a family?”

The J.O.B. you’d actually love?
The one I have!

Biggest misconception about being an entrepreneur is?
That it’s a lonely pursuit. I think there’s an amazing community out there just waiting to support you, if you just invest the time to find and nurture relationships. 

Inc. or Rolling Stone or…..? Which magazine cover? 
Inc.

What are you reading?
An eBook: How to Master Email Marketing.

What book is your must-read?
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon. 

If I wanted to do what you’re doing…what’s your advice? 
Talk to, beg for advice from, or cajole help from anyone and everyone who could possibly give you any insight.

What conference would you like to keynote?  
BlogHer. 

Short cut, long route, road less traveled? What’s your roadmap? 
Definitely the curvy road…no pun intended. (Oh, who am I kidding, that pun was totally intentional…)

Podium you’d like to stand on?
Um, any one that makes me any taller (Note: This powerhouse entrepreneur is 5’1”.)

What makes you LOL?
The better question is, what doesn’t? Laughter is by far the best medicine.   

What’s the most important startup/entrepreneurship lesson you’ve learned?
That just because a lot of stupid ideas get crazy amounts of funding doesn’t mean that your better idea — with a solid revenue model and actual customers — won’t struggle. Do it anyway.

Your Ferris Bueller moment: if you could goof-off/skip out for a day, what would you do?
Beach day!

One place in time you’d like to visit? 
September 10, 2001.

Part of the trick to staying focused?
Silence. (Note: Cynthia likes bouts of intense social activity, followed by a day of absolute solitude.)

You take a three-hour ocean tour and get stranded…what three items do you have with you?
iPhone with backup chargers, Carmex, sensible shoes in my bag.

One last thing: what’s the question I should be asking you?
Guilty pleasure?  HBO Sunday nights.