Poor working conditions: Shein has been accused of using factories with poor working conditions and low wages, leading to exploitation of workers. In 2019, the BBC aired a documentary about Shein's supply chain in which workers reported being underpaid and overworked as low as 2 cents an hour. Shein has denied these allegations, but the company has not been transparent about its supply chain, making it difficult to verify the truth.
Fast fashion: Shein has been criticized for contributing to the fast fashion industry, which is known for producing cheap, low-quality clothing in large quantities, leading to waste and environmental damage. Shein's low prices and constant turnover of new styles encourage consumers to buy more clothes than they need, contributing to the cycle of overconsumption and waste.
Cultural appropriation: Shein has been accused of cultural appropriation, which is the act of taking ideas, symbols, or practices from a culture that is not one's own, and using them without permission or understanding. Many of Shein's clothing items are inspired by traditional clothing from various cultures, but they are often designed and marketed in a way that is insensitive and disrespectful to the original culture.
Poor quality: Another common complaint about Shein is the poor quality of its clothing. Many customers have reported that Shein's clothes are poorly made, with loose threads, thin fabrics, and poor stitching. In addition, the sizing of Shein's clothes is often inconsistent, making it difficult for customers to find items that fit properly.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why some people believe that Shein is bad, from its alleged poor working conditions and exploitation of workers, to its contribution to the fast fashion industry and cultural appropriation. In addition, the poor quality of Shein's clothing has led many customers to be disappointed with their purchases. It's up to each individual to decide whether or not they want to support Shein, but it's important to be aware of the issues surrounding the company.
]]>A luxurious candle: A high-quality candle can add warmth and ambiance to any room, and is a thoughtful gift for any woman who loves to relax and unwind at home. Look for candles made with natural ingredients and essential oils for a truly indulgent experience.
A stylish bag: A new bag is always a welcome gift for any woman, whether it's a practical tote for work or a chic clutch for a night out. Choose a bag that matches her personal style, and consider adding a monogram or other personal touch to make it extra special.
A comfortable pair of slippers: For the woman who loves to be cozy at home, a pair of comfortable slippers is the perfect gift. Look for slippers with soft, plush linings and non-slip soles to keep her feet warm and supported.
A relaxing spa day: Help her unwind and recharge with a gift certificate for a spa day. Look for a local spa that offers a range of treatments, such as massages, facials, and manicures, and let her choose the services that will help her relax and rejuvenate.
A personalized piece of jewelry: A piece of jewelry is a timeless gift that can be treasured for years to come. Look for a necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings that can be customized with her initials or a meaningful message. This is a gift that she'll wear often and think of fondly.
No matter which of these gifts you choose, the most important thing is to show the special woman in your life how much you care. Whether it's a small token or a more substantial present, a thoughtful gift is sure to put a smile on her face this holiday season.
]]>A personalized gift. Personalized gifts are always a hit, as they show that you put extra thought and effort into the gift. Consider a customized piece of jewelry, such as a watch or cufflinks, with your husband's initials or a special message engraved on it. You could also create a custom photo album or scrapbook with pictures and memories from your time together.
A gift that caters to his interests. If your husband has a particular hobby or interest, a gift that caters to that interest can be a great idea. For example, if he loves to cook, consider a cookbook by his favorite chef or a set of high-quality kitchen tools. If he's a sports fan, a team jersey or tickets to a game can be a great option. By choosing a gift that speaks to his passions, you can show him that you understand and support his interests.
An experience gift. Instead of a physical gift, consider giving your husband an experience that he will enjoy and remember. This could be tickets to a concert or show, a gift certificate for a spa day or massage, or a trip to a place he's always wanted to visit. Experience gifts allow your husband to try something new and create lasting memories, which can be a more meaningful and unique gift than a physical item.
A subscription or membership. Subscription or membership gifts can be a great option, as they provide ongoing value and enjoyment for your husband. Consider a subscription to his favorite magazine or a membership to a wine or beer club, which will allow him to discover new and interesting products on a regular basis. You could also consider a membership to a fitness or wellness center, which will give him access to facilities and classes that he can enjoy throughout the year.
A sentimental gift. Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are the ones that are sentimental and reflect your special connection. Consider a handwritten love letter or a handmade item, such as a piece of artwork or a knitted scarf, that shows your love and affection in a personal and heartfelt way. Sentimental gifts can be especially meaningful for husbands who have everything, as they show that you took the time and effort to create something just for them.
Overall, finding the perfect gift for your husband doesn't have to be difficult. By considering his interests, passions, and personal preferences, you can come up with unique and thoughtful gift ideas that will show him how much you care.
]]>Starting a fashion boutique can be a exciting and rewarding venture, but it's also a big undertaking. From choosing a location and selecting the right products to marketing your business and building a loyal customer base, there are many factors to consider. Here are some tips and tricks to help you start a successful fashion boutique.
Develop a business plan. Before you start a fashion boutique, it's important to develop a comprehensive business plan. This plan should outline your goals, target market, and financial projections, as well as provide a clear roadmap for how you plan to achieve your objectives. Your business plan should also include a detailed marketing strategy, which will help you attract customers and build brand awareness.
Choose the right location. The location of your fashion boutique is crucial to its success. Look for a space that is easily accessible, has good foot traffic, and is in a neighborhood or area that aligns with your target market. Consider the size and layout of the space, as well as the rent and other expenses, to ensure that it fits within your budget.
Select the right products. Choosing the right products for your fashion boutique is crucial. Look for unique, high-quality items that will appeal to your target market. Consider offering a mix of clothing, accessories, and other fashion-related items to create a well-rounded and engaging shopping experience. You can also consider partnering with local designers or offering exclusive or limited-edition items to differentiate your boutique from other retailers.
Create a visually appealing space. The design and layout of your fashion boutique should be visually appealing and create a welcoming environment for your customers. Consider the color scheme, lighting, and furniture, as well as the placement of your products, to create an inviting and engaging space. You can also incorporate unique features, such as custom displays or interactive elements, to create a memorable and distinctive shopping experience.
Build a loyal customer base. Building a loyal customer base is crucial for the success of your fashion boutique. Offer exceptional customer service, engage with your customers on social media, and host events or promotions to encourage repeat business. You can also offer loyalty programs or other incentives to reward your most loyal customers and encourage them to spread the word about your boutique.
Overall, starting a fashion boutique requires careful planning and attention to detail. By following these tips and tricks, you can set yourself up for success and create a thriving and profitable business. Be sure to let me know if you have specific questions - Im happy to help!
Reflect on your lifestyle and priorities. Your personal style should reflect who you are and what you value, so it's important to take a moment to think about your lifestyle and priorities. What do you do on a daily basis? What are your hobbies and interests? What are your fashion goals and what do you want your clothes to say about you? By considering these factors, you can start to narrow down the styles that will work best for you.
Experiment and try new things. One of the best ways to discover your personal style is to experiment and try out different looks. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new styles, colors, and shapes. You never know what you might discover. And remember, fashion is supposed to be fun! So don't be too hard on yourself if something doesn't work out. Just keep trying and see what resonates with you.
Pay attention to what makes you feel confident and comfortable. When it comes to fashion, confidence is key. So, pay attention to the clothes and accessories that make you feel good about yourself. What colors and styles make you feel strong and empowered? What pieces make you feel comfortable and at ease? By identifying the clothes that make you feel your best, you can start to build a wardrobe that reflects your personal style.
Consider your body shape and proportions. Another important factor to consider when discovering your personal style is your body shape and proportions. Not all styles will work for every body type, so it's important to choose clothing that flatters your figure. If you're not sure what styles will work best for you, try on a few different options and see what looks and feels good. And remember, it's okay to have a few fashion "rules" that you follow to ensure that you always look and feel your best.
Take inspiration from your favorite fashion icons. If you're feeling stuck or unsure of where to start, try taking inspiration from your favorite fashion icons. Look to people who have a style that resonates with you and see what elements you can incorporate into your own wardrobe. You don't have to copy anyone's style exactly, but it can be helpful to have a few reference points to get you started.
Overall, discovering your personal style is a process that takes time and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new things and take risks, and remember to have fun along the way. By following these tips and tricks, you can start to develop a fashion identity that feels true to you and helps you express yourself in a way that feels authentic and confident.
]]>Maybe I loved sales because of the goal setting and achieving… maybe it was meeting new people constantly and also catching up with old friends... or maybe it was just the void in my life being filled with something I didn’t hate.
Anyway, despite opening my own business and growing our brand with the Bridge City and Lumberton locations, adding Our Mobile Boutique, The Warehouse for Dirty Bee, and now a Nederland location – I still feel a small hole in my heart.
Real talk here, it could be the hole that has yet to be filled with the happiness of another child, although Aaron and I have hoped for the last several years to conceive. We don’t talk about this much because we stay busy and distracted but it is something we both get our hopes up for every month.
So, recently, when a unique opportunity in outside sales presented itself recently, I said what the hell and went for it. We have an awesome team of people at Sweet Bee who run the day to day, and my incredible and supportive husband who decided he would step in and help with more of what I usually manage, so I could find that fulfillment I was seeking again.
So this new job of mine is more of a hunting sales position, where I have to find opportunities, which puts me out in the streets all day meeting business owners, all over South East Texas. And rather than writing a million Facebook posts about each one, I thought maybe I would start doing my favorite little shopping or food spots I run into in each city around here as I go.
So lets kick things off with my local stomping grounds, in Bridge City, Texas.
Sweet Bee Boutique & Desserts – it would be unjust in not including my favorite Boutique and Dessert shop in this post, Sweet Bee, even if it is a little self-promoting. But instead of doting on how awesome the owner probably is :P I want to talk about how awesome the customers are instead. Walk in and you will probably see someone you know, who will gladly help you pick a new outfit if one of the awesome employees happens to be busy, and they will have no problem telling you which cupcake in a jar is their favorite.
Brewitas – Need a good breakfast? How about a waffle on a stick with alllll the fixings? Then this new little shop which offers up coffee and from what I hear, cocktails are coming soon, is a cute little place to stop in and get your morning started.
Best Day Spa – The newest and most versatile day spa in Bridge City. Massages, Hair, and even Cool Sculpting Services under one roof. The gals here are always offering up the latest in what girls really want – a day of pampering and relaxation.
Merle Norman – Home to some of my favorite Makeup products and Makeup Artists under one roof. Not to mention, the newly licensed esthetician True Beauty by Tierney, also has a cool studio in there ready to coat your face in jelly. They will give you a 2020 makeover, that is just what us gals need, who didn’t grow up knowing what contouring is.
The Stuffed Mushroom – Watching this business bloom and recently grow big enough to move into their own location on Texas Ave has been a treat for the locals. But most go back for the gourmet salads, sandwiches or casseroles you can’t find anywhere else.
Trendz – With a fresh coat of paint on the outside, and tons of new décor, gift items, and of course gorgeous floral arrangements – this shop will brighten your mood. The owner has a heart of gold and would literally go with out sleep to make sure funeral spreads are perfect, wedding bouquets are the perfect color, or get well soon arrangements are delivered quick.
Judices Cajun Cafe – If you’re looking for some old-fashioned Cajun food like Boudin Balls, Beignets, Gumbo, or Crawfish that has an ambience of a family get together, this is a good dinner spot to check out. The waitresses call you baby and make sure you Sweet Tea cup stays full. The crawfish hits just right with the seasoning too.
Twisted Vinyl – If you need vinyl for your own craft project or you want to have someone else step in and do a custom and quick tee shirt, these girls will usually help you out. They are friendly and take pride in creating their own art instead of ripping off original designers. They also are part of the local Sip & Shops that help other small businesses get their starts.
Roots Hair Salon – Newly opened hair salon that is huge and welcoming, and staffed with eager stylists who have been trained in the latest and greatest methods. I’ve heard the owner, who is also a stylist, is the master of Blonde hair which is hard to find.
Texas Ave Tavern - If you need a local place to unwind with a nice cold beer, you must stop in under the bridge, at Texas Tavern. Complete with some Karaoke or a live band for your entertainment needs, and pool tables – it’s the place where locals go to perk up after a long work day or meet their friends on the weekend.
Basically, this city is full of great local businesses that you just cant find anywhere and they also have a cute city park with a splash pad, and I’m proud to call it home. I'm also proud of the community and the local chamber of commerce who make sure that everyone gets some help with chasing their dreams of entrepreneurship.
You need to make it a destination one day to head over to Bridge City and check out some of these, and this city will definitely need a round 2 but that should be a good start.
]]>Long time, no write. Ya’ see, I’ve been straight up working like a dog. I once heard a straight shooter, called the Backwoods Boutique Lady, say that if you can’t work like Greg the UPS man, and show up every single day, regardless of Rain or Shine - You’re business will never change. She spoke to my soul yall. You gotta put in the work if you want results. I can’t just be sleeping in because I don’t feel great in the mornings, or because yesterdays numbers were good, and I got other people who can help handle some of the day-to-day things for me! Soooo, that is what I have been focusing on doing this last year.
In fact, just to give you an idea of what all has changed in the last year alone:
So, that is pretty much why I haven’t had time to jump on here and give ya the low down on what exactly is going down for Sweet Bee Boutique & Desserts! I aim to do better and keep some good blog topics going on here moving forward though. I have a half written blog post from April that had something to do with mental health. I think I’ll save that for you guys because as you can guess, this lifestyle has come with some huge obstacles for my mental health. I’m glad to share the good, the bad, the ugly sides of it with anyone out there who might care.
Tune in next time for more on how Lexapro kept me from going to Jail :P I escaped the Rat Race of Corporate Life to end up driving myself crazy with work anyway I guess.
Cheers,
Roxy S.
]]>“Business is not about money. It’s about making dreams come true for others and for yourself”
HAH! WHAT??!!!! When I first saw this quote I actually rolled my eyes. By the way, yes, I’m 12 years old still, and totally roll my eyes when I feel like people spout irresponsible, ignorant, or pretentious mumbo jumbo. This quote is ALL of that.
First of all, how irresponsible is it to be in business and not make money? That is literally the POINT of being in business…. It is not like I go bat crazy every day trying to make everything run smooth, keep my employees happy, the bills paid, and worry like I do, just for fun-sies.
This may come as a shock, but I do keep so many thoughts on this subject to myself. I am more of a people pleaser naturally, and hate to possibly offend others who are probably a lot more sensitive than me. But I want to illustrate a clear example of businesses that go through so much TROUBLE to not even profit enough or pay themselves.
Business models such as Buy-In groups on Facebook are the first that come to mind. If you are not familiar with this term, it is basically where someone will post a preorder sale for an item like a Knock-off Name Brand bag, shoes, or clothing (basically anything), in a group for their friends or family, for much cheaper than the retail value. If they can get 50-100 orders, they will take everyone’s money and buy it from China, and cross their fingers.
Often times, these orders can take months, can be seized in customs (because often the products are ILLEGAL), can be complete crap quality, and may even be dangerous (i.e. Fake Makeup made with stuff like Pesticides). There is so much RISK to running this style of business model, and to literally make what, $1 or $3 dollars profit for all of that trouble? There is case after case of the FBI raiding peoples homes and businesses for selling fake stuff, and seizing all of their assets, bank accounts, and even slapping cuffs on some of them. Yet, this trend continues and people think it will never happen to them. People who run these groups often skip out on taxes that legit business owners have to pay and well that is a huge gamble and a risk of their livelihood and their families just to make $2 on those knockoff Beats Headphones.
I often see stay at home moms that run themselves ragged making t shirts for everyone and barely make a couple dollars in profit too. This is not a sustainable business model. With the internets vast information right at your finger tips, anyone can start an at home business. But, some just aren’t aware or fully understand all the effort of researching, organizing, marketing, purchasing, packaging, shipping and so on, as time or energy that they should be paid for. Why do you think businesses mark products up and sell them? To cover all of those costs and overhead like I just listed.
I would like to add to that next time you think a businesses products are too expensive, or they are greedy – think of all these costs and lets not forget the rent, insurance, utilities, employee payroll, software, equipment costs, warranty, supplies, and of course, Uncle Sams pretty little cut to that. Maybe it will help one to understand that it does take money, and REVENUE for a business to stay in business. Sadly, the ones who take to long to figure this part out don’t last, burn out quick, and often times are left LOSING money.
THIS is real life. There are so many people that do not even know the real value of their time or efforts. They want to be the CHEAPEST seller in the market, or discount everything for their friends and lose the potential profit because they want to be nice. But, It is nice to have money to pay them bills and pay yourself so quit giving it all away. You are not Oprah! You don’t expect a discount when you go to pay your electric bill, or checkout at Market Basket, and your customers should value your product or services at the agreed upon price without having to discount it.
Listen, I’m not the Donald Trump of business but there are times where I wish I could just tell Susan that although she appears to have a great business, and lots of customers, that she is going to be eating A LOT of Ramen Noodles if she doesn’t figure out how to price her products or services.
Well, if you can muster anything from that soapbox I just went on, it is if your guilty of this, QUIT undervaluing your time, working for free, and stop taking time away from your families (or risking that possibility) to not even pay yourself! Business is definitely about money and if you disagree, you can just go now and enjoy being naive.
The next eye-roll is for people who are just faking it to make it. I know people who have mountains of debt from buying, buying, and continuing to buy when they don’t even have PROFITS to buy with. This is the equivalent of putting your $100 bill into a slot machine hoping to win at least $200. You get so excited when you finally win $20 on one spin, but then you quickly lose it all. So, you are out of money but you slide over and give another machine another $100 and just keep going, assuming that the odds have to be in your favor eventually.
Your business should not be a huge gamble everyday. It should be a marathon, slow and steady, and pacing yourself for the future. Find what works and focus in on that. If you have product or services that you can’t get people on board with after you have done all the work (marketing and sales), then you may want to mark items down so you can recoup your investment, and buy something new. Don’t just keep putting those bills into the same slot machine that isn’t paying you!
It's always nice to at least break even at the casino, but that is not why we gamble! We gamble in business to hit it BIG and make more money than what we came with. Yet, I know people who run BIG sales so they can appear busy and successful and show that they are shipping hundreds of packages out to customers, but in reality aren’t making ANY money on those items.
It is WILD to be in business just to be BUSY, and not make MONEY.
I also see a lot of wasted energy and people who are working too hard, for too little. Maybe you have too!
Do you know anyone who swears you too can find financial freedom to quit your job just from posting on facebook, or win a vacation & kudos, or grow your teams of sales people every month and make THOUSANDS? Know anyone from high school that you haven’t talked to in YEARS who suddenly wanted to help you change your life by trying this miracle shake? I’m sure you don’t have to scroll to far on Facebook to find someone willing to share just how much money they made this month and how you can do the same.
Some (but definitely not all) of those people are the loudest about how much they make, or how much potential earnings you can have. Except, I know a lot of people who join or sign up as independent distributors for these companies who have NO money to pay their bills at the end of the day, who have NO results from the weight loss products they boast, or NO miracle oil cure for their actual medical condition. Also, some have NO respect or boundaries when it comes to hitting up peoples DM’s just to let them know their miracle product that would be perfect their mommy pooch… yeah, THANK YOU for that by the way, Melissa!
Just imagine going through all the work of sharing how great your new found product is, making people commit to months of buying so much, and even buying product yourself to stay in compliance, or having to find 3 new people you can hopefully convince to join your amazing team EVERY month. Think of ALLLLLL that work and stress, and to end up not even making the real money you deserve or even going into debt for it.
Would you go to a car dealership and work 60 hours a week, cold call everyone you have ever met from any walk of life, or even drive around a truck you don’t even like to prove how great it is, to only make a $250 commission check at the end of the month? Probably not, so quit believing everyone who swears they are making thousands and getting rich off of every multi-level marketing company.
The part of me that tries to understand where people might be coming had to counter argue all of what I just typed out and figure out why I WAS so annoyed at this quote. So… after unloading all those disagreements you just read, I did agree with something. If you want to be in business, it should be with something you love, or are passionate about. Not just to make a quick buck or flip some merchandise. When you aren’t happy and accomplishing your goals or dreams, you will get burnt out, tired, and eventually fail. You will stop enjoying baking cakes, or decorating peoples homes, or pressing vinyl t-shirts, no matter if you do make some dolla bills from it if you do it from a place of resentment. Business is not about money in that respect, its about having a purpose. Your purpose can be helping others, sharing your art, giving the best hair cuts, or even ringing up groceries.
Contrary to what society wants you to believe, not everyone can find some great big purpose in their work though and that is okay. To be honest, no matter where you choose to work, or even if you create work, there will be things you hate about it, people that drive you crazy, or stress that you can’t anticipate (EVEN if it is your passion). Not everyone can save the world, or cure cancer. I think the person who picks up my garbage each week probably doesn’t feel much purpose in this world, but if I had to stop everything I was doing to bring my trash to the dump, I might not have time to go to my kids basketball practice, or time to go see my Memaw, so the trash collector even plays a very important purpose in my life!
After being in business for a couple years now, and growing from one part time employee who helped me package up jewelry and ship it out, to now employing about 13-15 other people, and myself, and hopefully one day several more; I do understand the rest of this quote. Business is MORE than just money and it is also about making dreams come true for myself and others.
When I first opened the doors and we sold ANYTHING, we were excited. We didn’t know what to expect or if the doors would be open for more than a few months. Thankfully they were, and now we have daily goals, and breakeven numbers to make sure they stay open. I do everything in my limited power available to make sure we accomplish those goals so my employees are taken care of no matter what.
But not just taken care of and getting a pay check every other Friday…. I love seeing an employee show up happy to get to work, and happy to find their fulfillment. I love when they are buying new furniture for their homes, or upgrading their vehicles, or buying their kids tumbling lessons or Christmas gifts with the money they EARNED from my business and dream.
Not only that, I love being able to give people a place where they feel their value, and that they are part of something that does have an impact in others lives. I know selling cakes and clothes isn’t saving lives either, but I know how much it means for a mama to have the perfect cake for her kids birthday! I know how hard it is for women to feel confident in their selves, so we love providing them clothes that help compliment them and that they are excited to wear! I know my employees enjoy meeting these people, and helping them, and developing these relationships with customers and coworkers that impact their lives. Heck, I still think about those times where a customer has come in and left grinning from ear to ear just because they didn’t have to drive to a bigger city to find something they were looking for. It’s not hard to have a good day when you are helping customers find some joy.
I know that I can’t accomplish much if it was just me. There would be no growth, no ways to scale and spread my ambitions without my employees. That is why we try our best to make sure they are taken care of, appreciated, and have opportunities for growth and achievement. As we continue to grow and make plans for the future of this company, I can’t wait to say that someone who started washing dishes for us worked their way to management, or to owning their own franchise. So yes, my wins are my employees wins and my success is their success! Maybe this quote should read “Business is not JUST about money. It’s about having sustainable profits that allow achievable dreams for others and for yourself.”
]]>So heres the deal… this mama eats a lot of macarons, and drinks a lot of Dr. Pepper so I love being able to cover up any of that extra flab with those many layers! I love tunics, cinched waists, throwing on a button down over my tanks, and LEGGINGS. I don’t care if I’m basic AF, butter soft leggings are the absolute bomb and I wanna be buried in them.
I may not always look put together, but I know a great outfit and trend when I see one. So, with that awesome introduction, these are my top 5 fave looks or trends that I am loving so far this year that I think you guys can appreciate.
So writing about this stuff is always fun, but the best part about my job is seeing what is coming before it hits any store including my shops. It is easy to know what is actually a trend or just hype, and I have quicker insight to know what is working or not, while getting to see it on lots of body styles.
Most of these are comfy, and casual everyday looks that you could wear to work, school, dinner, or even dress up for a night out. Mix and match them with your basics or other fall faves, or wear them all at once and rock out girlie, and tag me in that pic! 😊
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Something crazy happened though.
I opened a store, and people came. Those people liked the stuff and wanted to buy it. They went home, they told their friends on Facebook, and their friends came to try it. Then something even more wild happened….. They came back again to see what else they could buy.
I never imagined that people would trust me and want to buy my stuff, and then that they would want to know more about me. One of those people happened to be a reporter who heard about us on Facebook. I almost declined this interview thinking I would say the wrong things or say something stupid, but I decided we could use any free marketing we could get! Hey, mama has bills to pay! I am linking the article HERE for anyone interested in reading a little bit more about my story behind Sweet Bee.
Everyday I still worry about my business being a failure, but I have realized along the way that I want people to know why I did this. Why did I quit my high paying corporate job to sling desserts and clothing all day? I want them to know why I drained my savings account and took a huge chance on myself. I want people to understand that it takes a lot of work, hard calls, losses, a lot of help, good employees, support, trust, willpower, determination, luck, and investment to start a business.
My reason: I do this for me.
I don’t do this for anyone else’s approval or to prove that I am some kind of fashionista or because it has always been my dream. I simply had to prove to myself that I could take the other skills and lessons I had learned in my other fifteen years of working for other people, and translate them into something worthwhile. I could help people in my own way, and hopefully treat my employees and customers the way I would want to be treated. That’s the real story folks.
I don’t ever want to come across as stuck up because at the end of the day, you and me, we are probably more alike than you think. I am a huge nerd who is a lot funnier on the internet than in real life. I’ve fallen on my face more times that you think. I snort when I laugh sometimes. I can’t contour my makeup. I still wrap my pills in fruit roll ups to swallow them. I eat Whataburger more times than most adults probably should. And many, many, many other boring or weird things that you don’t care about, and hopefully don’t determine whether you shop with me or not.
I don’t feel as awkward now to share my story with anyone who asks, or if I blow up your facebook feed with new arrivals, cause I love being able to help my customers EASILY find cute things, that make them happy. So cheers to peeling back another layer of this onion.
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If you walk into my store, or into my life for that matter, chances are you will hear me greet you with a big ole "Howdy". This is not because I think its cute, funny, southern, or whatever else. It's just always been my preferred method of saying "Yo, What up Homie" or "Hello" and it doesn't feel weird coming out of my mouth.
Why am I bringing this up? Because I want to tell you a story about a time where my success hinged on the avoidance of this word from my vocabulary.
But first I want to tell you a little background about me so you understand how I tick a little. I grew up in a big family with five siblings and two very entrepreneurial parents. I had the opportunity to grow up watching my parents both work hard for their businesses and be successful but also have a work life balance to raise us six kids.
My parents didn't just give us money. Ever. They made us work for every dime whether that was earned by helping them at photography events, counting inventory, or doing any type of chores. The bottom line was if I wanted a new shirt, or to go hang out with my friends, or needed gas to drive a car to school, I needed to earn my own money to make it happen.
I wanted a steady gig so I could enjoy the finer things of life, like that cute shirt at Wet Seal. So at the age of 17, I went to work at McDonalds. I literally started at the bottom as a cashier who also had to wash dishes covered in onions, mustard, or ketchup. Ugh. I went home smelling like a double cheeseburger dipped in grease and then swirled in a toilet.
But that job taught me valuable lessons on how to do what I was told, and how to deal with all kinds of personalities. I made $5.25 an hour to be yelled at by a man with no teeth about not wanting cheese on his cheeseburger. Honestly, I wish working at McDonald's was a requirement before kids are allowed to transition to adulthood. This job teaches a multitude of quality work traits including learning to cope with not getting your way. (This aint Burger King).
I went on to work several other jobs including a janitorial job at my college cafeteria, a hostess, a waitress, a sandwich chef, an intern making cold calls, a sales person, and so on and so forth. I learned that eating expired bagels that were about to be thrown out because I could not afford groceries was something I would do. I also discovered that I was to proud to ask my parents for money even when I couldn't afford basic necessities because I wanted them to think I could do it all by myself. Man, I can still remember breaking down and calling my dad from college in Hawaii to finally ask for his help with $100 to buy my flight home.
I hated depending on anyone else, or owing anyone anything so I worked my ass off no matter the position. From the lowly dishwasher at McDonalds, to the top 1% of sales people for T-mobile, all the way to a Marketing Manager position for a worldwide company. I always felt good about my accomplishments, about the skill set I had learned and acquired over the years. I could get along with most everyone, and work through most situations, but nothing prepared me for the challenge of feeling inadequate.
I thought I was doing pretty good at one of my jobs that I had landed before my boss decided it was time for a performance review. Those thoughts of accomplishment were quickly dissolved when my boss pulled out a list of things that could have been done differently, or weren't meeting expectations. These things were small, and could easily be addressed and fixed so I was ready to move on and finish my work for the day. The last request was that I simply Quit saying "Howdy" because it was very unprofessional."
Wait. What? I didn't realize a salutation was unprofessional.
Yelling at employees in front of other people, that is unprofessional. Being rude to someone because they are nice to an outsider at work, that you don't like, is unprofessional.. but saying Howdy, this was not unprofessional.
That conversation still haunts me as I think back to the next several months when I would catch myself saying Howdy by mistake, and then correcting myself quickly. I was stuttering my hellos because my normalcy was replaced with someone else's negativity towards a word. I was refraining from laughing at things I thought were funny. I was keeping any thoughts I had to myself because I didn't want to appear dumb, or unprofessional. What a spiral of negativity.
You know the saying "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle?" That conversation and many others that followed sadly dulled my sparkle. I wasn't who I wanted to be anymore. I let someone tell me what I could and could not do and just said "Okay, Sure" to every request. This is not how I wanted to live the rest of my life.
So I took a lesson out of the Robison family handbook on being your own boss. P.S. Five of my five siblings own their own business in some way, shape or form. Guess my parents passed along the strong willed gene to each of us.
Except I had to regain some of my confidence in myself that I had the skill set to step up and put my experience to the test. So I took my savings from my side gig of selling jewelry, and dumped a lot of my 401K into building my own dream and hoping it would work out.
*Smashes piggy bank*
So far I feel more accomplished than I ever did working for anyone else. I am not saying I am successful just because I own my own little business. In fact, it took a few months before I even thought to pay myself a penny of what money was coming in. However, I say Howdy to every damn customer that walks through my doors if I so feel like it, and I don't think twice about my boss having a problem with it and that tastes a little like success to me.
]]>- Opens online only jewelry store so I can save on overhead, travel, worry less and not have all the stresses of owning a full on business.
- Diversifies line-up after a series of setbacks like Etsy closing my shop (story for another blog post later). Add a bigger lineup than just floating lockets and dainty jewelry. Go bold or go home.
- Starts pushing web traffic to outside websites like Jane, Groopdealz, 11th Avenue, Sassy Steals, and realize we hate losing such a huge portion of our profits and doing just as much work.
- Starts trying to recoup traffic by launching whole new website platform which caters to social media marketing .
- Decides must sell clothes and more too to grow even bigger.
- Clothes take over my house. Grows out of home office VERY quickly. Instead of looking for a warehouse to store merchandise- we decide to go ahead and open a full functioning brick and mortar retail location so our local friends and fans can shop whenever.
- TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER to be able to offer something new and refreshing with our Boutique to make sure people come in more often. Take my experience from a college entrepreneurship course class project where I had to start a business using $1.00, and decided to go all out and offer DESSERTS too. I basically picked all my favorite desserts from travels and different points in life - and came up with a menu that way.
- QUITS full time marketing job and now I own a Dessert and Boutique Shop. I still can't believe I did this and am actually working for myself now... But Sweet Bee's doesn't even feel like work. It feels like part of who I am.
Anyway, I am in the process of merging our QTcutie Jewelry Brand into the Sweet Bee Boutique website just to make it easier for all of our customers to find us. If you see a mixture of old QTcutie marketing materials with your purchase just know - its all the same people making this business tick and we still offer wholesale pricing on our jewelry to our other boutique customers! :)
BONUS: - A lot of people as how I came up with the name Sweet Bee? Well I could not for the life of me come up with the right name to describe this cross-over shop. I had narrowed it down to Dulce, Delcious, Sweet Stuff, and it just wasn't right. I played with logos for like 8 days straight until my eyeballs hurt - which I may have legit damaged my eyesight - but nothing was coming together. Finally, one night when reading the entire internet instead of sleeping, I saw an article about how 1/3 of food is only possible with the helps of Bees and how we should be worried that they are dying out. They are being killed by pesticides, etc. The light bulbs went off in my head - we could donate a small portion to help save the bees. We even sell local honey to help support the people who keep those Bee's happy and thriving. It just happened to be fate that Bee's make honey which is sweet and that was already on my mind. So Boom- Sweet Bee was born. The fact that there was a Bee Emoji sealed the deal and I finally could move on to the next thing. :)
]]>Have you ever wanted to add a picture or video from your camera roll instead of having to take a new pic? Please read below then.
First off if you are unfamiliar with Stories, its feature that allows you to post photos and videos that will not appear in your feed, but will be visible by your followers in a slideshow format, for up to 24 hours. This is a great way to share more on Instagram without polluting your feed with dozens of photos and videos you wouldn’t otherwise publish.
So how do you upload a picture or video that you have already taken?
As it turns out, the feature was hiding in plain sight.
1) In the Instagram app, tap on the Camera icon in the upper left corner to add a new story. This will take you into camera mode.
2) This is where you can choose to record a video, or snap a photo. But what we want to do is bring up our photo library. To do this, simply pull up on the screen, and an image picker will be revealed at the bottom.
3) From there, simply choose the photo or video you want to upload. You may of course annotate it before uploading it.
There are some limitations to this. First and foremost, only pictures or videos captured within the last 24 hours will be available and eligible to be shared on your story. Anything shot over 24 hours ago will not even show in the image picker.
The second limitation is that if you upload a video that is longer than 10 seconds, it will automatically be cropped to fit the the 10-second format. In that case, I’d suggest editing the video first to crop it as you want it, then upload it to your story.
Boom! Now you have it!!!
Credit: I went to the internets for this gem of info and found this link and examples below the most useful: http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/08/05/how-to-add-photos-videos-to-instagram-story/
]]>I like to get out of dodge if given the chance. But I loathe cold weather and feeling super crowded. So why did I decide to book a trip to New York, around the WINTER HOLIDAY season? I am still trying to figure out the answer.
I learned a lot about New York culture though and have a new respect for how New York has really shaped America and fashion. After less than a week of walking the streets, it was easy to see how there is a great love for the arts there, which you do not see much of in Southeast Texas.
Obviously, I felt inspired by the fashion and architecture of the city that I felt the need to bring it back home with me. I was able to meet with a couple new wholesalers and pick up a brand new line of Jewelry, that I consequently called “City Girl”.
What do you do when you don’t plan ahead?
I travel on a whim much like I live my day to day life. Maybe it’s the fear of commitment to plans or that I just find sleeping in on a vacation as the best part. So yeah…. basically we planned to just wing New York City.
We started by walking down to Times Square. I had booked a hotel (Hotel Chandelier) close by so we could be pretty close to everything that people say are “must-see’s”. Time Square was exactly what I expected; Chaos. Matter of fact, most of the trip was chaos!
We waited in long lines, in the freezing cold, and when we took a tour bus to the Museum of the City of New York, we apparently missed the pickup time to get back. Yah, I hate to admit but we ended up using Uber a lot more than planned.
Me and my hubby had to experience the Roxy Diner, I mean my name was on the door. I’m no food critic but…. the local Waffle House has better food than the $18 omelet I ate... and a lot cheaper.
We planned a morning at the Museum of Modern Art which turned out to be a slightly pornographic maze of photographs from the 1980’s, a cool exhibit about refugees around the world, and a 1976 Jaguar XJ6 which I suppose is considered art? My husband says it was the only cool part, that was actual art, and something about James Bond?
We checked out Central Park very briefly and decided we were tired of being cold. Pretty much the same story for the Statue of Liberty too. I genuinely want to know...How do people handle the cold and rain like that? I am officially spoiled on SETX’s mild weather conditions (Minus the tornado's, hurricanes, and flooding).
Oh, Oh.. and I got to do something I’ve always wanted to do! I went to a “Blo” bar where they wash and style your hair for you! In another life I imagine I was good with hair. In this one, I am not. I seriously wish I could wake up everyone morning and pay someone else to always fix my hair for me.
I guess the last real highlight of the trip was that I ate the most delicious grilled cornbread ever at this place called Mexicue. I am still daydreaming about this cornbread yall. Maybe it’s the redneck in me.
The lowest point of the trip though was that it ended with me getting food poisoning from some shoddy Italian restaurant. I guess I should’ve at least checked Yelp first before listening to the Uber driver for a restaurant recommendation. There was only 2 other people in the restaurant so I should've known better.
Luckily, we avoided the craziness of New Years Eve Day in New York City and headed back home just in time. Sadly, we didn’t get to be pushed around all day by a mob of New Yorkers waiting to see Mariah Carey perfectly wrap up 2016 for all that it really was! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Before I started QTcutie Boutique, I would spend lots of my hard-earned money (from hustling and selling lots of cell phones) on buying lots of jewelry, clothes, and anything else that had a shiny package. I worked too dang hard, and put up with all levels of frustrating people ranging from those guys who really did have “bubba-teeth” and you can’t understand a lick of what they are saying, to the most demanding “manager style haircut” ladies who were never ever wrong. Basically, I got paid to suck it up, not take anything personal, and develop meaningful enough relationships within five minutes of meeting someone, where I could influence them to buy something and leave a happy camper.
BOY I HAVE SOME STORIES! I will save those for another time though.
So, I spent my days dreading work and wondering if I really went to four years of college, busted my A for a business degree, took every course possible on Marketing, only to end up working retail forever?
YOU ARE NOT A TREE. YOU DO NOT HAVE ROOTS.
I was interviewing for a promotion to business sales, *Fancy* when I was asked the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” I did the usual interview bull spit response on “hopefully finding success in the position I just knew I would be perfect for and then working my way up that corporate ladder”. Sadly, I almost believed the words coming out of my mouth. I mean.. I had already put in 9 years of this grind… why not stay and ride the wave until it swallowed me up and spit me out? BECAUSE I WAS NOT HAPPY. (Yeah, I got the job)
I took my question first to the Googles. “What do I want to be when I grow up?” I thought I was in bad shape, at 27 asking this question until I read and read some more about how many people really hate their job and that’s just life and we all just accept it. So.. on then to the Facebooks, where an old high school friend wrote “follow your passion.” If only it were just that easy (sarcastic voice as I literally mimicked that response and had to restrain from responding with 18 eye-roll emoji’s).
I mean, what the heck was I ever passionate about? I mean I like stuff… and buying stuff.. and selling stuff. But I never really was obsessed with one thing so much I could take it to the bank and say “Yo, I need a business loan so I can like play guitar, scroll through pinterest, read on reddit all day, and travel to all the places.” So… I really had to think about what makes me HAPPY.
HAVING CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE.
This was a weird time in my life. I decided I had put up with more than enough and I was done settling. I made some swift decisions and really got to see some people for who they really are. I was taking Nikes advice and “just doing it” and #boom I MADE CHANGE HAPPEN. I left some people behind in this quest but I think if I would not have moved on, I would still be making all of my life decisions based on fear instead of logic.
I could do this, even if it meant doing it alone and a little scared.
In high school I was voted Best Dressed and that must say something about who I am as a person and what I might be good at? Yas? RIGHT? I don’t know what people were thinking honestly. My outfits ranged from emo punk rocker wearing Chuck Taylors, studded belts, and Weezer shirts – to wearing Business professional blazers like I was running for class president that day. Whatever, I was me then.. why was I so scared to be ME now?
I looked at my favorite shopping websites Jane, Etsy, Sassy Steals, and GroopDealz and thought “This is it…. I could so do this”. I could make or buy stuff and sell it on these online boutique platforms. At this point, I have had some personal and business failures already, and I have learned some of those business lessons the hard way because well.. I’m a little hardheaded. I know now that I definitely do not want to make chocolates all day, or paint furniture in my cold garage, or sell tutus.
Instead I started QTcutie where I could sell my favorite finds in jewelry and other cool fashion, makeup, and trendy new items. The jewelry takes precedence because I just like it most. I wear a range of jewelry because I go from simple, and dainty every-day wear items, to bold and glam statement pieces within the day sometimes. I want to share my finds with everyone, but at a reasonable and affordable price.
I MAY HAVE CONCENTRATION ISSUES.
I also do marketing for my day job because it helps make me feel important, and like I make a difference. Somehow, I lucked out and scored a job that uses my previous sales and marketing experience, and I get to travel to new places.Plus I have to be doing something or I get stir crazy.
I am at a place in my life where I am actually pretty darn happy working a full -time job and running QTcutie. I get some amazing help from my husband, and even my kiddo likes to help me out in the shop! Now I have taken my obsession with jewelry to the 10th degree but at least I can share that obsession with you!
Please stay tuned for more blog posts and travels with QTcutie! Ciao!
-Roxy
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