Photo By: Vantage Media
So most of you probably know that I am currently back in school getting my MBA with a focus in entrepreneurial studies! Lots of hard work, huge challenge, and totally exciting. One of my assignments is to start a blog and write one post weekly about my business. Well…. “Start a blog.”….CHECK! Now here is my first Business Project Post. I will start the series with the story on how I started my journey as an entrepreneur. Personal and Business.
My Resume Summary
Merle Norman Makeup Artist through High School, Bachelors in Business – University of Memphis (2004-2007), Bartender and makeup artist through college, Worked at Macy’s as a fragrance rep and then as the Christian Dior counter manager (2007), worked at International Paper for 5 years as a Marketing Research intern, then Customer Service Rep, then Account Manager Sales Rep (lots of flying) (2007-2012), started my cosmetic line, Adel Amor Cosmetics, at the same time that I worked at International Paper (2007 – present). And now we have come to 2012, the year that I took the biggest risk I have ever taken in my life to date.
Photo By: Vantage Media
How It All Began
The true, nitty gritty story…. It all began when I started dating a boy. I was at a time in my life when I was making huge changes left and right. I had just ended a 3 year relationship and moved into my own apartment as a newly single woman on the island. I was really teeter tottering around…trying to find my balance and making drastic decisions left and right, searching for some sort of independent stability in my life. A true Gemini in distress…I know.
Photo By: Sophorn KuoyAs any single lady trying to be independent does…. I cling to a boy. WHOMP, WHOMP! Hey…in my defense, I was very young. This boy convinces me to quite my job at a Fortune 100 company, where I am quickly climbing the corporate ladder, because of the travel. Selfish reasons…but honestly the best decision to “follow” I have ever made. Following for me is very rare and usually results in regret…but this time resulted in the fast track to what I believe is my destiny!
The Opening of The Ivory Closet
Now I am not the type to go 100% dependent on anyone so leaving my job without any source of income…NOT AN OPTION. I decided that I would open a shop on the island to keep busy while I tended to working on my “prim and proper” skills. Cleaning, cooking (unsuccessfully), and trying my best to make a boy smile.
Photo By: Sophorn Kuoy But as with anything, my mind was a canvas with paint, all colors of the rainbow, flying at it 100 miles an hour. So many ideas, so much FREEDOM…so much money that I now need to make. haha
Photo By: Sophorn Kuoy
So with my 26 year old life savings, $10,000, I opened The Ivory Closet Boutique. My family and friends got in there and helped me to turn the once Tan N Go Salon, into my little dream boutique.
I had my grand opening November 15, 2012. My store had only $5000 in inventory with 2 floor racks, an accessory table, and two wall racks.
To put it in perspective, today I have 6 racks, 3 wall racks, 4 sheving units, 3 tables, and one gondola full of merchandise. That is 5 times the amount of inventory that I started with. Many people ask how were you able to become successful with only $5,000 of inventory. My answer…LOCATION. I was the only shop on the island and at that time, there were more females than males on the island. I was able to reinvest my money back into inventory to grow into over 4 times the amount of inventory by 6 months.
Photo By: AM Photography
My grand opening party was a HUGE success. So many people came out to see the shop. Such a huge outpouring of support. I was and still am just so thankful for all of those who believed in my little boutique.
Photo By: AM PhotographyOnce the party was over and I sat down to soak in all of the people that had just come out to support me, I realized that this was going to be big. My dream grew exponentially overnight. This was no longer just a little something to do, I want to take this idea to the extreme. I want to go nationally using the web as a platform and the WOM and popularity of the shop as a vessel to franchise.
Photo By: AM Photography
I began planning what The Ivory Closet will look like in 5 years with a business canvas plan and spent a lot of time working on a website, hiring a strong stylist team, and creating vendor partnerships. My corporate sales experience gave me a leg up in creating sales goals and a service platform for my shop.
Today
BUSINESS
I still have The Ivory Closet . I started a fashion line of reversible camis, a line of body and skincare products and still have the cosmetic line, Adel Amor Cosmetics.We have moved The Ivory Closet to a higher foot traffic area that is still close to my current clientele so business will not be lost! In the mix of everything I have managed to complete my masters from The University of Memphis!
PERSONAL
Five years later, I married and divorced, have two beautiful baby boys, and am going strong as a single momma and entrepreneur. I work extremely hard, but also have the freedom to take last minute vacations….. HOLD UP….I did not married “the boy” I ended up marrying a fellow entrepreneur and while things did not work out, we are still friends.
Lesson 1:
The boy was merely a messenger that pushed a teetering entrepreneur off the edge where she did not land on the ground but instead exploded in mid-air into a free bird that was ready to fly the distance to success. (wow….does that make sense? If it does, then I think I just had a moment) What I was trying to get at is: People come into your life for a reason, Take the time to build relationships and network!
Lesson 2:
Explode into mid-air so that you may fly the distance to success.
6 Comments
brandi hale
September 18, 2015 at 12:58 pmI was wondering how you got to this point! So proud to watch your success!
Alexandra Nicole
September 19, 2015 at 12:59 amThank you so much girl!!! 🙂
Ladaysia
November 7, 2018 at 12:46 pmWow, inspiring! Sorry to hear about your divorce, but…sounds like it was for the better. Curious…what ever happened to the boy? Still single?
Alexandra Nicole
November 7, 2018 at 12:59 pmThank you so much. It really was. We are friends and really get along great for the boys.
LOL No he is married with kids! It totally would not have worked out now that I look back. My type is the “honorable, respectable man with a hint of bad boy style!” He really didn’t match what I am truly attracted to.
Ladaysia
November 8, 2018 at 11:48 amDarn! Im looking for a nice cute man to tell me to quit my job ha! Joking, sort of. 😉
Alexandra Nicole
November 8, 2018 at 12:42 pmhahahahaa #dreamman