Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashleigh Ludlam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashleigh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started my 1st business (AshleighsAffordables) in 2011 and at the time, I was at a job that was in no way a longterm career. The job was more of a convenience since it generally worked around my schedule and provided me the opportunity to spend time practicing my creative techniques to eventually open that 1st business. Being 21 and deciding to work for myself was without a doubt a learning experience and taught me a great deal about who I am. Looking back, I don’t believe I would have started sooner, or later than I did. I believe that it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life and it gave me the time and confidence in my ability that I needed to later open my 2nd business (Affordably Chic) in 2016 and my 3rd (So Rad Swag) in 2022.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those that have not “met” me before,

Hello, I’m Ashleigh!

I am an author and the Owner/Founder of 3 small businesses.

AshleighsAffordables (est 2011) – Custom handmade wire jewelry and accessories business

Affordably Chic Boutique (est 2016) – Online women’s boutique

So Rad Swag (est 2022) – Custom made-to-order unisex apparel company

Publications:

‘My Grandma Lives in Heaven’

‘When I Imagine Heaven’

My passion for writing, fashion and creative design motivated me to find a way to merge what I love together into the successful international brands that my businesses are today.

When trying to look back on what I am most proud of, I believe that it would have to be the outpouring of appreciation and love that I have received from my past and present customers. Knowing that I/my business/my book have provided someone with even the slightest bit of joy in this life that is not always joyful, it makes me feel as though I am giving back in a positive way.

I am dedicated to providing the utmost customer service and treating others with respect and gratitude as a professional and also as an individual.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My 1st business started out as an interest, or “hobby” if you will. I started practicing working with wire, watching several videos, reading many informative web pages, etc. Little by little, my work improved and I started quickly getting contacted by others inquiring if I would sell my designs, or if I offered custom orders. Once I became more comfortable in my ability, I started slowly selling my work. It started off small, but it quickly grew and I left my current job at the time and decided to pursue this business full time. What began as a handful of orders here and there in the US, turned into so many custom orders from around the world that I could barely keep track. Some orders even had 50-100+ items each!

As the years passed, I had to limit the number of orders that I could accept at one time due to also running my 2 other businesses, but my AshleighsAffordables work still remains a favored gift for return and new customers alike.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

With any of my businesses, I feel as though I have built a respectable reputation within the market. I have always strived to create an affordable, personal approach to the way I run my brands and how I view professionalism.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/ashleighdl
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashleighdludlam
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleigh.ludlam
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-ludlam-031180121
• Other: https://soradswag.com/

  https://www.affordablychic.com

  https://www.booksamillion.com/search2?query=Ashleigh+D.+Ludlam&filters[authors]=Ashleigh+D.+Ludlam&id=9125645744073