We were lucky to catch up with SOPHIA CARR recently and have shared our conversation below.

SOPHIA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Every and anything amazing begins with just a small thought or idea. From my Blog (SoPhareelWithGod) to my Custom T-Shirt Business (Glam’D Luxe Kustoms), they both began as a thought of “what if I start this?” When I thought of both ideas, a small part of me did not believe that either of these would work. Doubt mumbled many negative thoughts, causing me to often question if I could accomplish either. But one day, I mustered up enough faith to allow courage to overthrow every silent whisper that doubt tried to overcome. So, I simply..started. I purchased the materials for my T-Shirt Business, and I signed up for the website for my blog. After, purchasing materials, platforms, etc, I started blogging often and I started making t-shirts. Prior to the t-shirts, I did have to properly prepare. I am self-taught. I watched videos, tutorials, read blogs, and I asked a few questions to counterparts that I knew who were educated and talented in the T-Shirt making industry. The next days, hours, months, and years, were messy. I made so many mistakes financially and creatively. The skill required much practice and patience. As far as research, it required many hours of researching vendors, best brands, best deals for bulk items, brainstorming ideas etc. Launching was scary. I didn’t know who would support, if anyone would purchase or buy anything, I doubted if what I created would attract an audience enough to keep a prospering business, yet here I am 5 years later, still creating merch, and still encouraging others through Christian Blog Posts. The doubt, fear, and second- guessing only created a work of art within myself that strives to achieve even more successful lucrative business ideas and goals day by day.

SOPHIA, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I began my T-Shirt Business back in 2020 and I began my blog back in 2014. Both industries I launched independently on my own. I provide creative T-Shirts and Custom Fits for any occasion. Recently, the focus and most sales from my business has been fits for Graduates and Seniors. Not only do I provide the T-shirts for the graduate and his/her family to rock on graduation day, I create apparel (jeans, jumpers, etc) for them, as well. I solve problems for my clients, daily. I often get “I just need a shirt to wear, I trust you” or ” Can you create me a shirt that says..”, or the famous “my baby needs a shirt for his birthday” all of which allows me to feel more than honored to create for these families. What I believe sets me apart from others is my creativity and spirituality. I will forever give all thanks to God. Before ANY design that I do or any interaction that I make, I always pray. I pray that God provides me with the creativity needed for the customer in which I am creating for at the moment and that it far exceeds their expectations and what they were searching for when it comes to their order. What I am most proud of is the consistency of my businesses. There were many days that I felt like it didn’t matter or that my businesses were not receiving as much traffic and support as they once were so there were many days that I talked myself out of not shutting them down. I am proud that although my T-shirt business was founded and created during the pandemic, I didn’t allow time to change my drive. Here we are 5 years post-pandemic and I am still pushing my businesses as if I just started. I desire for clients to know that although this may have started off as “hobbies” between making t-shirts, custom items, and blogging, one day I will come across billboards as a product of trusting God, consistency, determination, hard work, and perseverance.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

On social media, I initially started with just simple postings. After some time, I expanded my audience by creating a Business Page for both of my businesses. I created one page for Glam’D Luxe Kustoms and I created one page for SoPhareelWithGod, LLC. My pages began with a few likes, but constant and consistent postings of videos and pictures of my work is what grew my audience and my name. Small businesses flourish from word of mouth. Although tiring at times, consistency in posting is what will cause your brand to fall in the hands and across desks of individuals and companies that weren’t aware that you even existed. The advice that I will provide to anyone that desires to build their social media presence is to simply, POST THE CONTENT! There will be days that you will not receive even 1 like, 1 comment, or even a sale, but what I can assure you is that THEY SEE IT. A sale that you did not make today, will be a post remembered tomorrow when they need it. Meaning, many may not comment, like, or share your post, but I promise that when you are needed later down the road, they WILL remember you.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The main goal that drives my creative journey is the fact that I LOVE to see and make people smile and happy. When I first began my T-Shirt Business, my goal and main audience was to African American women and girls that may have dealt with low self-esteem because of their skin or the way in which they looked, so my first T-Shirt Line revolved around “Black Girl Magic” for young girls, teenage girls, and women of all sizes, ages, and ethnicities. I created these Tees so that these individuals could easily, effortlessly, confidently, and boldly embody EXACTLY who and what they were: beautiful. I’ve been told that through these creative tees, it made them feel beautiful. Within the t-shirts, I used bright colors, I added women on the shirts of all complexions, and body types. It then stemmed out to different groups of people: African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, etc- every ethnicity and race, I had a shirt for them, because it was never about portraying that only my race was important, but SELF CONFIDENCE in whoever the individual was created to be. Currently, I’m driven by that same mission- allowing individuals to LIVE OUT their purpose and become exactly WHO they were created to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sophareelwithgod.wordpress.com
• Instagram: glamdluxe & sophareelwithgod (IG Handles)
• Facebook: FB: Glam’D Luxe FB: SophareelwithGod LLC
• Other: https://sophareelwithgod.wordpress.com

Image Credits

Mara’s Eye Photography