We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
Naming a business is one of the most difficult things you can do. You want it to mean something but be easy to say and remember. After I decided I wanted to launch a clothing boutique that focused on women-owned brands, I knew I wanted to honor my mother in some way. What better way to name a brand than to name it after the strongest woman I know!
My mother loves flowers and actually met my father working at a nursery farm. Her favorite flower is an orchid and actually had one named after her, the LC Terry May; a beautiful bright red orchid. That was it for me! Elcie May was the name I chose and I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the strong women in my life, who mean so much to me and are the reason I became who I am today.
Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I launched my boutique, Elcie May, 7 months after I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. Postpartum is an interesting time to launch a business; you aren’t quite back to your old self and yet feel incredibly powerful. I was disappointed with my old clothes and wanted to wear things that were comfortable but stylish. My body had been through a lot and while I wasn’t comfortable in my skin, I didn’t want to hide behind baggy clothing. I wanted soft comfortable fabrics with lots of stretch and POCKETS that didn’t break the bank, all of which was really difficult to find.
After giving birth to a girl, I knew I had to also give back to my community and I wanted my business to be mindful of who we supported. It always bothered me how women’s fashion is dominated by male designers. No disrespect here! I greatly admire male designers and what they’ve done in the fashion world. But I found that most things I needed as a new mom and woman were hard to find, like pockets. I’ll never understand why women”s pockets are tiny if they exist at all. Almost all of the women-owned clothing brands I buy from have the BEST attention to details and softest fabrics.
As I continue to work on my business, I am so honored by the women who have supported me. Their feedback and encouragement mean the world to me! Knowing that other women are also experiencing the same problems as me and are loving the clothes I carry in my boutique is everything. I love taking the time to talk about my products to those who are interested and seeing how happy they are after they try on my clothes.
I can’t wait to expand Elcie May and support more women-owned brands. I truly believe that women supporting women is the way of the future. It’s the only future I want for my daughter.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe that hard work and determination are essential when it comes to launching a small business. Breaking through a saturated market can only happen if you truly believe in what you are selling. Customers will be able to see straight through you and theres no way you can survive without your customers trust.
One of the things that have helped my online business is attending local pop-up markets. It really makes a difference when customers are able to see and feel the products in person. It also helps to meet customers face-to-face and answer any questions or concerns they may have.
Showing up consistency on social media is also a great way to build your reputation. Sharing all the good and the not so great is a way to help your customers get to know you. This will also help build their trust and want to support you. I use planning services like Planoly to help keep my social media consistent without burning out.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The number one lesson I have learned while starting a business is that you can never stop learning (and never give up!). I have always been a big reader but there are a few books that really helped me build the courage to take the plunge into entrepreneurism.
The first is We Should All Be Millionaires A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers. It is a no-nonsense, straight forward book that details the steps you need to take to financial freedom. It is geared towards women and people of color which makes it truly groundbreaking in my eyes.
The next book I’d recommend is The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau It will help you find creative ways to bring in revenue to your business without breaking the bank. This is also the book that made me realize you can make money off of literally anything.
The last book I’d recommend is Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. This is the best book on how to be an effective leader and manage a team. It focuses on the traits a successful leader should have and teaches you how to navigate through difficulties.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elciemay.com
- Instagram: @shopelciemay
Image Credits
Danielle Pressley Photography