We were lucky to catch up with Abby Barroll Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

As someone who became an entrepreneur later in life, having been married for many years and raising children, starting a business was not something I anticipated. Becoming vegetarian almost 12 years ago lead me down the path to where my passion lies today. I could have never imagined cultivating a vegan and cruelty free brand all those years ago. I am often asked if I miss eating meat. Over numerous meals with friends, I am often asked ” Don’t you ever crave a steak?” Far from feeling I am deprived, I infact choose to remember the abundance I have gained from not having meat on my plate.
Becoming vegetarian allowed me to discover a creative streak I did not know I had by forcing me to learn how to cook in an effort to stay the course of being meat free. It then lead me to revaluate my entire approach to my lifestyle. One small positive change at a time over the course of a few years ultimately resulted in Willa Phoenix and a real sense of self discovery on a very personal level. I sometime can hardly recognize the person I was all those year ago.
As a sole business owner everyday is different and presents itself with good and bad challenges, stress, small victories, a few tears, and a seemingly never ending uphill battle. That said, I love my purpose and having the opportunity to steer my own ship with my vison and energy so having a “regular job” would never work for me. I don’t think knowing and doing what I am doing now, I could successfully or happily compromise my values, ethos or beliefs to suit someone I worked for.

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?

Willa Phoenix is a vegan and cruelty free capsule collection of stilettos and matching clutch bags offering the luxury space an alternative to those accessories traditionally produced with leather, feathers and fur.
My business in a way was sort of an accident! I never set out to establish a fashion brand. I simply was trying for my own personal reason to make a vegan heel I would wear. Having looked in the market, I was struggling to find sexy high heels to suit my taste. I simply was looking to have some bespoke shoes for my own closet. It started in that way and snowballed from there. Once I received the first two pairs from the factory in Italy, I was so excited to see how beautiful and most importantly how insanely comfortable they were. They were to my ultimate surprise the most comfortable shoes in my wardrobe. I think it was then that I thought this could possibly become a legitimate label.
Since launching, we have graced the red carpets of The Emmy’s, The Cannes Film Festival , The Tribeca Film Festival, The Baftas and The Oscars. We have recently been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Having no formal background in fashion was a huge barrier for me starting my business and it gave me an incredible sense of imposter syndrome. For a long time and still occasionally I feel I have no right to be in the industry and to have done all the business has accomplished in a relatively short space of time. Because of my lack of experience, I assumed people would judge me rather harshly. I actually could not have been more wrong. Especially designers, make- up artist and other creatives in the ethical space Willa Phoenix occupies. On the contrary, people have been so amazing, helpful and kind to me. I sometimes am overwhelmed by how supportive they have been and continue to be.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I think communication is key.
Social media has made it so much easier to connect with people years ago you would have never been able reach. I am constantly following up with my customers, the celebrities who have worn my shoes and the stylist who are selecting for their events. Establishing a trust in your brand and product are so important.
I love when I have repeat buyers who love my product especially when they are people who would typically not wear a heel and they tell me mine are the only ones they will wear because they are so comfortable..

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.willaphoenix.com
• Instagram: @willa.phoenix
• Linkedin: Willa Phoenix
• Other: Willa Phoenix Pintrest

Image Credits

Julia Yatel
Anton Volnyanskyy