We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Clare Koppang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Clare below.
Clare , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
During my teens and early 20’s, I worked in retail stores from gift shops to shoe stores and then finally clothing boutiques. I loved interacting with clients and asking what they were shopping for; we would talk about trips they were planning or their children’s graduation, a bridesmaid lunch or just a wardrobe glow up with a new career. I was always so intrigued by their lifestyles and asked questions about what they would be doing that day leading up to the event. I wanted to make sure the outfits we selected were as comfortable as they were chic. Most of the people I worked with were so floored that I even cared, and as a result we would often become friends. They felt comfortable telling me about their life because they could tell I genuinely cared. I wanted their investment in these pieces to be one they felt confident about for years to come. I knew they had worked hard for the money they would be spending on the outfits, and I wanted those looks to give back to them in the way of confidence and comfort.
I began offering closet edits and wardrobe styling to my client friends in my spare time. Once I had organized their closet and laid out outfits, I gained their trust. I started to get the idea that my little side hustle wasn’t just meant for styling services. As I started personal shopping, I found that there wasn’t a great place to grab wardrobe staples in a certain price point that were high quality, yet comfortable. It gave me the idea to start carrying a small collection of clothing and began to have by- appointment hours. Eventually this grew into what Council Wardrobe Studio is today- a women’s shopping destination for high quality pieces that are just as comfortable as they are stylish.
I believe the right outfits can make you shine from the inside out, and help make your whole life better. When people come out of the fitting room in something they feel great in, their whole aura changes. They can not only take on the day, but can eliminate the worry of not having on the right outfit, or not being comfortable in it, and get down to business.
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?
Hi! I’m Clare Koppang, owner of Council Wardrobe Studio. For years I worked in retail and would often hear the same thing over and over; “I love this but could never pull it off”. That made me think WHY NOT! I was bummed that my clients could love a fabulous piece of clothing but didn’t think they were cool enough to wear it, and immediately wanted to solve this dilemma for them. I would quickly pair said piece with something more approachable to them and show the versatility of the piece of clothing or shoes they fell in love with. “Really?”, they’d say. They were often pleasantly surprised by the styling and after some encouragement would try it on and emerge from the fitting room a brand new human being; the one that was always inside anyway..! I could tell when someone felt so much like their true selves in something that they just beamed, and that gave me so much joy.
I began helping clients edit their closets and style outfits for events. Over time, I was making as much money on the side helping edit closets and style looks as I made in my retail job, so I knew it was time to take a leap and open my own thing. If I didn’t try now I would never know. So in 2014, in Nashville, TN, I opened a small studio with about 20 styles of clothing. My goal then was to have a small sprinkling of things to pull from for client appointments. But, it quickly became apparent that I had a knack for buying and I decided to add more inventory. We did trunk shows and pop-ups, but it remained a small studio until we moved back to my hometown, Columbus, GA, and opened what is now a women’s clothing and accessories store.
At Council, we want to get to know you and help build your forever wardrobe. We believe in investing in quality clothing that can be worn for years, styled different ways, and passed down. We’re solving your wardrobe dilemmas, helping you pack for trips and taking the stress out of outfit planning!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
After I had my first child, Council really struggled. As a new mom, I had a new set of priorities, and a different body. I was navigating a whole new world, and found it really challenging to find balance. I felt I was either a good mom and bad business owner, or good business owner and bad mom. I made a tough decision to move the studio to our basement and do online-only for a period of time to focus on my new baby.
We also moved back to my hometown – Columbus, GA- during this time. It was really tough for me to pause a successful, growing business. I wanted to keep the momentum going. As my daughter approached 6 months old, I realized that not only could I do both, I found that having my career and creative outlet would actually make me a better mother. “You can’t pour from an empty cup” resonated, and I opened a small studio again in Georgia. My studio hours were the hours my child was in preschool. I made it work for me, and people came and supported! I was floored. My body was definitely different after having a baby, but instead of feeling shame about it, I embraced it and shared with clients how I was dressing my post-baby body. Honesty had always been an important part of my business model. So, I shared tricks on how to dress nursing moms, or how to minimize the post baby belly with a front tuck and the right fitting denim. I wanted my business to work, and I knew I had to be very real and vulnerable to relate with my clients and keep them coming back.
My husband has always been my biggest supporter. He believed in me when I was ready to give up. He has always encouraged Council’s journey and I am so grateful!
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
There have been a few close calls for sure. I think what a lot of people starting businesses don’t realize is that you have to continue investing in your business. The one initial loan is often not enough to keep the business afloat. Different business models will require different investments based on overhead, etc., such as a store like mine with inventory will be more costly to start and run than a service based business that has no goods.
One particular time stands out a couple years ago. I was at the end of my rope. I had no idea how I was going to pay for all the inventory I had ordered after a particularly slow season. I started to dig deep and figure out what loans or lines of credit might be available to me. I just was not willing to fork over an insane amount of interest to make it work. I was afraid I might have to break the news to my vendors and was worried if I cancelled orders with them, I might not be able to work with them again in the future. It was a sinking feeling, but I was not about to close the doors just because I had a bad season. I eventually settled on a loan through Shopify, my POS and online store platform. Their interest rates were doable, and they took a percentage of sales rather than chunks of weekly or monthly payments. They really seemed to understand what worked for smaller businesses. My advice is do not give up! Do not cancel orders. Hustle and plan events, reach out to your customers, and look for funding. Challenging times are building blocks for better days ahead!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.councilstudio.com
- Instagram: @councilstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councilstudio/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-turner-koppang-91705757/
Image Credits
Morgan Duke Photography