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

Claudia , appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The risk of starting this brand was real. But the reward? It’s in every small victory, every new customer, and every step forward I take. I’m still learning, still growing, and still working hard to make Dream Wear Boutique everything I’ve always dreamed it could be. It hasn’t been easy, but taking that risk was the best decision I could have made.

Starting Dream Wear Boutique was a risk. A big one. When I first had the idea, I wasn’t sure if it would succeed or if it was just a fleeting dream. But something inside me told me to go for it to take the leap and turn that vision into reality. Little did I know, the road to building a well-known brand would be much longer and more challenging than I ever imagined.

At first, everything felt like a blur. I was a solo entrepreneur, juggling multiple roles—designer, marketer, customer service rep—and trying to navigate the complexities of building a brand from scratch. There were moments when I wondered if I had made the right decision. It is overwhelming at times, and the fear of failure is always lurking in the back of my mind. But every time I felt doubt creeping in, my passion for Dream Wear Boutique pulled me back in. This wasn’t just a business; it was my dream, and I couldn’t give up on it.

The truth is, it hasn’t been easy. Building a successful brand takes time, patience, and a lot of trial and error. I’ve had to learn everything the hard way how to market my boutique, how to reach people on social media, how to drive traffic to my website. There have been countless lessons along the way, some of them hard and some of them humbling. But with each lesson, I’ve gained more confidence and clarity in what I want Dream Wear Boutique to be.

Social media, SEO, content creation none of it came naturally to me. I had to learn the ins and outs of digital marketing, and honestly, it’s still a work in progress. I’m still figuring out how to get my boutique in front of the right people, how to build a community, and how to stand out in such a crowded marketplace. But despite all the challenges, I’m determined to make it work. Dream Wear Boutique isn’t just a brand; it’s the heart of my creative vision, and I know I’m building something special, even if it’s a slow climb.

Claudia , 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’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even as a preschool teacher. For years, I put that passion on the back burner, thinking it wasn’t the right time to pursue my own dream. Then, in March 2020, the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Suddenly, I found myself teaching from home for the first time. It was a challenging adjustment, but it also gave me the space to reflect and realize something important: it was time to finally follow my dream. That’s when Dream Wear Boutique was born.

Fashion has always been a huge part of my life. So has my love for travel and the beach. These passions led me to create a brand focused on swimwear, travel clothing, and jewelry pieces that not only look beautiful but also reflect the joy of living life to the fullest. But Dream Wear Boutique isn’t just about clothes; it’s about celebrating women and the entire travel experience. It’s a lifestyle brand that encourages women to feel empowered, confident, and stylish, no matter where they are in the world.

When designing Dream Wear’s collections, I knew I didn’t want to follow the usual formulas. So much of swimwear and beachwear out there revolves around the idea of “sexy,” but that’s not how I see fashion. To me, fashion is about feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin. It’s about expressing yourself, not fitting into a stereotype. At Dream Wear Boutique, I want women to feel chic, flirty, and fun, rather than being sexualized. My pieces are made for comfort and confidence, and I believe that’s the true key to looking and feeling amazing. When you feel good in what you’re wearing, that confidence shines through.

Alongside our clothing, swimwear, and jewelry collections, I’ve also started a blog. I want to share my travels, tips, and inspiration with the community I’m building, and hopefully spark a deeper connection with other like-minded travelers. My dream is to create a space where women can come together, celebrate life, and share in the joys of travel and adventure.

I’m still learning and growing as I work solo to bring Dream Wear Boutique to life, but it’s been the most rewarding journey. This brand is my passion project, and every step big or small brings me closer to my vision. I’m excited for what’s to come and hope you’ll join me on this adventure. Thank you for your support!

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

From the beginning, I made sure that Dream Wear Boutique was a reflection of my own values and passions. It wasn’t just about creating a business it was about sharing my love for fashion, travel, and empowering women. I think people really connect with authenticity. When you’re genuine about what you do, it shines through in your products and your messaging, and that’s something customers can feel. I’ve always wanted Dream Wear to feel like more than just a boutique—it’s a lifestyle brand built on confidence and self-expression.
In a crowded market, standing out is crucial. I wanted Dream Wear Boutique to offer something different. I wasn’t interested in following the usual trends of swimwear and beachwear. I focused on comfort, style, and confidence over the typical “sexy” branding often associated with swimwear. By prioritizing chic, flirty, and fun styles that empower women to feel confident in their own skin, I set Dream Wear apart from other brands. This unique approach resonated with my audience and helped me build a loyal customer base.
I’ve always made an effort to build a real connection with my customers. Social media has been a huge part of that. I engage with my followers regularly, not just by promoting products, but by sharing my own journey, travels, and experiences. People like to feel like they’re a part of something bigger, and by sharing my story and inviting others into it, I’ve been able to create a sense of community around Dream Wear. I also actively listen to feedback, which has allowed me to improve my offerings and stay connected to what my customers want.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn in building Dream Wear Boutique was the idea that success happens quickly. When I first started this journey, I had an image in my mind of how things were supposed to unfold. I thought if I put in enough work, launched great products, and promoted them the right way, success would follow almost immediately.

But reality hit hard. I quickly realized that building a brand doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time sometimes a lot of time. I had to unlearn the notion that success is instant and embrace the idea that it’s a gradual process, often with more setbacks than you expect.

At first, I found myself getting frustrated and anxious when things didn’t take off as quickly as I imagined. There were days when I felt like I was putting in all this effort—designing, marketing, learning and yet the results weren’t as immediate as I hoped. The website traffic wasn’t skyrocketing, the sales weren’t pouring in, and the brand recognition didn’t happen as fast as I thought it would.

What I had to realize was that success is built step by step. It’s not just about launching products or running ads; it’s about consistently showing up, learning from every experience, and gradually building relationships with your customers. The true growth happens over time through trial, error, and constant improvement. What I thought was a “failure” at first was actually just part of the process.

Learning patience was key for me. I had to let go of the pressure to see immediate results and understand that real success takes time to nurture. Every small milestone whether it’s a positive customer review, a collaboration, or simply seeing repeat customers was a sign of progress. Over time, I began to appreciate the journey more, knowing that everything I was doing, even the small, seemingly insignificant steps, was contributing to something bigger.

So, I had to unlearn the idea that success is fast and instead embrace the truth: that it’s a long-term game, where patience and persistence are essential. That mindset shift has made all the difference in how I approach Dream Wear Boutique today. It’s been a slow burn, but every step has been worth it. And now, I see the progress I’ve made, and I know it’s just the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://DreamWearBoutique.com
• Instagram: Dream_WearBoutique
• Facebook: Dream Beachwear Boutique