We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dahlia Strong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dahlia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Being successful comes from determination, sacrifice, discipline, talent and using your intuitive intelligence. Is it easy, not really. But being in business you really don’t have any other choice, you have to follow through, but it eventually clicks and comes together. 100%!!

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?

I started my Traveling Boutique business over 13 years ago. With the help of my partner Dominic, I started it in San Diego, California. We started very small and did as many Events as possible, from North County San Diego all the way to Orange County and Los Angeles. We must have done over 1000 events. And I learned along the way. We met so many lovely people during that time.

Our look is very SoCal Boho Clothing, and my customer age is between 40 and 70. I carry very flowy comfy pieces, from Palazzo Pants, Silky Dresses, Linen Tops and Pants, Kimonos, Kaftans and Maxi Dresses in all colors and textures.

We created a wonderful following during the years and have been very lucky to have had a loyal clientele.

Now the kicker is that we’ve moved to Sarasota, Florida last year and I’m starting again!! I opened up a Studio this time in the downtown area of Sarasota (at Morton’s for those that are familiar with the city). I’m happy to say I still have customers that order from San Diego that I ship to, and I have been working on creating a clientele here. And through perseverance I had my first Trunk Show at a Private Event last week and it was amazing, met wonderful women who loved the styles.

My advice is never stop, even when it gets hard and you encounter what you perceive as rejection, step back, breath, have a blended and try again…it’s gonna work!!

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was doing my Trunk Shows in San Diego I remember a time that alot of retail stores started carrying many of the Brands that I built my business on, the market was getting saturated with the same labels. I really got upset, but I realized that I couldn’t stop progress or a competitive nature. I was flummoxed, what do I do…and at the moment I understood that I was being pushed to grow, to take myself onto to the next level of my creativity, only I could do that for myself and that risk that I faced was the best thing I could have ever done for myself personally and for my business.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started my business with very little capital. Really little. I bought inventory, enough for fill 3 racks, I bought hangers at Costco and bags from Smart and Final (a Southern California discount market) and just put my effort into selling and helping women pick out cute pieces. And I did it over and over again.

I always paid my credit card bills at the end of the month, and in time I understood the booking aspect of my business and I understood my expenditures and my profits. I always stayed basic and put my energies into sourcing new and fabulous labels and designs.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: dahliatravelingboutique
• Facebook: Dahlia Traveling Boutique