We were lucky to catch up with Darlene Black recently and have shared our conversation below.

Darlene , appreciate you joining 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.

I actually started my business, Prettying Up Boutique, after I saw a former co-worker crafting during her lunch break. I did compliment her work, and informed that I had learned to sew; knit, and crochet (by my mother) at the age of nine. Adding, that I was making clothing for men, women, and children since my teenage years, including making my aunt’s wedding dress at fouteen years old. She was surprised, and asked me to craft something. I did craft a poncho for her. She loved it. Later, I made myself a sweater and my sorority sister said, “You need to turn your crafting into a business.”

Months later, I did revisit the idea of starting another business, however, I was hesitant due to many challenges I had faced as the former owner of a brick and mortar boutique, Hidden Treasures. With that, I decided to launch Prettying Up Boutique as an online business, to avoid overhead costs and having to spend long hours away from home. I got excited and started another business – that was ten years ago.

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?

Prettying Up Boutique is an online shop, where custom made – slow fashion can be purchased. Also, I write patterns for those who can’t free-hand.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I owned the boutique, Hidden Treasures, I was always at the store and nearly never at home to spend time with my ex-husband. The times I would be home, he couldn’t sleep properly because I was always operating sewing machines and moving dress forms around, in our home, at all hours of the night and early morning. He would be exhausted, so I made crafting-time changes, and shaved my client list.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started my business, I went from not having any clients to turning clents away. I arrived at this point by never giving up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prettyingupboutique.patternbyetsy.com/shop
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/prettyingup5/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/prettyingupboutique5/
• Twitter: https:www.twitter.com/Black16up

Image Credits

Natlie Berten