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

Dawn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

This is always my favorite topic to discuss. The name of my business is The Bougie Closet. At first when you think of “Bougie” and the stigma it brings you think of a woman who is of the upper class and snobby attitude. My goal is to transform that stigma. The Bougie Closet offers comfortable stylish clothing for women with CONFIDENCE. We want women to feel like a million bucks even in the most simple clothing. Being “Bougie” to me is how you carry yourself, not what you may have.

Dawn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a young entrepreneur who loves quality and fashion. I originally got into the clothing industry by starting a side hustle during COVID-19. While working from home I still wanted to get dressed but also be comfortable. That’s when the idea of “Comfy Chill Sets” became my niche. These sets consisted of a matching top and bottom, whether it was shorts or leggings. The main purpose was to provide quality, easy outfits for women working from home during the pandemic. 1 year later my living room was filled with orders and I decided to open a storefront. Sticking with the same niche my store caters to the everyday woman on the go. She has style, she has confidence, and loves to be comfortable.

Our clothing is carefully chosen to ensure our customers will be able to enjoy their busy day! Whether they are a busy worker on the go, or sitting at a desk. We offer items that have great stretch, versatility and quality,

Something that sets me apart is that I use myself as the model. My customers love that they can see the clothing on a natural body making it easy to visualize it on themselves.

I am proud to have started a side hustle
during a pandemic, and turning it into a six-figure business. I plan to open more stores in different states and change the minds of what Bougie means. The Bougie Closet is a place where confidence is key and we want all of our customers to feel their best and turn heads in the most simplistic clothing.

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

I keep in touch with customers by email marketing and SMS messages. SMS messages are sent out 1-2 times per week. Keeping customers up with new arrivals, changes, and sales.

Customers are able to gain loyalty points in store and online with every purchase. Points can be redeemed once the threshold is met, allowing them to receive $5-$10 off of their purchase.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I was a full time call center employee, actively running my business. I used a portion of my bi-weekly paycheck to purchase my initial inventory. Once I was able to see a profit, I started to use it to purchase more items and inventory for my business. I eventually was able to save enough for a deposit on my storefront.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thebougiecloset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thebougiecloset/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebougieclosett/