Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Helena Kelleese Smith . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Helena Kelleese , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I recently decided to switch from service-based consultant to venturing into an online retail business. Whew! Who told me to do that?! After the pandemic started, it was hard to shift and maintain especially because services like mine are a luxury/privilege to be able to seek out and enjoy. An opportunity came my way by way of keeping great connections and right timing, I was able to secure full-time position for my work an entrepreneur, creative, and educator. Although financially, it was a perfect transition, I’m a creative and entrepreneur to the core so I set out to figure out what I wanted to do next. I’ve never really ventured into fashion just considered my own style. My signature style is some frames and fedora hats. I really started wearing hats to hide the fuzziness of my hair when it wasn’t done. Ha.! So it became my thing. Sitting among family one day, they offered the idea of opening a store and selling hats and eyewear. I researched. Compared the numbers and boom, in came LUXE | ROSE Designer Hats and Eyewear, a brand inspired by beautiful people and their creativity.
Helena Kelleese , 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?
Luxe | Rose is on a mission to enhance your personal style with simple elements that still make a statement. With your beauty and impact in mind, our brand inspires the confidence to just be.
Our designer hat & eyewear collections are inspired by real creative artists who are doing meaningful work in their respective communities. Not only do we aspire to bring attention to their genius, we share a percentage of your purchase amount with these creatives in an effort to give back to their work.
As creatives ourselves, we understand the importance of building community and creating awareness of our journey, so it is important to us that we share their stories as much as ours.
Welcome to our journey! Enjoy your experience shopping with us at Luxe | Rose.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Finding funding for a start up is not easy at ALL! First, you have to have the mindset that you will make money and you have to have a disciplined relationship with your money. My first initial capital came from a community grant for a service project I was doing for kids. That was the start that I could use my skills to sell my services for building people’s businesses and programs. I started researching small business grants and found other small local funding opportunities to move the needle in my business. Of course, it’s never really enough and you may have to work and fund your ideas and initiatives. I was a substitute teacher, consultant, brand manager, drove for Uber/Lyft and any gig job that would allow me to fund my business. After awhile, business owners and entrepreneurs need to have access to lines of credit, sba loans, and other small business accelerators/incubators to bring awareness to their brand, products, services etc. Now, my goal is to fine local investor and partnerships specifically for brand awareness.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I build my audience through relationships, providing exclusive access to the brand. We cultivate supporting local artist, entrepreneurs, and collaborations with other small businesses. Be intentional with who and what you want from your audience. Be clear with your messaging so they know exactly how you want them to interact with the products, services, brand. Create space for them to get to know you. Make engaging content and talk their language. Be authentic and real.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopluxerose.online
- Instagram: @shopluxeroseonline
- Facebook: @shopluxerose
Image Credits
Village Micro Fund Collaboration Photoshoot with LUXE | ROSE Donte Miller, Harriett Williams, Louis Deas pictured