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

Katie, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

A notable unexpected problem… The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused devastation on countless levels for so many people. While the impact the invasion had on my business in no way compares to the tragic losses suffered by so many, it did present an unexpected problem for my shop and my clients that I had to address, A lot of people are surprised to learn that many bridal designers produce their gowns in Ukraine. When I was opening this business and assessing various risks, considering an international crisis that would prevent the production of gowns was not something that crossed my mind. Because of the invasion, production was of course interrupted and gowns were delayed. For brides with a tight timeline leading up to their wedding date, this posed a difficult problem. Not being able to control the situation, I figured that my best approach was to have open and honest conversations with each affected client. I did my best to provide each bride with as much information as I could, as well as provide updates as the situation continued to develop. I’m so happy to say that every one of my clients was understanding, supportive, and expressed so much concern for the people suffering because of the invasion. I’m also beyond impressed with how amazing the bridal companies I work with are, and how they navigated this situation with compassion for their affected team members and commitment to their retailers. In the midst of a heartbreaking situation, it was nice to see people coming together to do what they can to help. I’m absolutely thrilled to say that the designers I work with have reported their team members are now safe. Production is back on track and brides can be confident their gowns will arrive as planned.

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 own a boutique bridal salon in Point Loma. This is a passion project for me. Prior to opening this business, I worked as an attorney, so you could say this is a bit of a career change for me. I have always loved bridal, and have followed the industry with interest for many years. During Covid, I was working from home as a veterans’ disability attorney. It’s a highly rewarding job, but I was feeling the stress. With Covid keeping us all at home, my work/life balance was gone. My family also suffered the sudden death of my father which was a devastating loss. I think this all combined to lead me to reassess my choices. My husband and my mom are my biggest cheerleaders and they encouraged me to chase this dream. I’m not typically a risk taker, so this was a huge leap for me.

Because this shop is my passion project, I put so much thought into the gowns I wanted to carry, the designers I wanted to work with, and the experience I want every bride who books an appointment to have. When a bride comes to the shop, she can expect to feel welcome, comfortable, and confident. She can know she will be able to choose her gown based on what makes her happy and not a high-pressure sales situation. I want my clients to remember this part of their wedding planning with joy.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’m still learning so much in this regard. I have a long way to go, but I do feel like I’ve also come a long way. At best, I would say my social media skills were slightly above “beginner” so there was a lot of room for growth! I understand that social media is a tool, and I think something that was very helpful to me was knowing that (prior to opening my business) I had never spent much (any) time considering how to harness the commercial power of social media. I knew I was a novice in this regard so I make it a point now to chat with other business owners about what has worked well for them on social media. I ask a lot of questions! Having these conversations has helped me learn new ways to edit videos, reach specific audiences, and increase engagement. Again, I have so much room for improvement here, but I think chatting with peers about their social media experiences has been a great resource for learning as I go.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I’d say this is a toss-up between word-of-mouth referrals and social media. Bridal fashion isn’t an industry that typically runs on repeat customers. A bride usually needs just one gown (maybe two if she’s changing for the reception)! I put a lot of focus on making sure each bride has a wonderful experience and this has translated to my clients being supportive of the business and referring their friends, family, etc. Typically when I hear from a bride for the first time, the conversation includes them telling me either that they were referred by a friend or they saw one of the Instagram posts and wanted to see the gown in person.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.VivanteMalone.com
• Instagram: @vivantemalone_bridal
• Facebook: Vivante Malone Bridal Salon

Image Credits
@catebatchelorphotography