We were lucky to catch up with Keisha Owens recently and have shared our conversation below.
Keisha, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Being a small business owner has lots of perks and I absolutely love my job. But it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. When I first started my business 6 years ago I thought oh I will have so much fun selling clothes a couple nights a month. I had no idea what it really meant to be a boutique owner. I like to call myself a one woman show, and what that means is I am the inventory buyer, shipping coordinator, social media manager, complaints department, bus driver, customer service specialist, display designer, and the list goes on. This past year was my most difficult year to date. My bus was in the shop more from May to December than on the road. That’s when I started to think maybe working for someone else would be a good idea. I would have consistent pay, hours, time off, retirement possibly, less responsibilities, but would I be happy? Ultimately I decided that being my own boss is for me. It’s who I am. I love the fact that I never have to miss my daughter’s events, and if I want to take off for a random concert I can do that. So while there are definitely positives to having a “normal” job, I am going to keep grinding and building my business.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
For years I thought it would be fun to have a clothing store of some kind. When my daughter was little I thought of a consignment store then that dream died as she grew and buying clothes wasn’t as fun. Then in 2018 I decided to take a “mini plunge” into the boutique world. I started out doing in home parties I called trunk shows and it was fun but a lot of work hauling inventory around. But more than that I would miss being home for dinner or possibly a sporting event so I knew I needed to adjust my business plan. I’ve also had my real estate license for a long time so when I had a pretty good closing I decided to invest my entire check into my first bus. I was terrified, would I make my money back? Would anyone even be interested in shopping inside a bus? I really had no idea what I was doing but my house was overflowing with clothes so if nothing else I had a pretty pink “storage unit”. I’d love to say I remember my first pop up in the bus but I don’t. Ever since I started going mobile I haven’t slowed down. Well except in 2020 when everyone was forced to and even then I had built up a customer base that I was able to do lives on social media to keep the business afloat. In 2021 I made the scariest unexpected purchase of my life, I flew to Nebraska met my best friends husband who happened to be working there. He drove me to Iowa and I bought my second bus. Then drove it all the way back to SC. Longest 2 days of my life driving the bus back to SC. 3 days before my new bus was ready to hit the road, the motor in my first bus went out. Talk about perfect timing to upgrade.
Inside the bus you will find lots of fun apparel for ladies of all sizes. I carry sizes small to 3X. One of my biggest compliments is being a size inclusive boutique! Clothes isn’t the only thing though, I have lots of really fun and affordable accessories to pair with any outfit.
I am really proud to say that my boutique is affordable for all women. I try really hard to keep all items under $50, there may be an occasional item that I just can’t pass up that surpasses that but 95% is under $50. I want everyone to be able to find something that makes them feel beautiful in their own skin.
Where can you find me?!? I love to say anywhere women want to shop I will go. Somehow I have been blessed to frequent many schools in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and even Laurens county. I’ve also participated in Girls Nights at City Scape Winery, local events such as Dabo’s Ladies Clinic, Sippin In Simpsonville, and the Aunt Het Festival just to name a few.
What should you expect when you shop the bus?!? A friendly greeting from yours truly, and a selection that you’d never guess would fit into such a small space. You won’t be guilted into making a purchase, I am a no pressure kinda girl. I want every customer to enter as a “stranger” but leave thinking I could totally be friends with her!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I’m not one to brag on myself but I honestly feel that I have been able to build my business to what it is today because of my personality. I am very much a people person. My mom says I never meet a stranger. So when someone comes into my bus we chat. It doesn’t have to be about clothes, it can be about anything. My customers become my friends and I am confident that they would agree. We share life stories, advice, and build each other up in hard times. I’m a girls girl, and that’s what a boutique owner should be. It’s not my job to sell clothes, it’s to build up women so that they want to better themselves. Maybe it starts with a new outfit
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
In today’s age there are so many ways to connect with customers and potential customers. I currently have a private Facebook group and Instagram. This is an area I am trying to work on and be more consistent at. Maybe one day I’ll even have a website