We recently connected with Kemberley Portis and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kemberley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I was approaching the Big 40 and terrified of what this meant. I had so many questions about chapter 40 and how the world believes a 40 year old women should dress. I had great turmoil over what the world says is age appropriate vs staying true to me! I’ve always loved clothes and making a statement, so when I turned 40, I wanted to make sure that my style was still on point. I looked in my closet and realized that I needed women’s clothing that were flattering for my new mom body but still edgy and stylish enough to maintain my confidence. Whew that was definitely a struggle. I knew that if I experienced this challenge I’m sure others were struggling as well. Most days I felt like, where did the time go? Other days I felt like “Forty” I’m ready for you! The feeling of “all of a sudden” never went away! From those emotions Suddenly Forty was born. The name spoke to so many emotions I was experiencing. The uncertainty, the becoming, the grown and sexy confidence, and the spirit of rebellion all mixed up in one. The idea of helping others throughout the beautiful journey of aging and fashion keeps us excited year after year.
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.
As a little girl, I absolutely loved fashion, and most all of my friends considered me fashionable. I have a knack for putting together outfit ideas before trends start. At that time, I didn’t know what I was doing is called “Forecasting” styles. As a little girl, I tried my best not to ruin my hair (ponytails/braids with beads) or clothes on the playground. I often asked my mom for lip gloss and Baby Love So Soft body spritzer to be sure I smelled good. As I grew older, all of my friends would call me and ask for my opinion on outfits. I was the go to person to choose an outfit for a quick trip to the mall, a concert, a first date, and even weekend events. As a teenager, I watched music videos and read every fashion magazine I could get my hands on. I didn’t understand the depth of my passion for fashion until my husband’s job relocated our family to Texas and I immediately became a stay-at-home mom after leaving a 13-year career as a School Social Worker. This time of transition allowed me time to concentrate on how I had developed as a woman. I was able to think about who I was, who I had become, and what I love: fashion! After a few months in Texas, I realized I was given the perfect opportunity to follow my dreams. I started to research legal information on starting a business, social media pros and cons, marketing tools, websites, etc. Next, I took a leap of faith and dove into this beautiful journey of being a mompreneur.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the years prior to 2019, business was beautiful. We were reaching customers all over the world. We had an international customer base that was ordering our garments. This progression pushed our marketing growth to new levels. At this time we received offers from in state and international influencers. Our participation in various events as a vendor increased tremendously. We even had a few celebrities for brand ambassadors. Then COVID-19 came and dismantled everything. Everyone was working from home, businesses were closing, and the need to purchase clothing was unnecessary. Covid was changing everything. Which pushed us to create alternative ways to generate revenue for Suddenly Forty. As COVID 19 was getting somewhat under control and the world started returning to work in person. We were still reluctant to go completely back to normal so we began to offer virtual services. Although it took some creative thinking and learning technology in ways we never knew existed, it was a MUST. Including virtual services increased sells tremendously. Virtual services eliminated the need to wear a mask, customers were comfortable in their own homes vs uncomfortable with face to face consultations, and most of all it offered convenience. We are happy to say that what we thought would destroy Suddenly Forty made us stronger!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The lesson we had to unlearn was, “stop selling products”! When Suddenly Forty began operating in 2017, the focus was on selling the products/garments. All of our advertising was based on the product. For an example, if we were selling a ruffled jogging suit our marketing was simply describing the product and stating how beautiful the garment was. Directing the customer attention to the garment only. It took a few years of tracking stagnant sales to understand that we had it all wrong! We had to unlearn the thought of selling the product and shift the focus on what the target audience emotional needs were. Yes, the customer liked the ruffled jogging suit but more importantly they were shopping for something that would make them feel gorgeous. Feeling gorgeous does not come from the product itself, it comes from the emotional thoughts of the individual wearing the product. This revelation created new marketing and enhanced our mission and vision greatly. Suddenly Forty officially shifted the focus from selling products to selling CONFIDENCE!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.suddenlyfortyllc.com
- Instagram: @suddenlyforty
- Facebook: @suddenlyfrty
Image Credits
@theonlyeydierobinson @beautiandthebeatz_ceo_ @cassiedenisephotography @iamcrystalhudson @mnjh7821 @fan.c.face @styleliketrina