Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keonte Bohanna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Keonte, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
Firstly, I would allow myself time to grow because nothing good or worth having happens overnight. Stop thinking that the people closest to me should support me more than a stranger. Take the stress out of creating content, marketing, and brand voice. Allow my personality to be the very thing that attracts customers. Authenticity is key. Do not adjust your price to fit anyone’s budget. Stand firm on your values. Stay consistent even if you don’t have any sales, engagement, or site visits. Validation is for parking means never letting anyone validate your journey.
Batching content helps to plan and take the guesswork out of what to post. Use brand ambassadors, reviews, etc.
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.
Hey loves, allow me to introduce you to Leah Dreame ( leah dream) boutique. I created this boutique almost 2 years ago in the hopes of becoming my own boss. After trial and error, I needed to change a few things. This relaunch has taken a drastic turn for the better. What I want to do now is strive for peace and true happiness. You know the saying ” if you look good, you feel good”? Well, that’s what we want to do, create fashion that makes you feel as great as you look. This boutique is for the regular everyday woman. We want to see your raw and unfiltered reactions when you try on our clothes. I plan to donate to those who are less fortunate. Partner with other brands and do makeovers for women and girls.
untilmately I am proud of the lessons I learned after I launched the first time. Now I am more equipped with knowledge, a better mindset, and strategies to make this a successful business.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In april of 2023 I lost everything. I’m talking bank accounts being closed for insufficient funds, phone and light cut off. I didn’t have any income coming in but I had every expense known to man piling up. Consequently, my website had to be shit down as well. I still tried to create content, and custom items (cups, hats, and shirts) but nothing would sell. I took a break from the business until I could not only afford it but have the space to excel in it as well. This time around I will not beat myself up to be so perfect and inauthentic. I will show up as me and allow those who love authenticity to flow naturally to me. I changed my logo, brand colors, voice, and avatar to be real. Life has its funny way of teaching us lessons but in the end, it is always worth it.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
People who are the closest to you will not support you as a total stranger can. I would get so upset seeing people around me share posts from other businesses but wouldn’t share mine. Instead, they would say ” I see what you’re doing, keep up the good work ” At the time it would hurt my feelings but now I know that there are billions of people waiting for me to show up boldly and they will be honored to support my business. Remember those around you will never support you enough to pay your bills so don’t focus on those who won’t support you. Instead, pour into those who will without you asking them to.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leahdreame.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahdreame_boutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahDreame
Image Credits
photo credits by Keonte Bohanna