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

Kila, 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?

I am very happy as a small business owner! I am a single mom of 2, and working a 9-5 was impossible. School drop-off & pickup, among other things like homework, dinner, & time with friends takes up most of our time & I wanted to be there for them as much as possible. By opening my shop, I am able to set my own hours & work in what (little) free time I have! When my children are at school & after they’re asleep is when I get the most done & I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I own River & Millie, which is a small boutique focusing on children’s clothing, handmade toys, home decor, and gifts. I decided to open my shop during the pandemic so I could homeschool my daughter who was in 2nd grade at the time. When choosing what merchandise I wanted to carry, I made it a priority to only order from other small business owners & carry their products. Of course we all love shopping at the big box stores, but there’s just something special about buying from an individual. Trust me when I say that every single sale we make, we do a happy dance. The sales add up, and I am so thankful for each ‘ every one. My clients are the best & have allowed me to lead the life I wanted to & prioritize time with my children.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy for growing my clientele is relatability. Whether I am buying products to sell in the shop, or making a social media post. I always try to look at it from the customer’s point of view. I ask myself what content would I like to see? What value will this bring to someone? By having purpose behind every aspect of my business, I am confident that others will want to support me.

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

The best new source of clients for me would probably be both Instagram engagement & word of mouth. We have had a few reels get over 15k views & that brought an influx of followers. As far as word of mouth, all it takes is one satisfied customer to spread the word & it takes off. Friends of friends message me & tell me how cute the shop is & send send me pictures of their children playing with the toys they bought. Those are the moments that make this worthwhile & make me feel like I am right where I need to be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @shopriverandmillie
• Facebook: @shopriverandmillie