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

Kristen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Back in 2020, I remember sitting in my living room thinking of ways to make extra money. I was still in college working on my bachelor’s degree, living alone, handling everything by myself. I remember thinking “What is something I could sell that people like?” The answer quickly became eyelashes (they were extremely popular then), which is where the name EyeKatching by Kris came from. A month later after actually building a small customer base from friends and family, I started selling sunglasses, which ironically 4 years later, turned into a full accessories’ boutique consisting of sunglasses, handbags, jewelry, hats, and graphic tees.

Kristen , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kristen, and I have owned an online boutique for almost four years now. I work a full-time job as well, however being a full-time entrepreneur is my dream. I absolutely love fashion. Most days, it consumes my free time, whether I am scrolling on Instagram or Pinterest looking at outfits, or on TikTok watching fashion hauls. Most importantly, I loved the idea of providing the missing pieces to any look. A pair of glasses or a handbag could change the vibe of any outfit from plain to extraordinary. I have fun picking out those pieces and it brings me joy to know that I am someone’s “go-to” person for those missing accessories. EyeKatching By Kris sells handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, and hats. We provide the perfect additive to any outfit.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Entrepreneurship in any industry is not an overnight success. I have had some really slow months of business, almost to the point of giving up. I have to remind myself why I chose to do this, and also that it is my passion. Nothing worth having is ever going to come easy. Instead of giving up, I have learned to take a step back, reroute my way of thinking and figure out what my next move will be because giving up is not an option. Customer’s interests change every day, as well as my own. I have grown to love every part of my journey, because I prayed to be exactly where I am right now years before.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I don’t think you could ever know everything as an entrepreneur. One thing that I have recently been investing in are business courses, coaching, etc. During slow months, I am beginning to look deeper into reaching my customers, as well as ways I can improve. I just attended a weeklong session with TheBoutiqueAcademy, and already I realize that there are a lot of changes to be made. I have also learned that my boutique has really accomplished a lot in a short time. I am excited about my growth and whats to come, especially implementing what I have learned.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eyekatchingbykris.com
• Instagram: @eyekatchingbykris