We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kyliah Baird a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kyliah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The idea to opening my own boutique was something that was just that, simply a thought, until I decided to take a chance on myself. As an already established business owner, I wanted to add my true passion to my entrepreneurial resume with starting an online clothing boutique. The vision I had to provide a luxury clothing brand to the everyday woman who likes to give luxe vibes while maintaining her every day life.

I was presented an opportunity in March 2020 to go on a Boss Babe Trip to the LA Fashion District to connect with vendors and manufacturers. I found that I needed to take my idea and turn it into my reality. Once I went on the trip, everything felt absolutely right to move forward with launching the boutique. When I returned home, I immediately established the b0utique, started working on my branding, found someone to create my website and launched my boutique.

I did more research once I returned home and I made this life changing decision right in the middle of the pandemic, which was difficult with most U.S. vendors not shipping and having to utilize the out of country vendors at the time. I had to research how to price inventory, shipping fees, branding the business, and so much m0re.

I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of owning a boutique, but I didn’t get complacent in where I was on my journey, I took the brand to a luxury brand and created a warm shopping experience for my Bella Babes (customers). Once the U.S. based vendors begin to ship again, I was able to present my audience with unique looks that they could wear to brunch, the office, on vacation, or wherever their heart desires. To know that Bella Bee-Tique is a first choice for women to shop and express their personal style has made this journey well worth it.

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

Being fashionable is a talent that I was aware of, but I didn’t understand that I really had an influence on others, even though they would reach out to me to help style them for certain looks. In college, my first styling clients were my friends. Whenever they were getting ready to go somewhere they would stop by my room and seek advice or we would take trips to the mall to create their own unique outfit. As time went on, they followed into adulthood when it was time to coordinate outfits for photoshoots, networking events, and higher education graduations. I was honored that people sought out my advice.

This jump started me started the boutique, because I wanted to help women feel extremely confident when interacting with me and when we were picking out a look for them to wear. I tend to get women to step outside their comfort zones when styling them, because I want to give them an experience of wearing something that they never even thought about owning.

I consider the boutique to be an exclusive boutique, due to offering the look only so many times, that way you won’t run into the issue of finding your outfit twin at an event. I want women to feel special and to stand out in their own aesthetic while also being a compliment to others when they are engaging with one other. Everyone has her own look and aesthetic and I like to provide that unique feeling through the brand.

I am mostly proud that when people are looking for that statement piece, they consider Bella Bee-Tique as their first option. They know that they will receive fast shipping and great quality when they purchase with us. I like that the brand has been labeled as a luxury brand so that women feel as if they have treated themselves to their version of royalty. I love when women spoil themselves, because they deserve it, with all the many titles they hold on an everyday basis.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe me having an established audience through my personal social media platforms. I’ve always shared fashion inspirational posts on my platforms, so when I launched the boutique, it wasn’t something that surprised the audience. It also helped that I wore the outfits, so that the audience could know what the outfit would look like on different body types. This is something that helped my audience stay loyal to brand. I provide looks that give you an upscale vibe, this is something that my customers expect from the boutique.

I consistently post, which helped to build brand awareness and continuing to build brand awareness. If I were to share one piece of advice to a business owner, being consistent with your business is a major part. If you don’t post or talk about your business, no one will know that it exists, Make sure you stay in front of your audience.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

This year in May, the week of Mother’s Day, my grandmother passed the day before my brand phot0 shoot. This is one of my stories of being resilient and showing up for the brand. My love for fashion comes from my grandmother and mother, and to lose one of my foundations to my passion was very hard. To show up to a photoshoot, looking like I was not enduring pain and to put on a smile and execute this brand photo shoot showed my resilience to the capacity I would never imagine to have.

Many people shared that I inspired them as I pushed through a difficult life moment in order to show up for my business. I dedicated that photoshoot to her. I know she was with me and proud that I executed the photo shoot to elevate my brand.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellabeetique.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/bellabeetique
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Bella Bee-Tique

Image Credits
Nisha Stinger Brittany Marcus