We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monique Franklin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monique below.

Monique, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The name of my company is a true representation of me. One day I was sitting in the car waiting on my husband to come out of the store when I begin to brainstorm about my business. I had two other businesses in the past and I wanted the name of this business to be something different from the other two since this business would be something that I created all by myself. My other two businesses were in direct selling so even though I was a independent consultant and had a business I wasn’t the owner of the company. So as I was sitting there thinking to myself I wanted something that described me and who I am. I was coming up with all kinds of names and I was like no that’s not it. I have been told that I was country or old fashion but then there is a city side to me as well. The city side is when I bring out the style and class in me. I begin to put words together such as country, city, and swag. After about 15 minutes of brainstorming and trying out words with different names I came up with A Country Girl With A Little City Swag. I kept saying it over and over again in my head and it stuck. I liked it. When my husband returned to the car I told him I came up with a name for my business and I begin to tell him what it was. I never forgot his response. He said it’s a little long but I like it. I said yes because it describes me. The country girl, the city girl, and the swag which represents my style. The swag is my own unique style. As my sister says to me sometimes when I begin to get all dolled up. She’s about to transform. My transformation can be a whole different person sometimes because I like to take risk. A Country Girl With A Little City Swag was becoming a trendy name and everyone loved it.

Monique, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am the owner of A Country Girl With A Little City Swag which is a beauty brand and sleepwear business. I sell cosmetics as well as sleepwear and slippers. I became a part of the beauty brand business in 2016 after taking a break from the other business that I had years earlier. In order to perfect your craft you have to have discipline. You have to stay focused, you have to be willing to work even when you don’t feel like it, and most importantly you have to stay consistent. Consistency will take you further because if you are consistent that let’s people know that you are serious about what you do and that it’s not just something you’re doing because it’s trendy. If you keep starting and stopping a business people are not going to take you serious and your business can’t grow like that. One thing that sets me apart from others is that I am just me. I don’t try to be like others and I move at my own pace. There are so many businesses out here now and it seems like everyone is competing for the spotlight or copying so they can have that one up on you but for me I just be doing me. I don’t compete or chase people I move at my own pace. One of the things that I am most proud of is where I am at today in my business. Running a business is not easy. There are highs and lows when you are in business and to be still going in my business today makes me proud. My potential clients/followers/fans can know that A Country Girl With A Little City Swag is growing and will be adding other products to the brand in the future. I am on Twitter which is my favorite platform, Instagram, and Facebook.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

The story of how I met my business partner is a love story because my business partner is my husband. Let’s just say we met outside exercising one day. We both were on a mission to lose some weight at the time so we were out fast walking/jogging when we met. I don’t want to go into all the details about it (Blushing) but we decided to exchange phone numbers. We shared some of the same interest such as business.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding your business is so important because you need funds to keep your business going and it can be hard at times when sells are low but there are so many resources out there such as grants, loans, and credit. You have to find out what works best for you because everyone financial situation is different. If you have income from other jobs I would recommend you use that to finance your business until you can get other resources. Oh, You asked my story. lol My story of having initial capital came from saving. I saved until I was ready.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.acountrygirlwithalittlecityswag.com
• Instagram: acountrygirlwithalittlecityswag
• Facebook: MS.SouthernBelle
• Twitter: CountryGirlCitySwag @MSSouthernB4U
• Youtube: A Country Girl With A Little City Swag