We recently connected with Shakira Mckenzie and have shared our conversation below.

Shakira, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I have this thought more often than I would like to admit. When I first made the decision to start a business, I naturally felt I could do it. Over confident even. A close friend, AG, really convinced me to move forward with it. So I start, do all my research, set up my site and just knew the money would roll in. Nope! Not even close! Everyday is a push. You will go days, even weeks without a sale and you start to think, is this really for me? My situation is a little different. I still have a full time regular job. And sometimes, after days/weeks of not having any sales, I think it’s time to let it go. But every time I think that, something happens. I get a sale or an opportunity to showcase SYC or I simply don’t want to. I’ve put so much time and effort into building my brand to where I know I can’t stop. It’s my baby and I want to see it grow!

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

I have been in business for 5 years. Style Your Curves was born out of reality. My reality. My best friend was a model and worked with a local designer. I went to a few fashion shows to show my support and found that I loved the idea of bringing fashion to the plus size community. But that wasn’t when it hit me. Like I mentioned previously, my friend AG really convinced me to go for it. He asked a simple question one day and I really didn’t have an answer. The question was, “why not?” Why not do it? Why not just try it. The simplest question and I didn’t have an answer. So from there, I went for it.

I wanted to create a brand that represented all women. We aren’t perfectly shaped. We all don’t have that a figure 8 shape and that is OK! Style Your Curves is about the individual. Your Curves and your style. I wanted to represent all of us. Bring plus myself, I thought it would be easy. It was not. Still isn’t but I’m so proud of what I’ve created so far. I continue to learn my customers as well as myself. What do we like? What do we value? Being plus size doesn’t mean moo moos and ill-fitting garments. We can dress and style and be beautiful.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media! This has been an interesting journey for sure. I didn’t realize for important social media was going to be to my business. At first, it was just friends and family. I had no idea how to gain followers. I even ran ads (wasted so much money) to gain followers. That actually did not work. I knew i had to do something and no, I didn’t dance! I started posting consistently. Identified where my primary following was. Looked at my insights. Social media actually gives us so much information and we leave it out there. Pay attention to when you post. What time of day didn’t you post. You want to see which post receives the most engagement? Note it. And doing it again and again. Everyone wants a quick way but the reality it, there isn’t one.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

This was something I had to learn. Had to understand the value in creating relationships with your clients/customers. I choose different means of communication. Emails, text messages, social media, etc. I’m still trying to figure it out though. Still trying to determine what is the best way. Every business is different just like every customer is. You just have to take the time and be patient. It’ll come but you have to be genuine.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.StyleYourCurves.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/StyleYourCurves1
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/StyleYourCurves1
• Twitter: Twitter.com/StyleURCurves
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC4NjTSxUNYVn1rivvcVUPKg

Image Credits
A1 Lenz Productions Jose Pagãn Photography