We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shannon Campbell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shannon below.
Shannon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?
The most unexpected problem I have had so far is the global pandemic. I was so excited to get my website up and running. I was ordering merchandise, packaging supplies, and all the other things you need to start a boutique. I am finally ready to launch my website on Black Friday of 2019. Little did I know that the whole world was about to shut down. When the fear of the pandemic hit in 2020 my boutique had zero traffic and zero business. No one knew what to expect and with all the uncertainty in the world, no one was interested in a new online boutique. People were not even looking at my website. I had a decision to make, do I fold up and quit before I even got started or should I just keep posting on my pages and try to find my customers. I decided to keep going even though I was seeing no interest and was getting no sales. I am not a person who gives easily, I chose to look at my situation as a challenge and refused to see it as the end. I didn’t make many sales in 2020, but I took that time to teach myself different things about being a boutique owner and about how to use social media to grow a business. I joined online groups and listened to what other established boutiques were doing and implemented those things to my business.
Every day I felt like why am I still doing this, no one is ever going to find my boutique and start shopping it. But every day I also told myself that I am not a quitter, and I have had one dream most of my adult life. If I give up now, I will never try again. So, every day I woke up and kept putting my boutique out there – even when I saw no results and had no sales. Today I am still out there trying to find my customers and working towards becoming a successful online boutique.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have loved fashion ever since I was a young girl. I remember being a very young girl and being in love with a pair of brown cowboy boots. Even when they were too small for my feet, I would hide them and try to continue wearing them. Starting in junior high I kept a daily outfit log of what I wore each day so I would not repeat an outfit or wear a top with the same bottom during the same month. I started in the retail industry when I was 19 years old and in college. I worked my way to assistant manager and then left to become a store manager for another chain retail store. I somehow always ended up managing someone else’s business. I knew I wanted to work for myself, buy the merchandise I loved, and create my own business. Unfortunately, the long and inconsistent hours of retail made me go down a different career path for a while. I ended up working in offices and learning the accounting end of business. Then an unexpected tragedy hit my life (a fire), and I was put in a position where I ended up receiving a lump sum of money. And with that money, I decided to pursue my dream of owning an online boutique.
Sunflower and Jasmine sells affordable women’s clothing, jewelry, hair accessories, spa items, and some small kid’s toys. We focus on trending styles, but also incorporate classic pieces that every woman needs. We sell small toys mainly because I am a Mom and my son Dylan likes to assist me in my business. He likes to have a say in a few things that I purchase as well as model a select handful of items for me.
When I started this business, it was extremely important to me that my family be a part of it and that they were always put first. The dream of having my own business only feels right to me if my family is a part of it. I wanted my son to see all the hard work that goes into building a business and be able to teach him that if you work hard, it will pay off. I want to show him that dreams can come true.
What sets my boutique apart from some is the affordability and the style. We also will do our best to win your business. We want you to be happy with every purchase and feel like you got value for your hard-earned money. We will strive to make your shopping experience the best you can have from an online boutique. You can feel free to message me directly and ask all the questions you may have regarding the merchandise.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
The funding for my business actually came from a tragedy in my personal life. In July 2018 my home burned down. I lost the majority of my belongings. A year later when I received money from my insurance company, I decided to take a portion of the money I received to invest in myself, go after a lifelong dream. The dream of owning my online boutique and being a fashion industry buyer. I have put every dime I have made so far right back into the company.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective thing for me has been word of mouth and personal referrals. I am trying to grow my business organically and find people who like my boutique clothing style. I have started doing local pop-up events so people can see my merchandise in person and see that I am not selling an inferior product. I post daily on Instagram and Facebook with merchandise pictures. I also follow the people who follow my account. I spend at least an hour every day commenting on my followers post and engaging with them. I feel if they interact with me, they will trust my brand and want to shop my boutique.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sunflowerandjasmine.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunflower_and_jasmine
- Facebook: @sunflowerandjasmine
Image Credits
I took the photos