We recently connected with Stacey D. Harrison and have shared our conversation below.
Stacey, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
The first step in the pursuit of success is understanding that your journey will not be the same as someone else. Many times, we set ourselves up to lose the fight before we get into the ring because our focus is blurred with a vision, passion, and desire that aren’t our own. You must understand that in order for others to see you, in an already over saturated market or field, is for you to be uniquely you. Other than that, I would have to say that knowing your “Why”, having faith, and a strong support system will be what you need to be successful.
When I first launched Mahogany Couture, in April of 2020, we started on a high. Everything that I need to do was done. We checked so many things off our checklist-even things that weren’t on there, but after the first 2 months of business things changed. Starting a business in a pandemic, I knew of the risks that could come. Millions of Americans across the country were surviving off of unemployment and other resources provided by the government. Shopping and spending their money frivolously on clothes were the last thing on their minds. Fortunately, Mahogany Couture was embraced. However, an disappointment in a business relationship dimmed my light. After of year in business, I had given up on the vision and dream. I reached that dark state where business owners dread-shutting down, however, the Lord reminded me of the promise he had for me and the why behind Mahogany Couture. Our mission is to forge the ultimate “diva” experience for each of our customers. Our brand highlights the fusion of class, elegance, and style for every woman. By doing this, women are able to express their individuality with our inclusive fashion-forward collection which are arrant for creating an assortment of looks for any event or function. After I got back to the “Why”, everything came into place. People can encourage you every day, but if you don’t have the internal motivation which comes from knowing your why, it won’t be beneficial for you. That, also coupled with my faith was the key to going on. I had to have faith in not only myself, but in God as well. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith in such an extraordinary way, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. My faith is what allowed me to see a better future for my business and the hard work that I put in allowed me to get to that point. I restructured my business, started building business credit, and connected with other Entrepeneurs who were also building and thriving in their businesses. As a result of having those three key components, I was able build and forge a six-figure earning business.
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 background and context?
My name is Stacey D. Harrison, and some would consider me to be a serial entrepreneur. In April of 2020, I launched an online women’s boutique. As a result of this thriving business, I’ve received many opportunities to style various celebrities such as two-time Stellar Award-Wining singer, Lisa Knowles-Smith and the Brown Singers. My passion for not only business, but fashion as well, started at an early age. Family members and friends, testify to me always being eager to dress up for church and school, even if it meant being overdressed at times. Like previously mentioned, I launched Mahogany Couture in 2020, at that time women’s fashion lacked personality and uniqueness. Various Boutiques were in competition with each other and were selling the exact same merchandise. The industry lacked individuality, and I wanted to change that reality for the everyday woman. That reality would birth a dream which has now become a six-figure earning business. Mahogany Couture is committed to forging the ultimate “diva” experience for each of our customers. Our brand highlights the fusion of class, elegance, and style for every woman. Our customers are able to express their individuality with our inclusive fashion-forward collection which are arrant for creating an assortment of looks for any event or function. Through my testimony and impactful lessons which came from my boutique, I was able to learn and master the business and gain financial wisdom that I now share with clients through my credit repair company, Executive Credit Council. While I’ve reached this pinnacle of success, the journey here was one filled with many obstacles. Often times, I’ve had to look deep within my soul and reflect on who’ve I become over the years. Though difficult, it has fanned the flame of my desire to strive for excellence and be a role model for my children, women from various backgrounds of life, and other rising entrepreneurs. I believe that my journey strengthened my faith and will carry me into a future of continued success. The most difficult part of my peregrination, as one who is private, has been sharing my life experiences with others. However, I am a firm believer that our stories are what empowers others and are often times what gives people the strength to press on and live. I am elated to have had the opportunity to share with you all who I am, and I pray that my stories will inspire and provoke someone to take the risk of investing in themselves, because I can testify that it’s beyond worth it.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Everyone has their own methods that they’ve developed in order to bounce back from downfalls. Those methods essentially become our coping mechanisms to defend ourselves from repeating past mistakes that may have led us into uncomfortable, and sometimes drastic situations. My resilence began when I was molested as a young girl and shined through after my experience with domestic violence. Not only did I have to become the woman I needed to be for myself, but for my children as well. I had to push through for all of us in order to survive and provide the nurturing care for my family to be safe and succeed in all of their endeavors. The build up of Mahogany Couture, LLC required me to take chances and learn from my mistakes in order to overcome struggles within my entrepreneurial career. Due to this, I am constantly striving to always be the business owner who attends to the needs and desires of the diverse and everchanging fashion inudstry – just as much as I strive to always be the mother who’s there for her family.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that the comparison trap to be fatal dose to our dreams, aspirations, mental health, and spirituality. Many of us fall into the trap of admiring someone so much that it inevitably leads to the demise of your personal success and business(es) and imitating them can do the same. As an Entrepeneur of several businesses, I’ve learned that authenticity is one of the key motives to make a business or interest of yours succeed. A colleague of mine is also an owner of a women’s fashion boutique, and I admire her perspective of running a business. However, I found myself straying away from my originality in order to become more like her. I’ve learned to access people, yet gravitate towards those who have a personable and relatable story. My story is that as a plus size woman and personal stylist, I share their same struggles and I wanted to create not only a boutique, but forge an experience so that other women could embrace their inner diva. With this, they’re able to take their fashion journey to the next level – matching their wardrobe with the confidence of knowing that we as women, are truly divine in every shape and size.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mahogany-couture.com
- Instagram: @_mahoganycouture
- Facebook: Mahogany Couture, LLC
- Other: Credit Repair Website: www.theexecutivecreditcouncil.com Personal Website: www.staceydharrison.com
Image Credits
Desiree Mack Photography Co. J. Impressions & Designs