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

Tori, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I am typically not much of a risk taker, but I did take a big risk when I started my business. I was in college, majoring in accounting when I decided to open my online boutique. I had no idea what the future would hold for my business, but it was a flexible job while I was in school. When I graduated with my degree, I had to choose to pursue my business full time or start a career in accounting. Obviously, full time business owner is a much greater risk than a secure job in accounting, but that was the choice I made. It was a risky, life changing decision, but I can honestly say it was the right one. Owning a business is hard and time consuming, but following my dream and doing something that I truly love will always be worth it.

Tori, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Southern Hope Boutique is an online women’s clothing boutique. My love of fashion and my desire to help women feel confident in their clothes inspired me to start my business. I believe in empowering women through fashion. When you love what you’re wearing, your confidence soars and it has a positive impact on everything you do.

Southern Hope specializes in comfortable, everyday styles that can be dressed up or down. I believe in wearing what you love and owning your unique personal style, so I don’t blindly follow trends. Instead, I handpick each piece to ensure that I’m providing high quality, versatile pieces that you can wear again and again. Some of those pieces are trendy, but that’s never the main goal. Your wardrobe is an investment, and I want your Southern Hope pieces to last.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When I decided to start my business, I pulled from my savings to purchase my initial inventory. I started very small with just a few pieces, and every penny went back into new inventory for the first few months. At the time I sold strictly on social media, so I didn’t have many additional overhead costs. I still remember how accomplished I felt when I still had money left over after restocking my inventory.

The way I started wasn’t easy, and it was scary putting my savings into something that wasn’t guaranteed to work. Looking back now though, I’m glad that I did it this way. I didn’t have to worry about paying back a loan, and I was able to grow my business at my own pace.

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

I started my business when I was 19 years old and a freshman in college. People constantly doubted me because of my age and lack of experience. When I would attend apparel markets, most of the vendors would talk to my mom because they assumed I was too young to own a business. I had college professors tell me to treat my business as a hobby and pursue a career in accounting. The constant doubt from others around me, especially people I looked up to, was discouraging. At times, I even started to believe them. It was because of the support of my parents and my husband that I kept going. I decided that I would prove those who doubted me wrong.

People won’t always believe in your dream or see your potential. You have to learn to tune out the doubt and focus on those cheering you on. Find your support system, rely on them, and believe in yourself. Don’t let anything hold you back from following your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopsouthernhope.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/southernhopeboutique
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhopeboutique