We recently connected with Wy’ Brown and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Wy’ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Starting this online boutique was a risk for me. Working a Corporate America job that I have been at for over 15 years now, testing the waters in the modeling world for over 5 years, investing all that you have into something with no real results or return- That hurt my family financially. So to make the decision to launch an online boutique and knowing that I could be putting all that I have again into it with the possibility of it not taking off the way I wanted or envisioned or even exhausting myself financially with no return again is a huge risk. However after careful thought and consideration, the meaning behind the name, wanting to work for myself and create something that not only I but that my son could be proud of and that I would be able to leave to him, made me willing to take such risk (again). As they say scared money don’t make money. I started this journey in 2021. I launched my website mid March 2022. There has been some discouraging times already along the way, but I am still learning. I am still learning ways to market, networking, vendor partnerships, making changes etc. And as of right now I am doing it all on my own, with my own fiances and time. So Although, 2 months and discouragement kicking in here in there, I will continue to research and learn while giving it all I have.
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 am a country girl from Jasper Texas, moved to Dallas just months out of high school and immediately jumped into the corporate world. College for me did not happen until many many years later when I then graduated in 2014 with my BS in Business Administration. I have always loved fashion, the fashion world and industry. That is when I gave modeling a shot (inspired by my late grandmother). I did that for a little over five years, then the pandemic hit. With my employer we began working from home. I had what i felt like was so much time on my hands, working from home and parenting- I felt there was no separation. My being an introvert felt like it was turning into me being a recluse. I love parenting, but I started to not love my job of 15 years so much. So i began thinking that I wanted to do something that I loved, but I wanted it to have meaning. And that is when a women’s online boutique popped in mind, I began meeting with many established entrepreneurs for their thoughts, processes, ideas and advice and I began the journey. The name Meck’s Boutique comes from my lost loved ones, M-Mary (my grandmother, E-Ester (my mother, C-Camashia (my sister), K-Kenith (my brother). My idea was to cater to an older crowd (as i am 45)- the curvy woman, the working woman – who can still come through as professionally dressed at her place of employment but also still be sexy on date night or while hanging out with friends or family. As women we don’t always have to revel to much to be sexy or to get attention.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me the two months that I have been live has been word of mouth and social media. Friends and family that support and refer others to the site. Them sharing (along side myself) the products, post etc. on social media for their following to see, like and/or share.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My business is solely funded from my savings and working my 9-5. As of right now it is all me, I hope for this to change as I learn and grow, I have applied for small business grants, but until that comes through it is all funded from my savings and continuing to work my 9-5
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mecksboutique.com
- Instagram: @mecksboutique
- Facebook: @mecksboutique
Image Credits
Calvin Brown @CalvinBrownphotography Website Design: @Glamfinity