Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Morales.
Hi Briana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with fashion and the creativity of styling. I contribute that to my grandmother. She was feminine, always dressed to impress, and had her makeup on whenever she left the house. Not to mention the countless hours I spent with my mom shopping from store to store. My appreciation for fashion is in my blood. I always took hours to get ready for school because I couldn’t find the right outfit. Sitting on the curb with the neighborhood kids required me to find the perfect outfit. I’ve worked in the corporate dentistry world forever and adore what I do, but I wanted to feel fulfilled by doing something that I love. I wanted to take on a hobby that has the potential to grow one day. And I wanted to bring my vision of fashion to life and make women feel good.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There has been a fair share of struggles in my journey, and as hard as they were to overcome then, I learned from them so that I wouldn’t change it for the world. I went into this business with one of my best friends, but she had recently had a baby and decided it wasn’t the best time for her to start a business. So I had a tough decision to make. We hadn’t opened yet, but we had invested a fair amount, so do we end this whole idea now, or do I follow my heart and do this on my own? It’s not been easy because I don’t have a partner or sounding board when making decisions or getting financial help from anyone else, but it’s made this a bit more rewarding. I can reflect on what I’ve put in, see our gorgeous customers wearing Solana, and be proud.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Solana is a women’s boutique currently catering to women sizes small to 3X. We sell clothing, shoes, accessories, and small gifts. I appreciate that customers can shop anywhere, there are many boutiques, but they choose to tune into our lives or shop our styles because of what we carry and our team’s personalities. In just 7 short months of being open, we have over 400 followers on Facebook, over 300 followers on Instagram, and over 170 shoppers on our app. It’s a tough time in this economy right now, so I take that into account, but when we have a slow week, these numbers keep things in perspective for me. I am so proud! I know it sounds cheesy, but I truly mean it when I say I’m so grateful for each follow, each post, each share, and each customer. Sometimes I still can’t believe this is real life (and sometimes, the reasons for that aren’t always good, haha). I want to continue to grow these numbers and reach more shoppers, but my gratitude, being genuine, and the way we interact with everyone will always stay the same- to me, that is so important and something I will make sure we always keep sight of. For example, I will always have handwritten notes in each order specific to that customer; it doesn’t matter if I’m mailing 3 or 300 orders daily.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Trust your gut. Trust your heart. The heart is the reason you’re starting this journey, so you must follow it. I used to base my sourcing on what I thought people would like or what was safe for people to buy, but then I fell short of the brand I wanted to create for myself. I had a lot of cute but random items, and there was no consistency. As of December, I’m following my heart. I’m sourcing items that I know are on trend but can also be worked into anyone’s closet, no matter their age or style, and getting others to try new pieces that are outside of their “box.” I wish I had started that sooner but I didn’t know where I fit in this industry. It took me 7 months to realize you don’t need to fit in but stay true to yourself and your vision.
Getting involved in the community and meeting other small business owners is also a huge blessing. I enjoy working pop-ups and markets with my amazing hubby because I have met so many wonderful business owners with whom I have learned heaps of knowledge, bounced ideas off, and created new friendships.
Pricing:
- Clothing $25.00-$80.00
- Accessories $10.99-$45.00
- Shoes $19.99 -$65.00
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.LOVEMYSOLANA.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovemysolana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovemysolana
- Other: Download our free app! Apple: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1636145356 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.CSsolana.android
Image Credits
Cydney Soignet of Soignet Studios
