I want to tell your story because I feel like I am so proud of you for never giving up
despite everything that's like challenged you since I met you.
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And that's not even before like I didn't even know you when you first open Rushmore,
right?
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So like I don't even know what the hell was to climb when you got there.
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But like I just think it's important for other boutique owners to hear your story and how
you chose to be brave at different times and how you chose to like be patient a bunch of
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times like
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I think it's a testament to what it really takes because let's just start off of like,
you've had Rushmore Boutique in total, has it been five years or four?
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It's five.
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be six in August.
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I know, isn't that crazy?
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Yeah, that's fast.
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Okay, so six years we've had Rushmore in existence and you started off with that first
store in Alton?
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Yes.
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That was your first, you were like, I'm just gonna open Brick and Mortar.
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And it was so funny because I...
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Originally, I thought that it was gonna be like a thrift store.
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And my mom was like, thrift stores are, I mean, pretty like abundant.
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What if, especially in our neighborhood, like in the town that we were in, she said, well,
what if you did a boutique, like new clothes?
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And it was like, mom, genius.
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Okay.
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And so I like quietly was planning and like, started planning.
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Okay, so we closed on the building in December of 2018.
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And then I was like quietly crafting it, like getting it together, like sourcing racks
from places and like whatever.
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And I officially told my boss, I put my two weeks notice in midway through June, made it
through inventory in July.
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And I said, okay, I have four weeks to open.
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And then that's, and then I'm open.
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This is my job now.
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Okay.
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And just to catch anyone up that's listening.
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you were working previously at another retail store, right?
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Am I right about that?
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Okay.
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So you had, yeah, you were in management, you had experience, you came at this whole
thing, kind of knowing what you were doing, having more confidence than the average person
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starting from nothing for sure.
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I would definitely say so just because you, think working in retail, you get an idea of
like, okay, rollouts happened this way and like tags look like this and skews are like
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this and you you learn the, you learn the standard.
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It's like the standard practices of a retail business.
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Yeah.
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That's smart.
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you guys bought the building in December, fast forward seven, eight months, and you opened
like September 1st?
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It was August 10th.
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Okay.
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Oh, even 2019.
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I love that.
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August 10th.
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So you really were like open right before that fall season got crazy, but you could open
with fall merchandise, right?
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Yeah, I did.
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I opened and it was funny.
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I didn't have any secondary plan.
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just put, said, okay, $5,000 is enough to fill the store.
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Okay.
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And we'll go from there.
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And so, I mean, after the first weekend, I was like, it looked like I was going out of
business.
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There were like nothing on any of the racks.
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And I was like, my gosh, now I have to buy more.
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Yes.
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People are nodding their heads listening to this.
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So when you started, remind me the price point, the vendors you were kind of, like, what
was the vibe of the store when you first opened?
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It was very, I would say sort of simplistic.
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Actually, I remember the first color palette, because every month I have kind of like a
color story that I worked around.
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And this one was like muted pinks and purples.
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And then like, I think I had a pop of yellow, but it was very like late fall or late
summer, early fall.
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Yeah.
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yeah.
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Those like sunrise colors.
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Yeah.
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Sunset colors.
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Yeah.
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The price point at the time, I only did a 2X on everything because I didn't know.
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my gosh.
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Actually, I didn't know to keep all my invoices.
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I'm like looking through stacks of paper because you know when you're starting a business,
you're like, I've got like all this stuff that I need and I'll just keep it all in one
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folder.
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my gosh.
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my gosh.
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I had no idea.
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I underestimated entering in all of that stuff.
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And
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I didn't print barcodes because I didn't know that there was that technology yet.
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So I had like typed up on like an Avery template, all of the all the SKUs, the size, the
price for like all of that stuff.
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It's crazy.
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Wow.
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So you, you just went A to Z right away.
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And when you say a 2X markup, so your price point, what would you say your wholesale costs
were for a lot of that stuff, just to give people like an idea of what that 2X looks like?
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Were you at the 20, $30 wholesale?
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Yeah, wholesale wise, was probably, my highest stuff was probably $30.
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And that was like this really like elevated brand, I would say.
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My most elevated of the hierarchy, a brand called Sisters, which doesn't even exist
anymore, but they probably should have retailed at like a 98, 120 range.
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I was retailing them at like 60-ish.
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And I remember getting up to 80 and feeling bad about it.
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was like, Ooh, is that too much?
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But I, um, but that's definitely like where I wanted to be was in that realm.
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The like, I mean, 80 being at an average price point is really what it should have been.
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But I was, I was playing safe.
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was staying at like a 40.
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Man, it's so hard to remember those numbers now, but I want to say it was like, like a 40
to $48 was probably the average retail.
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Wow.
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So really like affordable.
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Yeah.
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In terms of the scope, which I think kind of worked in your location.
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Maybe that is why you sold out so quickly that first day is that the price point was bam,
like perfect for your people.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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The price point was good for the people, but I feel like I wasn't making the money on my
end of things, which I think was probably my biggest mistake.
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Sure.
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But like you didn't know.
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Like how would you have known?
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Yeah.
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Like, that's the hardest part, right?
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It's like, I think this is a good point place to say, you were, again, in a position
where, you knew a lot of things.
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Like, you worked at a retail store in management.
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You knew how, like, you were hitting sales goals.
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You were doing calls with corporate.
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I mean, you were not just, like, showing up every day and clocking in and clocking out.
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Like, you're doing a lot.
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And at the same time, transitioning into boutique land had challenges that you couldn't
have even, like, expected because they're just new and different and...
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not what you had, you never set prices in your other stores.
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So why would you know how to do that here?
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Like one of the things I love about you is like you're always learning and you're like
always like, what can I do better?
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How could, what's a different way I could look at this?
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And I feel like that's it too is like, you know, you know a lot and you're, willing to be
open and learn.
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Did opening right before COVID become a thing for you where like that's, I know for a lot
of people that's kind of their.
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story there or that's part of their origin story or their villain story or whatever, you
know, like, I feel like they are very much I opened and then it was COVID and what how was
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your experience during that transition?
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It felt so surreal.
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And I think that looking back now, there are a lot of things I would have done
differently.
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But I mean, it was crazy.
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We went to that the magic show in Las Vegas in February before the shutdown, you know,
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I was there.
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Sourcing was in like a separate tent outside.
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They were like, we think you guys are sick.
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You know what I mean?
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Like, know one showed up and nobody went to that tent.
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There was no one in that tent.
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There was like sparse vendor.
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I think 300 people can't 300 vendors or something canceled.
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That was a weird show.
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And then it was like, I went on a cruise right after that.
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And we were like, should we go like, should we go on this cruise?
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And then like, thank God we did.
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Because then then it was like really shut down and like, you know,
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But were you, so you were open in the store and it's kind of like the slower season,
right?
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March, April, like still getting into spring.
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Were you able to be open at all or were you just like, just went online basically?
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What was your strategy?
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Pretty much just went online and I was looking back at numbers and I'm actually impressed
with how much money I did make at the time.
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Cause I mean, I could have just been like, whatever.
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But I think that the whole time I kind of ran around like a chicken with my head cut off,
you know, I think a lot of us did, but I was just like, how could I, what, what should I?
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How, you know?
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We are still new too.
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I mean, you opened like a few months ago and now, my God, like a global pandemic, like
how, you know, this is insane.
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So you're like adjusting to a new normal and then that new normal for you gets turned
upside down again too.
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So I love that you said that you did better than you thought when you look back at the
numbers.
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You know, I just want to say like, I don't think anybody enjoys numbers unless you're one
of the people that enjoys numbers.
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I am now.
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Yeah, right, right, right.
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The general population though is like,
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Back then, were you looking at your numbers?
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What kind of things were you looking at to grow your business?
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Or was it really just chicken running around?
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During the time that I was shut down, it was very much just like whatever I can do,
however much money I can make within safety reasons.
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And so much of my perspective was how do I do things safely?
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How do I come at this whole thing from an angle of I care about my customers?
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I'm not trying to money grab.
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And I think that was really a good move on my part.
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just by being a new business.
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But I had a lot of people buy gift cards.
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And I remember customers would pull up in front of the store and I would like bring out
things and they would like, it was so funny.
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And they were like, I'll take one of those.
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yeah, that's amazing.
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Just any way you could do it.
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I mean, this is again, the perseverance, because I think transitioning out of COVID, the
fact that you made it through COVID, you started to open up again, and you're still in
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your original location.
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So at that point, you were kind of going.
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Like you were open, you were going, but you still, I mean, when you came to me, that must
have been August of 2021.
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2022.
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2022.
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00:09:54,499 --> 00:09:54,799
Okay.
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So you ran for a couple of years, so 2020, 2021, and you enjoyed the store.
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You were working hard.
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You enjoyed it.
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I feel like you've always had the passion, like, this is my career.
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Oh yeah.
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It's totally, it's exactly where I need to be.
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It's the best blend of like artistic, fun, creative pieces, but then like,
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the business element of like having goals.
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I've always been a goal setting person.
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So it's like, I can set my own goals and then just like try to beat that.
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And that's so much fun for me.
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So.
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I love that.
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And that's, know, honestly, there is, I think you do have to be a little bit competitive
in a good, healthy way, like with yourself when you're a business owner, because there are
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so many pivots, there are so many ways to go and like, what is the right path?
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And I think when I met you at Magic,
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Did you come up to me or did we talk after you?
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Did you send me an email?
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Cause I feel like our first time, I remember very distinctly, like however you communicate
it to me, you're like, I love having a boutique, but something is wrong and I don't know
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what it is.
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And I feel like maybe you can help me.
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And I actually feel like you were like, didn't you write something wild?
200
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Like, am I like either this works or I like throw in the towel.
201
00:11:03,945 --> 00:11:04,795
it was my review.
202
00:11:04,795 --> 00:11:05,175
Okay.
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So I was in your first skies, the limit course.
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Yes.
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But the first time I met you was at Magic in August.
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I'm sure you remember.
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Did you come over to me after?
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I think you did.
209
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Yes, I did.
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I sat down just because I'm one of those crazy people that really loves like conference
calls.
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really eat up.
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Yeah.
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a good webinar.
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Totally.
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00:11:25,599 --> 00:11:30,242
So I'm like sitting there and I feel like you're talking to me.
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00:11:30,242 --> 00:11:34,585
I was like, does this lady know that I need to hear this right now?
217
00:11:34,585 --> 00:11:37,927
And my sister was with me and I'm like, this gal's got it.
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Like, I don't know what her thing is, but like, I need to know her.
219
00:11:41,611 --> 00:11:46,155
And I stood in line, you were like talking to some of your like previous cuts, like
students or whatever.
220
00:11:46,155 --> 00:11:48,618
And I told my sister, I was like, I need to talk to her.
221
00:11:48,618 --> 00:11:52,361
And I'd never tried to like talk to a speaker like that before.
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So I stood there for a little bit and I was like, this is stupid.
223
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I need to go.
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We actually walked back into the show and I said, what am I doing?
225
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I need to go talk to her.
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something exciting.
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00:12:01,538 --> 00:12:02,515
I'm I know.
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It was like the most weirdest thing.
229
00:12:05,435 --> 00:12:06,715
And I was like, I'm going to go talk to her.
230
00:12:06,715 --> 00:12:10,015
And my sister Bailey was like, okay, yeah, let's go.
231
00:12:10,015 --> 00:12:10,655
Let's go.
232
00:12:10,655 --> 00:12:12,595
You were like, did you leave and come back?
233
00:12:12,595 --> 00:12:14,895
And I was like, yes, because I need to talk to you.
234
00:12:14,895 --> 00:12:16,315
And I just don't even know why.
235
00:12:16,315 --> 00:12:17,975
And you were like, well, let's chat.
236
00:12:18,095 --> 00:12:18,574
Yeah.
237
00:12:18,574 --> 00:12:19,651
Well, I'm always.
238
00:12:19,651 --> 00:12:22,592
So I love talking to people in real life.
239
00:12:22,592 --> 00:12:31,094
And because I work online so much, I love going to Magic because I get to see people and I
get to like see them at a point where they're not in their store or two and they're
240
00:12:31,094 --> 00:12:34,645
getting that perspective on what's actually happening.
241
00:12:34,645 --> 00:12:45,558
I think when you leave your day to day and the store, that's why I love encouraging people
to go to shows because yeah, all the obvious, but it gives you perspective and it gives
242
00:12:45,558 --> 00:12:47,825
you like other, oh.
243
00:12:47,825 --> 00:12:52,216
I never thought about this or I never thought about that or like you said, like, I don't
know why just talked to her.
244
00:12:52,216 --> 00:12:53,715
I just do.
245
00:12:53,715 --> 00:12:55,097
It's so wild.
246
00:12:55,097 --> 00:12:58,238
Well, I think I gave a talk about product assortment and pricing.
247
00:12:58,238 --> 00:13:00,478
I think that was like a pretty big talk, actually.
248
00:13:00,478 --> 00:13:02,739
It was like the first post-COVID.
249
00:13:02,739 --> 00:13:04,890
I think I had like just had Adeline.
250
00:13:04,890 --> 00:13:07,740
I was like right coming back and it was a big talk.
251
00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:12,522
I remember them being like, we want slides and I really put a lot of effort into it.
252
00:13:12,522 --> 00:13:14,622
So I'm glad it resonated with you.
253
00:13:14,622 --> 00:13:17,483
Was that the one where I got some hard questions and I was like,
254
00:13:17,703 --> 00:13:20,284
I think there were some, yes, I think so.
255
00:13:20,284 --> 00:13:22,115
You were like, that's a whole separate talk.
256
00:13:22,115 --> 00:13:29,936
Yeah, I think I had to say that a couple of times because someone, felt like people were
like, not really being like me, but I felt like someone was like trying to like stump me a
257
00:13:29,936 --> 00:13:30,109
little bit.
258
00:13:30,109 --> 00:13:32,390
And I was like, I get what you're saying.
259
00:13:32,390 --> 00:13:34,781
And that's not what I talked about or something.
260
00:13:34,781 --> 00:13:35,361
You know what I mean?
261
00:13:35,361 --> 00:13:43,057
Like I was like, but like that's like, I can't, you know, it's hard to consult people from
the stage in front of a hundred people, you know, it's like,
262
00:13:43,057 --> 00:13:43,687
Yeah, man.
263
00:13:43,687 --> 00:13:44,668
But whatever.
264
00:13:44,668 --> 00:13:47,849
was I'm glad I met you and I met a bunch of that was a great talk.
265
00:13:47,849 --> 00:13:49,167
And like you came over.
266
00:13:49,167 --> 00:13:50,530
I love talking to people.
267
00:13:50,530 --> 00:13:51,841
And then I don't know.
268
00:13:51,841 --> 00:13:57,673
I feel like I heard from you after maybe you sent me an email or you were like, you know,
you got like one of my little programs.
269
00:13:57,673 --> 00:14:01,555
And then when Skies came out, you were the first person to sign up.
270
00:14:01,555 --> 00:14:05,306
I was like, you like signed up before the webinar was over, I think.
271
00:14:05,306 --> 00:14:07,047
Like it was so quick and did.
272
00:14:07,047 --> 00:14:07,527
my God.
273
00:14:07,527 --> 00:14:08,497
Like, OK.
274
00:14:08,497 --> 00:14:10,248
And I knew I had a good program.
275
00:14:10,248 --> 00:14:12,239
Like I knew it was going to be good.
276
00:14:12,239 --> 00:14:12,763
But
277
00:14:12,763 --> 00:14:18,127
You and one other person signed up in the first 24 hours and I was like, this program is
going to be really good.
278
00:14:18,127 --> 00:14:22,930
And I feel like that's where, I mean, you came in and you were just like, this works or it
doesn't.
279
00:14:22,930 --> 00:14:25,622
And many people came into that program like that.
280
00:14:25,622 --> 00:14:27,393
They were just like, I'm at my wit's end.
281
00:14:27,393 --> 00:14:28,974
I'm working my tail off.
282
00:14:28,974 --> 00:14:31,896
I have no money to go for in my bank account.
283
00:14:31,896 --> 00:14:32,977
What is going on?
284
00:14:32,977 --> 00:14:33,598
Yeah.
285
00:14:33,598 --> 00:14:36,730
Well, you probably don't know this, but I was at the breaking point.
286
00:14:36,730 --> 00:14:40,782
In October, my husband and I got an estimate on the roof.
287
00:14:40,782 --> 00:14:41,743
And the guy
288
00:14:41,743 --> 00:14:42,773
It was an exaggeration.
289
00:14:42,773 --> 00:14:47,085
This guy definitely blew it up more than it was, but he goes, I can't even be in this
building.
290
00:14:47,085 --> 00:14:51,746
And we lived above the shop in this building in the downtown of where we lived.
291
00:14:51,746 --> 00:14:54,487
And he was like, I can't even quote you because this is dangerous.
292
00:14:54,487 --> 00:14:55,907
It's not, it wasn't.
293
00:14:55,907 --> 00:14:58,968
oh I literally cried.
294
00:14:58,968 --> 00:15:00,528
was like, I have to would have balled.
295
00:15:00,528 --> 00:15:02,669
Yeah, it was horrible.
296
00:15:02,669 --> 00:15:04,990
then a couple of days, because I wasn't making money.
297
00:15:04,990 --> 00:15:07,010
The name of the webinar was overworked.
298
00:15:07,010 --> 00:15:08,091
Underpaid.
299
00:15:08,091 --> 00:15:08,641
Yes.
300
00:15:08,641 --> 00:15:08,951
Yeah.
301
00:15:08,951 --> 00:15:09,671
Underpaid.
302
00:15:09,671 --> 00:15:11,232
That was a great, that's a great webinar.
303
00:15:11,232 --> 00:15:11,422
Yeah.
304
00:15:11,422 --> 00:15:13,272
When that came through, I was like, this is it.
305
00:15:13,272 --> 00:15:14,393
I need to take this.
306
00:15:14,393 --> 00:15:21,056
And then I remember my husband was watching like a Halloween movie and I'm pacing around
the house going, do I need to spend this money?
307
00:15:21,056 --> 00:15:22,246
Like, should I take this course?
308
00:15:22,246 --> 00:15:23,196
Like, what do I do?
309
00:15:23,196 --> 00:15:23,687
What do I do?
310
00:15:23,687 --> 00:15:25,127
And he's like, just take it.
311
00:15:25,127 --> 00:15:26,918
Like, and I was like, you're right.
312
00:15:26,918 --> 00:15:31,930
Because I either take it and it works and everything turns around or I don't take it.
313
00:15:31,930 --> 00:15:35,702
And I forfeit my business, which is going to be expensive anyway.
314
00:15:35,702 --> 00:15:36,132
Yeah.
315
00:15:36,132 --> 00:15:37,242
You're not wrong about that.
316
00:15:37,242 --> 00:15:39,643
And I think for you coming in,
317
00:15:39,643 --> 00:15:44,167
I felt this feeling with you where there was this friction of like, know what I'm doing.
318
00:15:44,167 --> 00:15:45,689
Like I am good at this.
319
00:15:45,689 --> 00:15:49,693
I like I am confident in my ability and my intuition.
320
00:15:49,693 --> 00:15:56,329
Like I've been running this freaking store and also there's something missing and what is
it and why is the money not there?
321
00:15:56,329 --> 00:16:02,905
It was like this really and I think a lot of people in that group had that were having
those moments where it was like, what the heck?
322
00:16:02,905 --> 00:16:04,997
Because a lot of times it's
323
00:16:04,997 --> 00:16:10,862
It's not until the end of the year that you realize, not until October or November, where
you're like, OK, OK.
324
00:16:10,862 --> 00:16:13,674
And it's like it does become a make or break.
325
00:16:13,674 --> 00:16:20,020
But I feel like you coming in, what were some of the first things that really like were
those light bulbs for you?
326
00:16:20,020 --> 00:16:27,536
Because I know like you do the work to like I feel like you came in, you're like doing the
modules, you're like on every call, you're like asking questions like that's what I like.
327
00:16:27,536 --> 00:16:28,787
You're such a good student.
328
00:16:28,787 --> 00:16:33,723
It's like I like there's some people and like if you're in my crew of like kind of.
329
00:16:33,723 --> 00:16:38,117
all the time people, kind of like know who's around and you know who's doing what and
where they are.
330
00:16:38,117 --> 00:16:41,640
And but you guys are the people that do the work and you see the results.
331
00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:46,644
And so it's like, what were those first couple light bulb moments for you as you think
back?
332
00:16:46,644 --> 00:16:49,975
always knew to look at the numbers, but I didn't know what I was looking at.
333
00:16:49,975 --> 00:16:52,839
So most of what I was doing was definitely off intuition.
334
00:16:52,839 --> 00:16:59,184
But it was like, I remember the aha of, OK, you download your data.
335
00:16:59,184 --> 00:16:59,805
Yeah.
336
00:16:59,805 --> 00:17:01,066
Make a pivot table.
337
00:17:01,066 --> 00:17:02,929
And it was like, what?
338
00:17:02,929 --> 00:17:04,240
this is how I do that.
339
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,822
It was game changing.
340
00:17:05,822 --> 00:17:07,003
Game changing.
341
00:17:07,003 --> 00:17:13,850
And the funniest part is, like, I love when it's that simple, because it's like, of course
it's that simple.
342
00:17:13,850 --> 00:17:19,095
And of course, a lot of people want to overcomplicate this, but actually, this is so
logical.
343
00:17:19,095 --> 00:17:27,505
Like to me, it's the logic behind the retail pieces and parts that it actually is obvious
when I just show it to you.
344
00:17:27,505 --> 00:17:30,126
You know, but until I show it to you, it's kind of like, you're right.
345
00:17:30,126 --> 00:17:31,267
Like where does the data go?
346
00:17:31,267 --> 00:17:32,056
What does it mean?
347
00:17:32,056 --> 00:17:34,508
How, how is it affecting anything?
348
00:17:34,508 --> 00:17:36,439
Like, okay, I know how much I'm selling.
349
00:17:36,439 --> 00:17:37,359
Yeah.
350
00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,060
Well, what after that?
351
00:17:39,060 --> 00:17:39,720
Right.
352
00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:40,530
What after that?
353
00:17:40,530 --> 00:17:46,223
And, and how you've seen some of my made spreadsheets that I do on my own.
354
00:17:46,423 --> 00:17:47,834
I kind of go above and beyond.
355
00:17:47,834 --> 00:17:51,185
And I feel like I didn't know there were easier ways to do things.
356
00:17:51,185 --> 00:17:56,101
So, I mean, just like simple tips and tricks on how to use like Google sheets or Excel
just.
357
00:17:56,101 --> 00:18:02,443
learning those bits and bobs that take formulas and add them into new places or that a
formula can be super easy.
358
00:18:02,443 --> 00:18:07,715
You don't have to say like a a one plus a two plus a three plus a four.
359
00:18:07,715 --> 00:18:09,436
You just sum all of that.
360
00:18:09,436 --> 00:18:14,037
And it's just like, whoa, it's not as hard as I thought it was.
361
00:18:14,037 --> 00:18:14,498
Yeah.
362
00:18:14,498 --> 00:18:18,499
Well, I think too, like some of this tech stuff you're talking about.
363
00:18:18,771 --> 00:18:26,691
It's interesting because I never used Excel before I started at age 22 at Abercrombie and
Fitch.
364
00:18:26,691 --> 00:18:28,071
Why would I have used it?
365
00:18:28,071 --> 00:18:31,791
I mean, we just like, I don't even think it existed when I was in like high school.
366
00:18:31,791 --> 00:18:34,711
mean, you know, computers were still kind of new for us.
367
00:18:34,711 --> 00:18:37,211
Like honestly, I'm not age, you know?
368
00:18:37,211 --> 00:18:42,511
And I think like you're striking this chord of like, you don't have to know everything.
369
00:18:42,511 --> 00:18:46,045
Like you can, you are putting in the work, but like you said.
370
00:18:46,045 --> 00:18:47,016
How can it be simpler?
371
00:18:47,016 --> 00:18:48,196
How can it be faster?
372
00:18:48,196 --> 00:18:50,458
How can it be more impactful too?
373
00:18:50,458 --> 00:18:56,561
Because you're actually looking at the right things and like, let's talk about some of the
changes we made in your store.
374
00:18:56,561 --> 00:19:05,987
we, correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I remember is you came to me, you're like, okay,
my prices are in line, my margins are feeling better, but I'm not selling the way I used
375
00:19:05,987 --> 00:19:06,357
to.
376
00:19:06,357 --> 00:19:10,789
And I think kind of now actually having this other conversation, you're just price points
were so low before.
377
00:19:10,789 --> 00:19:13,747
So was like, you were just underselling yourself.
378
00:19:13,747 --> 00:19:20,767
But that also brought us to the revelation that actually we need to maybe change the
assortment for this crowd.
379
00:19:20,787 --> 00:19:25,167
so talk through that, because it was also like you had the opportunity to open a new
store.
380
00:19:25,167 --> 00:19:31,807
I would love to hear that from your perspective, because I think that whole transition
piece was like, that's one of the places I want you to talk about, because it's
381
00:19:31,807 --> 00:19:32,587
perseverance.
382
00:19:32,587 --> 00:19:39,307
You have persevered and pivoted through things that were not necessarily what you wanted
to pivot to either.
383
00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:40,305
Anyway, so.
384
00:19:40,305 --> 00:19:45,478
You have the store, you have the assortment with these beautiful designer like pieces that
you're undercharging.
385
00:19:45,478 --> 00:19:50,100
You raise the price to meet it where it needs to be and then sales slow down.
386
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:50,501
Yeah.
387
00:19:50,501 --> 00:19:51,695
So sales slow down.
388
00:19:51,695 --> 00:19:56,984
And I think you and I kind of evaluated and said, well, what price point do they want?
389
00:19:56,984 --> 00:20:01,047
Ransom numbers were able to come up with the price points for all these different
categories.
390
00:20:01,047 --> 00:20:05,529
And then I was stuck with purchasing products that I didn't want.
391
00:20:05,529 --> 00:20:06,490
Right.
392
00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:09,401
And in order to keep
393
00:20:09,401 --> 00:20:15,555
wanting to come to work every day and being passionate about what I was doing, I was going
to have to sell things that I liked.
394
00:20:15,555 --> 00:20:16,436
You know what I mean?
395
00:20:16,436 --> 00:20:16,786
Yep.
396
00:20:16,786 --> 00:20:22,340
So I remember you and I having a talk where it was like, okay, well now I'm making money,
but all my stuff isn't what I like.
397
00:20:22,340 --> 00:20:23,551
It's not what I want to sell.
398
00:20:23,551 --> 00:20:26,363
The boutique is becoming something that I don't really want.
399
00:20:26,363 --> 00:20:30,926
And if that is the way that this is going to go, I need to change something.
400
00:20:30,926 --> 00:20:32,287
So what if we moved?
401
00:20:32,287 --> 00:20:34,889
And at that point I had been through a lot of life changes.
402
00:20:34,889 --> 00:20:37,030
So it was like, let's keep rolling with it.
403
00:20:37,030 --> 00:20:38,151
Let's just.
404
00:20:38,301 --> 00:20:44,023
Cause we ended up having to move out of the building that the store was in, not because
the roof was cave in or anything.
405
00:20:44,023 --> 00:20:45,703
The building is still standing.
406
00:20:45,703 --> 00:20:47,511
is still a perfectly fine building.
407
00:20:47,511 --> 00:20:48,672
If anyone wants to buy it.
408
00:20:48,672 --> 00:20:52,915
No, I'm joking.
409
00:20:52,915 --> 00:20:57,136
So because we moved, was like, well, now there's no reason to stay in this location.
410
00:20:57,136 --> 00:20:58,637
Like the world is our oyster.
411
00:20:58,637 --> 00:20:59,427
Where do we want to go?
412
00:20:59,427 --> 00:21:03,578
And so we ended up moving to the nearest city.
413
00:21:03,578 --> 00:21:04,498
We're in, we're in St.
414
00:21:04,498 --> 00:21:07,619
Louis now and it's so.
415
00:21:07,729 --> 00:21:15,407
much broader and it's got the city girl who I'm selling to you know what I mean so the
product is certain is now on par with my customer.
416
00:21:15,407 --> 00:21:26,418
Whereas before it felt like I was I would get a lot of would you would you go to market
will you buy for me and I was like oh like I'm I'm if I do this that I'm not buying from
417
00:21:26,418 --> 00:21:31,173
me anymore and buying for this other customer who isn't me yeah and that was complicated.
418
00:21:31,259 --> 00:21:36,152
I felt a lot of guilt around that and I think it's selfish to say, but I didn't open a
boutique for somebody else.
419
00:21:36,152 --> 00:21:41,705
I opened it for me to be able to provide women like me the products that they weren't
finding.
420
00:21:41,705 --> 00:21:42,245
Yes.
421
00:21:42,245 --> 00:21:52,011
And I think there's a lot of dropping the ego in a way because like you modified your
entire assortment so that you could make money in that location.
422
00:21:52,011 --> 00:21:54,352
You had to be so location specific.
423
00:21:54,352 --> 00:21:59,935
And I think that sacrificing your style to make money.
424
00:22:00,561 --> 00:22:04,694
wasn't fun because you start to realize like it's not about yes, it's about the money.
425
00:22:04,694 --> 00:22:05,635
We want to make money.
426
00:22:05,635 --> 00:22:13,390
But if you're not like opening a package of new merch and just like drooling over it, like
what is the point?
427
00:22:13,390 --> 00:22:14,691
Like what is the point?
428
00:22:14,691 --> 00:22:16,762
Because we're selling art.
429
00:22:16,822 --> 00:22:21,966
I think all entrepreneurs across the board know like it is hard work being an
entrepreneur.
430
00:22:21,966 --> 00:22:30,003
I can easily like throw in the towel and go work in a retail store, top management,
whatever, and make more than I was making.
431
00:22:30,003 --> 00:22:31,163
Yes.
432
00:22:31,163 --> 00:22:31,183
Yes.
433
00:22:31,183 --> 00:22:32,583
And work less hard.
434
00:22:32,583 --> 00:22:39,763
So there has to be the benefit of like, I love what I'm doing so much that it doesn't
matter.
435
00:22:39,763 --> 00:22:40,303
Yeah.
436
00:22:40,303 --> 00:22:41,643
And yes.
437
00:22:41,643 --> 00:22:54,783
And I think for you, much like for me, we picked locations based on intuition, based on
some data, like we're smart women who open stores in locations that weren't really the
438
00:22:54,783 --> 00:22:55,543
right fit.
439
00:22:55,543 --> 00:22:56,243
It just like was
440
00:22:56,243 --> 00:22:59,983
It was almost like dating someone who then just you're like, we're just not really
compatible.
441
00:22:59,983 --> 00:23:01,203
Like you're a good person.
442
00:23:01,203 --> 00:23:02,043
It's a great spot.
443
00:23:02,043 --> 00:23:02,823
That's cool.
444
00:23:02,823 --> 00:23:04,203
Just not for me.
445
00:23:04,203 --> 00:23:09,803
And I think like sometimes you kind of have to, like I said, drop the ego and instead of
saying, well, this is what I thought would work.
446
00:23:09,803 --> 00:23:12,763
And I'm going to grasp this tightly onto it as possible.
447
00:23:12,763 --> 00:23:14,563
You were like, this is making me unhappy.
448
00:23:14,563 --> 00:23:16,783
And I just need to like cut ties.
449
00:23:16,783 --> 00:23:18,403
Say that was a great start.
450
00:23:18,403 --> 00:23:23,743
And now like you, I feel like you're onto your second act now, honestly, with the new
Rushmore Boutique.
451
00:23:23,743 --> 00:23:24,241
mean,
452
00:23:24,241 --> 00:23:25,712
hearing who's moved in around you.
453
00:23:25,712 --> 00:23:34,612
mean, well, first of all, talk about the process of rebuilding and like moving, because I
everyone to be so clear, like you have an absolutely gorgeous store and it took quite a
454
00:23:34,612 --> 00:23:35,783
bit of work to get it there.
455
00:23:35,783 --> 00:23:44,432
So you just outline that a little bit and some of the delays you had, because I think,
again, persevering through all of this is like what I see as like a very overarching
456
00:23:44,432 --> 00:23:44,892
theme.
457
00:23:44,892 --> 00:23:45,562
Yeah.
458
00:23:45,562 --> 00:23:46,855
my gosh, the perseverance.
459
00:23:46,855 --> 00:23:47,571
So.
460
00:23:47,571 --> 00:23:50,011
I follow a lot of my intuition.
461
00:23:50,011 --> 00:23:52,591
You know, when my gut says to do something, I usually do it.
462
00:23:52,591 --> 00:23:56,671
So when I knew to move, I knew there were three things that I wanted.
463
00:23:56,671 --> 00:23:58,851
I wanted exposed brick.
464
00:23:58,851 --> 00:24:05,151
I wanted it to be in a neighborhood and not like a strip center, not like the mall.
465
00:24:05,151 --> 00:24:10,001
I wanted that like neighborhood element and then wood floors.
466
00:24:10,001 --> 00:24:14,413
And I know those are such silly things, but so I looked at a couple spaces.
467
00:24:14,413 --> 00:24:16,234
I was going to have to kind of like tweak things.
468
00:24:16,234 --> 00:24:17,945
Like one of them was next to a yoga studio.
469
00:24:17,945 --> 00:24:24,788
So was like, well, I need to sell like athletic wear and like kind of, know, and then
again, I was coming back to the place of, oh but that's not what I sell.
470
00:24:24,788 --> 00:24:25,748
That's not what I like.
471
00:24:25,748 --> 00:24:26,979
That's not how I dress.
472
00:24:26,979 --> 00:24:27,835
So.
473
00:24:27,835 --> 00:24:33,340
I stumbled upon this place and the neighborhood itself, it's got a lot of young
professionals.
474
00:24:33,340 --> 00:24:36,472
It has a lot of professors at the university nearby.
475
00:24:36,472 --> 00:24:38,864
It has students at the university nearby.
476
00:24:38,864 --> 00:24:41,847
We're not, like a couple blocks away from a doctor's office.
477
00:24:41,847 --> 00:24:44,268
So there's tons of doctors and surgeons.
478
00:24:44,268 --> 00:24:51,875
And I mean, it's working people, working women who wear things like what I wear.
479
00:24:51,875 --> 00:24:55,087
It is a little bit more affluent in that sense as well.
480
00:24:55,087 --> 00:24:57,363
It just people are average.
481
00:24:57,363 --> 00:24:58,103
Yeah.
482
00:24:58,103 --> 00:24:58,303
Yeah.
483
00:24:58,303 --> 00:24:59,563
That's a higher income neighborhood.
484
00:24:59,563 --> 00:25:00,343
Yeah.
485
00:25:00,543 --> 00:25:05,563
That's great to be aware of because you, you know, you need people that can afford your
things.
486
00:25:05,563 --> 00:25:06,223
Exactly.
487
00:25:06,223 --> 00:25:10,003
And so then I found this space.
488
00:25:10,003 --> 00:25:13,763
It's actually, it was, it was something like, it was a little over 2000 square feet.
489
00:25:13,763 --> 00:25:16,143
And I was like, that's way too big, but I'm going to go look at the space.
490
00:25:16,143 --> 00:25:24,883
So we go in there and I called him and he answered the phone, which is uncommon in the
commercial real estate.
491
00:25:24,883 --> 00:25:26,403
game, I suppose.
492
00:25:26,403 --> 00:25:28,383
And I said, I'd like to come look at this space.
493
00:25:28,383 --> 00:25:30,363
And he said, well, are you familiar with it?
494
00:25:30,363 --> 00:25:36,243
And I was like, kind of, it's close to this taco shop that we go to or that we have gone
to.
495
00:25:36,243 --> 00:25:38,223
And he said, well, there had been a fire.
496
00:25:38,223 --> 00:25:39,503
And I remember that fire.
497
00:25:39,503 --> 00:25:41,163
It was back in 2022.
498
00:25:41,163 --> 00:25:44,283
So he said, you're going to have to use your imagination.
499
00:25:44,283 --> 00:25:46,383
And I was like, please, good.
500
00:25:46,383 --> 00:25:46,783
Okay.
501
00:25:46,783 --> 00:25:47,963
Let's talk.
502
00:25:48,003 --> 00:25:48,863
We get there.
503
00:25:48,863 --> 00:25:52,903
And he said, this big space is actually going to be half this size.
504
00:25:52,903 --> 00:25:54,427
And I was like, perfect.
505
00:25:54,427 --> 00:26:00,992
That is the same square footage of my current store, which I love and I know how to
navigate through and I know how to merchandise and stuff.
506
00:26:00,992 --> 00:26:02,687
Then I got to pick my floor.
507
00:26:02,687 --> 00:26:04,634
I had to pick my paint color for the walls.
508
00:26:04,634 --> 00:26:05,695
I got to the ceiling.
509
00:26:05,695 --> 00:26:07,016
Like it was awesome.
510
00:26:07,016 --> 00:26:11,739
And if you've ever done construction, then you know, it always takes twice as long as it's
supposed to.
511
00:26:11,739 --> 00:26:17,667
So he said, I should be in there by November of 23.
512
00:26:17,667 --> 00:26:21,125
And at this point it was like July of 23.
513
00:26:21,125 --> 00:26:23,176
And I was like, okay, yeah, cool.
514
00:26:23,176 --> 00:26:24,209
That would be awesome.
515
00:26:24,209 --> 00:26:26,580
But for whatever reason, I kept it on the hush hush.
516
00:26:26,580 --> 00:26:29,161
didn't announce it to my, customers or anything.
517
00:26:29,161 --> 00:26:36,094
I hardly told, you know, my friends pretty much and time kept passing and we were about a
month out from November.
518
00:26:36,094 --> 00:26:38,205
And I was like, I'd like to check out the space.
519
00:26:38,205 --> 00:26:39,706
Like where are we at?
520
00:26:39,706 --> 00:26:44,888
And he's like, it's looking more like February and my contract started in February.
521
00:26:44,888 --> 00:26:46,448
He said, we're going to push it out.
522
00:26:46,448 --> 00:26:51,140
So that way, you know, for safety purposes, you know, just to kind of have a little
padding there.
523
00:26:51,140 --> 00:26:52,051
I said, okay.
524
00:26:52,051 --> 00:26:52,931
So.
525
00:26:53,141 --> 00:26:55,573
I'm thinking in February we'll move in.
526
00:26:55,573 --> 00:26:59,075
Okay, so January rolls around and I'm like, this place looks the same.
527
00:26:59,075 --> 00:27:05,288
There's still, we're looking at subfloor and charred beams up on the walls.
528
00:27:05,288 --> 00:27:07,139
I mean, it's like, nothing's done.
529
00:27:07,139 --> 00:27:09,901
And I'm like, I don't think it's gonna be done by February.
530
00:27:09,901 --> 00:27:11,342
And he goes, April.
531
00:27:11,342 --> 00:27:12,853
I promise it'll be done by April.
532
00:27:12,853 --> 00:27:13,643
And I was like, okay.
533
00:27:13,643 --> 00:27:14,554
And it's in an email.
534
00:27:14,554 --> 00:27:16,265
So I'm like, it's gotta be April.
535
00:27:16,265 --> 00:27:18,284
He put it like in print.
536
00:27:18,284 --> 00:27:26,618
So in March, I announced it at the beginning of March, I said the end of March will be
when we close this location and we should be opening soon.
537
00:27:26,618 --> 00:27:27,898
I'm not quite sure when though.
538
00:27:27,898 --> 00:27:31,254
I remember the very last day, it closed the doors.
539
00:27:31,254 --> 00:27:37,443
I was like, okay, I'll start planning what moving is gonna look like.
540
00:27:37,443 --> 00:27:39,609
And I tried to sell down as much product as I could.
541
00:27:39,609 --> 00:27:42,005
didn't buy product for a while prior to that.
542
00:27:42,005 --> 00:27:44,916
And, cause that was the beginning of spring.
543
00:27:44,916 --> 00:27:49,798
And so I don't think I bought anything from like December until March, for the most part.
544
00:27:49,798 --> 00:27:58,326
Everything was very, very slim, but I did have on order my April, my May, my June, and I
think a little bit of July.
545
00:27:58,326 --> 00:28:01,693
And I was like, I came for the new store.
546
00:28:01,693 --> 00:28:03,334
So I'm at a new price point.
547
00:28:03,334 --> 00:28:05,555
You know, I've, brought it up a little bit.
548
00:28:05,555 --> 00:28:07,415
So April rolls around.
549
00:28:07,415 --> 00:28:09,236
No, we're not moving in yet.
550
00:28:09,236 --> 00:28:13,758
And from about April until I'd say June.
551
00:28:13,758 --> 00:28:16,160
Every two weeks, it'll be another two weeks.
552
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,443
It'll be another two weeks, just two more weeks.
553
00:28:19,443 --> 00:28:22,098
so I'm, I'm looking at all this product rolling in.
554
00:28:22,098 --> 00:28:27,109
I can't cancel these things with these vendors that I don't want to ruin a relationship
with.
555
00:28:27,109 --> 00:28:36,827
Not to mention, like, I think that we become really partial to certain wholesale reps and
I know that they have a business and I'm like, I don't want to screw over this woman that
556
00:28:36,827 --> 00:28:40,219
I've been working with who I think she's passionate about what she's doing.
557
00:28:40,219 --> 00:28:41,581
She's making a living.
558
00:28:41,581 --> 00:28:43,756
So I'm like, okay, I'll just.
559
00:28:43,756 --> 00:28:44,787
put it on the credit card.
560
00:28:44,787 --> 00:28:49,471
I just kept putting it on the credit card and I was like, my gosh, this is the worst.
561
00:28:49,471 --> 00:28:53,934
But I got to the other side and were paid off.
562
00:28:53,934 --> 00:28:55,095
Everything's fine.
563
00:28:55,095 --> 00:28:56,837
But it was really scary.
564
00:28:56,837 --> 00:28:58,958
Oh my gosh.
565
00:28:58,958 --> 00:29:06,084
And then some crazy stuff happened with my credit, a timeshare, my mom's timeshare ended
up getting put on my credit.
566
00:29:06,084 --> 00:29:07,946
And so I this huge personal loan.
567
00:29:07,946 --> 00:29:12,729
And so my credit card, they, they gave me crazy amounts on that credit, my business credit
card, cause I was off.
568
00:29:12,729 --> 00:29:13,430
ah
569
00:29:13,430 --> 00:29:13,870
You know?
570
00:29:13,870 --> 00:29:14,731
Yeah.
571
00:29:14,731 --> 00:29:17,713
And they cut the entirety in half.
572
00:29:17,713 --> 00:29:25,098
And so not only am I accruing all of this, but then they cut it in half and I'm like, it's
going to be okay.
573
00:29:25,098 --> 00:29:27,159
We're going to make it to the other side of this.
574
00:29:27,159 --> 00:29:28,760
It's going to be fine.
575
00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,462
And I tell you, I've never meditated so much in my life.
576
00:29:35,319 --> 00:29:41,064
Well, I mean, you're constantly you're racking up a bill for a store that doesn't exist.
577
00:29:41,064 --> 00:29:43,576
I mean, essentially, like that's horrifying.
578
00:29:43,576 --> 00:29:47,019
Like I like that was didn't end up being eight months.
579
00:29:47,019 --> 00:29:57,128
Like, when did you actually open the doors actually opened in on October 15th, April, May,
June, July, August, September, October.
580
00:29:57,128 --> 00:29:58,560
Yeah.
581
00:29:58,560 --> 00:29:59,661
Seven months.
582
00:29:59,661 --> 00:30:01,492
Like that's insane.
583
00:30:01,492 --> 00:30:07,742
And the fact that you had closed, let me ask you this, are you glad that you closed the
doors to the other store?
584
00:30:07,742 --> 00:30:10,901
do you, are you now look back and you're like, I should have stayed open?
585
00:30:10,901 --> 00:30:13,193
Like what would you have done differently there?
586
00:30:13,193 --> 00:30:15,355
Or would you, is it fine?
587
00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:24,793
I think that having the separation from the old store was the best thing I could have done
for the new store because it separated me.
588
00:30:24,793 --> 00:30:28,084
Like it gave me a clear view.
589
00:30:28,084 --> 00:30:30,636
of what I wanted the new store to look like.
590
00:30:30,636 --> 00:30:33,958
I wasn't so clouded with these like, well, I did it this way.
591
00:30:33,958 --> 00:30:35,486
So I have to do it this way again.
592
00:30:35,486 --> 00:30:42,899
It was very, I did it this way, but now I can see the new, I can see the new angles I can
take.
593
00:30:42,899 --> 00:30:44,304
I can adjust things.
594
00:30:44,304 --> 00:30:46,617
doesn't have to be the same colors.
595
00:30:46,617 --> 00:30:49,249
It doesn't have to be the same vibe.
596
00:30:49,249 --> 00:30:51,029
It can be a little different.
597
00:30:51,210 --> 00:30:52,111
It's a new store.
598
00:30:52,111 --> 00:30:52,681
Yes.
599
00:30:52,681 --> 00:30:53,482
I love that.
600
00:30:53,482 --> 00:30:54,312
I love that.
601
00:30:54,312 --> 00:30:57,152
Do you feel that you took customers?
602
00:30:57,152 --> 00:30:59,462
Have customers moved over to the new store?
603
00:30:59,462 --> 00:30:59,723
Yeah.
604
00:30:59,723 --> 00:31:04,244
And it was so funny because I had basically signed off that they wouldn't.
605
00:31:04,244 --> 00:31:06,385
And I had a lot of people that were like, you should go online.
606
00:31:06,385 --> 00:31:07,265
You should do these things.
607
00:31:07,265 --> 00:31:09,005
And I was like, that's not what this store is.
608
00:31:09,005 --> 00:31:11,656
Like, I don't do online because I just don't.
609
00:31:11,656 --> 00:31:12,626
I don't want to.
610
00:31:12,626 --> 00:31:14,907
When it comes down to it, it's just me.
611
00:31:14,907 --> 00:31:17,828
So it has to be what I want to do.
612
00:31:17,828 --> 00:31:21,229
I was surprised at how many people came over.
613
00:31:21,269 --> 00:31:25,782
basically, the first day that I was open was from...
614
00:31:25,782 --> 00:31:29,744
think it was from five to eight and it was for all the neighborhood.
615
00:31:29,744 --> 00:31:37,788
And then it was, it was neighborhood businesses so that they had the opportunity to come
in because a lot of times, you know, all the independent retailers, we all work the same
616
00:31:37,788 --> 00:31:38,159
hours.
617
00:31:38,159 --> 00:31:40,550
So it's really hard to get into somebody else's store.
618
00:31:40,550 --> 00:31:43,031
So I offered that late night.
619
00:31:43,031 --> 00:31:46,293
And then I also sent it out to my already established email list.
620
00:31:46,293 --> 00:31:47,714
I said, this is when I'm opening.
621
00:31:47,714 --> 00:31:48,995
I'll be open for these three hours.
622
00:31:48,995 --> 00:31:50,756
If you want to come, that would be great.
623
00:31:50,756 --> 00:31:51,776
Preview night.
624
00:31:51,776 --> 00:31:52,557
love that.
625
00:31:52,557 --> 00:31:53,197
Yes.
626
00:31:53,197 --> 00:31:55,650
And the people showed up.
627
00:31:55,650 --> 00:31:57,430
They were excited.
628
00:31:57,430 --> 00:31:58,610
It was great.
629
00:31:58,610 --> 00:31:59,790
then of course they were.
630
00:31:59,790 --> 00:32:00,350
Yeah.
631
00:32:00,350 --> 00:32:00,690
Yeah.
632
00:32:00,690 --> 00:32:04,950
I mean, I was just so blown away and now I still have those customers.
633
00:32:04,950 --> 00:32:08,810
And I think that there was the stigma of like, nobody crosses the river.
634
00:32:08,810 --> 00:32:11,350
Cause there's this like river divide between the two States.
635
00:32:11,350 --> 00:32:15,610
And it's like, Oh, it's so far away because there's a river.
636
00:32:15,730 --> 00:32:15,830
Right.
637
00:32:15,830 --> 00:32:17,170
You have to go over a bridge.
638
00:32:17,170 --> 00:32:18,150
That's wild.
639
00:32:18,150 --> 00:32:18,970
Yeah.
640
00:32:19,030 --> 00:32:19,510
Yeah.
641
00:32:19,510 --> 00:32:20,010
Yeah.
642
00:32:20,010 --> 00:32:22,754
So there are customers who, who
643
00:32:22,754 --> 00:32:30,434
were not living in the town we were in, but they would come to see their mom or they would
come, you maybe they were college kids or whatever.
644
00:32:30,434 --> 00:32:34,614
And even when they come home, they still take the drive over to St.
645
00:32:34,614 --> 00:32:39,314
Louis to check it all out, to shop, to have fun, to see me, you know, it's cool.
646
00:32:39,314 --> 00:32:40,414
It's incredible.
647
00:32:40,414 --> 00:32:41,294
It's incredible.
648
00:32:41,294 --> 00:32:45,214
And now you've been open now for seven months.
649
00:32:45,214 --> 00:32:47,174
So like we were closed for seven months.
650
00:32:47,174 --> 00:32:48,814
Now we're open for seven months.
651
00:32:48,814 --> 00:32:50,794
How are you feeling about the move?
652
00:32:50,794 --> 00:32:51,562
I mean,
653
00:32:51,562 --> 00:32:56,505
I'll just say my reflection of you is like, I feel like you just seem so aligned.
654
00:32:56,505 --> 00:32:59,186
Like you're like in the right place at the right time.
655
00:32:59,186 --> 00:33:00,947
Like your outfits are always on par.
656
00:33:00,947 --> 00:33:02,358
Like you're posting all the time.
657
00:33:02,358 --> 00:33:05,690
Like your store is fantastic and beautiful.
658
00:33:05,690 --> 00:33:13,744
And like you said, I think feels like the other location, but a little bit turned up, like
a little bit more luxurious, which I think is so appropriate.
659
00:33:13,744 --> 00:33:20,802
And I mean, I am just, the reason I wanted to have you on is because your journey has been
so fun to.
660
00:33:20,802 --> 00:33:24,122
be along with and watch you go through all this.
661
00:33:24,122 --> 00:33:28,662
mean, despite all the other things going on personally, right?
662
00:33:28,662 --> 00:33:34,902
Like just the fact that so much crap happened in your business that you could never saw
coming.
663
00:33:34,902 --> 00:33:39,502
You could have never planned for it, but you throughout it, you were just like, I just got
to go through it.
664
00:33:39,502 --> 00:33:40,742
Like I'm going to go through it.
665
00:33:40,742 --> 00:33:42,702
I'm going to keep my eye on the prize.
666
00:33:42,702 --> 00:33:44,422
And like, here you are.
667
00:33:44,422 --> 00:33:45,438
I feel like
668
00:33:45,438 --> 00:33:47,248
I would call you a successful boutique owner.
669
00:33:47,248 --> 00:33:54,785
I mean, I would have called you that a long time ago, but like, do you just feel like in
your bones now, like you're freaking doing it?
670
00:33:54,785 --> 00:33:59,808
Yes, I have never felt more aligned in the store than I do now.
671
00:33:59,808 --> 00:34:00,689
It's crazy.
672
00:34:00,689 --> 00:34:05,552
I look around and I'm like, this is my store.
673
00:34:05,552 --> 00:34:07,223
And it almost feels like the first one.
674
00:34:07,223 --> 00:34:11,356
I'm so, glad that I did it all the way that I did the first time.
675
00:34:11,416 --> 00:34:14,238
Living above the store was great, especially starting out.
676
00:34:14,238 --> 00:34:17,259
It was almost like practice.
677
00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:24,384
I mean, it's terrible that it was an expensive practice, but it was still, I mean, I would
never say that I failed at it.
678
00:34:24,384 --> 00:34:32,089
I would say that it was the best starting point for me because now I have all of these
practices in place.
679
00:34:32,089 --> 00:34:35,871
I have this really great system of how it all works.
680
00:34:35,871 --> 00:34:41,718
And had I started where I'm at now, I would have fumbled all over the place and it would
have been so hard.
681
00:34:41,718 --> 00:34:44,781
but now I've got a routine, I've got a rhythm to it all.
682
00:34:44,781 --> 00:34:46,982
And it does feel so aligned.
683
00:34:46,982 --> 00:34:51,506
Amazing how my customers resonate more with me now.
684
00:34:51,506 --> 00:34:53,628
I'm dealing with people that are like me.
685
00:34:53,628 --> 00:34:56,858
And so I can anticipate what they're wearing to places.
686
00:34:56,858 --> 00:34:58,475
I think we had a gallery night the other day.
687
00:34:58,475 --> 00:34:59,473
I had this gal come in.
688
00:34:59,473 --> 00:35:01,144
She bought a bunch of really great dresses.
689
00:35:01,144 --> 00:35:03,936
And I said, are you going to the gallery night tonight?
690
00:35:03,936 --> 00:35:08,620
First off, a gallery night, which is so on brand for what I offer.
691
00:35:08,898 --> 00:35:11,200
So she says, yeah, yeah.
692
00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:12,771
I think I'm gonna wear this dress.
693
00:35:12,771 --> 00:35:18,553
So now the gallery night's happening or whatever, I've got my door propped open and she
pops in, she goes, I did it, I wore the dress.
694
00:35:18,553 --> 00:35:21,584
You know, and my heart is just so full.
695
00:35:21,584 --> 00:35:27,376
Cause she's out there feeling good about herself, rocking her outfit from Rushmore.
696
00:35:27,376 --> 00:35:29,407
One thing that I found that was so interesting.
697
00:35:29,407 --> 00:35:40,682
So the store is a twist off of my last name, but I found that in the old location, people
would say, I'm at this boutique, it's called Rushmore, but they'd say it with all this
698
00:35:40,682 --> 00:35:41,058
like,
699
00:35:41,058 --> 00:35:48,421
question like and now when people are in there like, I'm at brush more boutique like
they're excited to say it.
700
00:35:48,421 --> 00:35:54,123
They're proud to say it and it's like hearing that fills my cup to the max.
701
00:35:54,123 --> 00:35:55,704
I mean, it's beautiful.
702
00:35:55,704 --> 00:36:05,748
It's the best feeling in the world when someone walks in your store wearing something that
you sold them looking like a million bucks feeling like that big smile.
703
00:36:05,748 --> 00:36:07,933
Their eyes are oh, it can make me cry.
704
00:36:07,933 --> 00:36:10,330
I get like emotional about it because it's
705
00:36:10,606 --> 00:36:17,028
What you're talking about is the community and the community you're building in your area.
706
00:36:17,028 --> 00:36:24,060
And even like you said, not even in your area, even in these, you know, women who come
home, stop at their mom's house and then head into you.
707
00:36:24,060 --> 00:36:33,642
You know, like I love that for you because you are now stepping up as a leader in your
your career as a boutique owner in your neighborhood.
708
00:36:33,642 --> 00:36:40,224
And I want more women to feel as and I hate the word empowerment.
709
00:36:40,224 --> 00:36:41,665
And alignment is good.
710
00:36:41,665 --> 00:36:45,846
Alignment feels good to me, but it's still a little like a woo woo wee for me.
711
00:36:45,846 --> 00:36:48,157
like I just you are in your power.
712
00:36:48,157 --> 00:36:50,839
You are in a store that feels perfect for you.
713
00:36:50,839 --> 00:36:53,430
The sales are coming in because of it, I would say, too.
714
00:36:53,430 --> 00:36:56,521
Like, you know, that's you're seeing the financial reward.
715
00:36:56,521 --> 00:37:07,155
And like now more than ever, we need like I feel like my job is to just like keep the
boutique industry up and running and moving and educating people like you who are meant to
716
00:37:07,155 --> 00:37:08,406
be doing this.
717
00:37:08,406 --> 00:37:15,892
there is a level of loneliness in owning a boutique where you feel like I'm the only one
and I'm the only person going through this.
718
00:37:15,892 --> 00:37:20,436
And in reality, and you've been on so many calls now, we're all going through the same
thing.
719
00:37:20,436 --> 00:37:28,283
Even me who doesn't have a boutique anymore, I'm still dealing with similar challenges to
you guys in just the digital marketing space and running Facebook, right?
720
00:37:28,283 --> 00:37:36,359
So I'm so excited for you because I feel like you remembered who you are and now you're
living as the person that you want to be.
721
00:37:36,359 --> 00:37:37,556
And that's like...
722
00:37:37,556 --> 00:37:38,456
I just love it.
723
00:37:38,456 --> 00:37:43,778
Like I just, I scoff your set, like, and what you said too about, guess I'm in like a
boutique.
724
00:37:43,778 --> 00:37:47,509
Like, I don't know that like level of uncomfortableness that people have.
725
00:37:47,509 --> 00:37:50,570
It's like, now there's just like no room for that in your energy.
726
00:37:50,570 --> 00:37:51,890
Like you're just like, no, no, no.
727
00:37:51,890 --> 00:37:56,892
Like we're here, we're Rushmore and we're part of this neighborhood and we're going to be
here for 20 years.
728
00:37:56,892 --> 00:38:00,706
Like we're just, we're here and I'm going to keep doing my thing.
729
00:38:00,706 --> 00:38:05,058
I feel like I want to ask you, so you feel so good right now and
730
00:38:05,058 --> 00:38:11,258
What are the things that you're putting into place, into practice that help you when
everything feels crazy or feels a little weird?
731
00:38:11,258 --> 00:38:20,298
What are those things that you're doing that help you feel grounded and stay focused in
your sore and like also just believing that, I know, cause I know your winter slowed a
732
00:38:20,298 --> 00:38:26,458
little bit and it was like, know, like what are those things you did over those winter
months to help you be like, no, no, no, no, no.
733
00:38:26,458 --> 00:38:27,378
Like it's coming.
734
00:38:27,378 --> 00:38:28,878
Like I'm okay.
735
00:38:28,878 --> 00:38:29,578
I'm doing okay.
736
00:38:29,578 --> 00:38:33,770
You know, so someone listening could take maybe one of these ideas and
737
00:38:33,770 --> 00:38:36,212
and run with it for themselves when they're not feeling so good.
738
00:38:36,212 --> 00:38:39,635
oh Sorry, that might be a hard one.
739
00:38:39,635 --> 00:38:40,316
No, no.
740
00:38:40,316 --> 00:38:42,298
ah Keep showing up.
741
00:38:42,298 --> 00:38:43,599
Just keep showing up.
742
00:38:43,599 --> 00:38:44,500
You have to.
743
00:38:44,500 --> 00:38:47,056
Because if you're not showing up, then why are you doing it?
744
00:38:47,056 --> 00:38:50,004
Even, you know, life gets hard no matter what.
745
00:38:50,004 --> 00:39:00,533
Like there's seasons where it's really challenging and there's seasons where it's easier
and you just have to know like, and it's so, I laugh because I mean, I've been there where
746
00:39:00,533 --> 00:39:01,290
it's like,
747
00:39:01,290 --> 00:39:03,111
Nobody has been in the store today.
748
00:39:03,111 --> 00:39:04,911
I feel like I'm bad at my job.
749
00:39:04,911 --> 00:39:06,681
I feel like I'm gonna fail.
750
00:39:06,681 --> 00:39:09,452
I feel like nobody likes what I have.
751
00:39:09,452 --> 00:39:14,734
And just knowing like, just keep showing up because you will know.
752
00:39:14,734 --> 00:39:20,550
You will find those pivots and like, I mean, all of these like intuitive choices that I've
made.
753
00:39:20,550 --> 00:39:22,356
I mean, everybody has those.
754
00:39:22,356 --> 00:39:25,417
And if you just keep thinking, I can do it.
755
00:39:25,417 --> 00:39:26,127
I can do it.
756
00:39:26,127 --> 00:39:27,657
I'm doing it right now.
757
00:39:27,657 --> 00:39:29,118
It's gonna be okay.
758
00:39:29,118 --> 00:39:30,530
And you work through it.
759
00:39:30,530 --> 00:39:40,310
You decided that you were 100 % in on being a boutique owner and nothing could, mean,
things tried, things tried to knock you out.
760
00:39:40,310 --> 00:39:41,370
Like many things tried.
761
00:39:41,370 --> 00:39:43,590
I mean, at one point, didn't you break your foot?
762
00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:44,850
Oh my gosh.
763
00:39:44,850 --> 00:39:51,910
Like, I mean, I feel like there's been other things, but like even just breaking your
foot, you're like, I can't even, but that was when you were kind of closed too.
764
00:39:51,910 --> 00:39:53,330
So it was actually okay.
765
00:39:53,330 --> 00:39:54,830
No, it was okay.
766
00:39:54,830 --> 00:39:59,914
So I was co-caring for my mom on hospice and broke my foot.
767
00:39:59,914 --> 00:40:03,696
the day before Thanksgiving, which Thanksgiving doesn't matter.
768
00:40:03,696 --> 00:40:06,838
It's Black Friday, Small Business Saturday.
769
00:40:06,838 --> 00:40:11,160
I mean, I like boohooed about it because I was like, it's the Super Bowl.
770
00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:12,961
Like, it's my time.
771
00:40:12,961 --> 00:40:15,022
What am I going to do?
772
00:40:15,683 --> 00:40:17,764
And my store had steps.
773
00:40:17,764 --> 00:40:24,968
So it was like there was the lower platform and then there were two steps to get to where
the fitting rooms were and then the rest of shop two.
774
00:40:24,968 --> 00:40:27,769
And I was like, how am I going to clear a fitting room?
775
00:40:27,769 --> 00:40:29,440
I can't, I, I
776
00:40:29,460 --> 00:40:30,410
What am I going to do?
777
00:40:30,410 --> 00:40:32,172
Like I was freaking out.
778
00:40:32,172 --> 00:40:33,113
And you made it through.
779
00:40:33,113 --> 00:40:34,154
You made it through.
780
00:40:34,154 --> 00:40:35,125
You figured it out.
781
00:40:35,125 --> 00:40:36,676
I mean, I think that's it.
782
00:40:36,676 --> 00:40:48,456
It's like you whatever's thrown at you, you navigate it in a way where I think because
that underlying belief is I am 100 % in on being a boutique owner.
783
00:40:48,456 --> 00:40:49,647
There's no plan B.
784
00:40:49,647 --> 00:40:50,648
There's no plan C.
785
00:40:50,648 --> 00:40:53,034
There's no I'm going to figure it out.
786
00:40:53,034 --> 00:40:59,117
until I get it right or until it works or until, you know, the next intuitive hit comes
like really that's it, right?
787
00:40:59,117 --> 00:41:02,709
It's like we're working like hit to hit like just going through our days.
788
00:41:02,709 --> 00:41:13,124
So, oh my gosh, what do you see as like the future for Rushmore where I know everyone
wants to grow, but I also feel like there's something to be said for being consistent and
789
00:41:13,124 --> 00:41:17,055
steady and you know, like what feels like the next couple of years for you?
790
00:41:17,055 --> 00:41:18,378
Honestly,
791
00:41:18,378 --> 00:41:23,321
If things just kept rolling like they are right now, this is the first month that I'm
doing two rollouts.
792
00:41:23,321 --> 00:41:26,784
So I broke up my big one and I'm doing two smaller rollouts.
793
00:41:26,784 --> 00:41:29,486
And if it can keep rolling like that, amazing.
794
00:41:29,486 --> 00:41:37,431
Cause it was like, not that there's ever like a lull, but halfway through the month, I'd
get to this place where it was like, okay, well guess I'll batch work a bunch of stuff.
795
00:41:37,431 --> 00:41:39,983
But now it's like, I'm having to use my time better.
796
00:41:39,983 --> 00:41:43,215
And I find myself like lollygagging less.
797
00:41:43,215 --> 00:41:45,657
Cause it's more consistent.
798
00:41:45,657 --> 00:41:47,714
Monthly launches are
799
00:41:47,714 --> 00:41:58,494
good until you hit a sales point where you're sort of forced into launching more because
you're inevitably like kind of selling out of the selling out of the good stuff and
800
00:41:58,494 --> 00:42:05,494
bringing in that second launch a month I think also gives you room to mark down those
first things that you're sold through a lot of too.
801
00:42:05,494 --> 00:42:15,488
So it offers you a little bit of markdown room and a little bit of newness room where you
can even capitalize on what hit a launcher to a go and bring it back or adjusted or.
802
00:42:15,488 --> 00:42:18,120
whatever that like, I'm excited for you to do two times a month.
803
00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,842
I think it's just like slightly more fast pace for like your city ladies.
804
00:42:21,842 --> 00:42:22,223
Yeah.
805
00:42:22,223 --> 00:42:22,733
Cause you're right.
806
00:42:22,733 --> 00:42:32,640
What was happening is I was looking around and I was like, when you have to put two finger
spaces in between each hanger and you're like, this rack looks sparse.
807
00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:38,854
It's like a little two designer, like, you know, one on the shelf boutique, which is not
what you run.
808
00:42:38,854 --> 00:42:39,414
Right.
809
00:42:39,414 --> 00:42:39,895
Right.
810
00:42:39,895 --> 00:42:43,237
I would also really like to get to a place where I can have an employee.
811
00:42:43,237 --> 00:42:45,216
There are some things that I'm just like,
812
00:42:45,216 --> 00:42:48,828
This is taking too much of my time where I know I should be spending it better.
813
00:42:48,828 --> 00:42:52,209
And I would really someday like to have a weekend off.
814
00:42:52,209 --> 00:42:53,789
You know what I mean?
815
00:42:53,850 --> 00:42:58,552
Committed to that every Saturday, Sunday thing is, you know, it's going to get old soon.
816
00:42:58,552 --> 00:42:59,172
It will.
817
00:42:59,172 --> 00:43:00,132
You're not wrong.
818
00:43:00,132 --> 00:43:10,841
And I like that you see it coming because I think better to be uh aware of it coming and
have it sneak up on you because that's I think what you're talking about is a little bit
819
00:43:10,841 --> 00:43:11,897
of burnout.
820
00:43:11,957 --> 00:43:14,322
And I think it's so easy.
821
00:43:14,322 --> 00:43:18,765
As you said, you're a one woman show and it works for you right now.
822
00:43:18,765 --> 00:43:21,366
And you're still learning the cadence of the new location.
823
00:43:21,366 --> 00:43:23,622
You're still kind of learning the people.
824
00:43:23,622 --> 00:43:26,009
It's like you did open a brand new store.
825
00:43:26,009 --> 00:43:28,591
Bottom line, like you knew what you were doing, but it's a brand new store.
826
00:43:28,591 --> 00:43:35,765
There is something really valuable to spending those first three to six months in it with
your customer, in it with your store.
827
00:43:35,765 --> 00:43:40,597
Then, I mean, my hope would be for summer or fall, you could get some people in there.
828
00:43:41,078 --> 00:43:47,064
The trajectory of sales continues the way that it is because we have a lot of storefronts
around us that are getting filled.
829
00:43:47,064 --> 00:43:51,928
some, we have like four new restaurants that are going to end up popping in in the next
two months.
830
00:43:51,928 --> 00:44:03,640
oh We just added a coffee shop to the side of me that also does like upscale vintage,
like, you know, like vintage Chanel purses and like, you know, Gainey windbreakers and
831
00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:04,070
whatever.
832
00:44:04,070 --> 00:44:06,048
And they're popping off.
833
00:44:06,048 --> 00:44:14,580
the nail salon next to us, you know, I mean, it's like the community is really growing and
I think it's becoming a destination for people to come shop, which is kicking up some of
834
00:44:14,580 --> 00:44:15,681
that traffic.
835
00:44:15,681 --> 00:44:23,323
And if traffic picks up the way that it continues to pick up, then by the fall, I'll have
to have somebody for those Saturdays and Sundays.
836
00:44:23,323 --> 00:44:23,763
Yeah.
837
00:44:23,763 --> 00:44:25,803
Just like the volume of people will be too much.
838
00:44:25,803 --> 00:44:26,224
Yeah.
839
00:44:26,224 --> 00:44:32,765
And like, I feel like fall is kind of boutiques, always their season to shine with
beautiful sweaters and jackets.
840
00:44:32,765 --> 00:44:35,714
And especially for you, I mean, like your style is so
841
00:44:35,714 --> 00:44:41,234
lovely and I think you, you know, your price point now is, I think you should just talk
about this too.
842
00:44:41,234 --> 00:44:50,394
And I think we kind of talked about this on our last call where you have high end vintage
on one side and then you have another store that's selling two $300 price range items for
843
00:44:50,394 --> 00:44:52,294
a different customer than you for sure.
844
00:44:52,294 --> 00:44:58,514
So not competition, but just to kind of wrap us up here is like talk a little bit about
that price point shift and how it feels.
845
00:44:58,514 --> 00:45:00,854
Cause right now your average price point is around $80.
846
00:45:00,854 --> 00:45:02,894
To 80 to 90 typically.
847
00:45:02,914 --> 00:45:05,694
Cause my denim is like 118, 128.
848
00:45:05,694 --> 00:45:10,794
that moves that average up a bit, but yeah, the learning curve on that's been really
interesting.
849
00:45:10,794 --> 00:45:12,714
But my price point has pretty much doubled.
850
00:45:12,714 --> 00:45:15,034
My margin is so healthy.
851
00:45:15,034 --> 00:45:19,694
Even when I do sales, like markdowns and stuff, still healthy.
852
00:45:19,934 --> 00:45:24,114
Like, and it feels so good.
853
00:45:24,114 --> 00:45:26,154
Like my bank account reflects it.
854
00:45:26,154 --> 00:45:27,654
The store reflects it.
855
00:45:27,654 --> 00:45:30,070
There's none of those like tchotchke.
856
00:45:30,070 --> 00:45:33,691
pieces, you know, like I put them on sale and they sell.
857
00:45:33,691 --> 00:45:38,413
And it's like before, it always seemed like, what's wrong with this?
858
00:45:38,413 --> 00:45:42,984
And now people are like, it's like the last one, I got to grab it, which is a totally
different mindset.
859
00:45:42,984 --> 00:45:44,395
Yeah.
860
00:45:44,595 --> 00:45:45,475
Interesting.
861
00:45:45,475 --> 00:45:53,378
Well, I think that for you, you've set your business up in a way that is scalable and does
allow you to have
862
00:45:53,378 --> 00:45:56,238
employees because the store is beautiful.
863
00:45:56,238 --> 00:45:57,758
You're only doing the store.
864
00:45:57,758 --> 00:46:04,678
I think there's a big statement that you said in the middle of this talk of like, I don't
want to be online.
865
00:46:04,678 --> 00:46:05,498
That's not me.
866
00:46:05,498 --> 00:46:06,678
That's not what I do.
867
00:46:06,678 --> 00:46:13,238
And I want to commend you for that because I think a lot of brick and mortars feel that
they're missing an opportunity somewhere online.
868
00:46:13,238 --> 00:46:19,478
And I always argue like you're missing the opportunity to bring more people in the door
and then sell them more things.
869
00:46:20,258 --> 00:46:22,592
Traffic is something that you can
870
00:46:22,592 --> 00:46:26,165
work more on rather than feeling you have to open another store online.
871
00:46:26,165 --> 00:46:32,959
We did online at the last location and I had a photographer friend and she for just fun
would come in and take photos.
872
00:46:32,959 --> 00:46:38,914
I mean, amazing photos and it's still only equated to 1 % of my sales.
873
00:46:38,914 --> 00:46:44,597
And I said, I'm putting all this work into the store or into the online store that my
in-store was suffering.
874
00:46:44,597 --> 00:46:47,109
Like I would look around and be like, these racks need reworked.
875
00:46:47,109 --> 00:46:48,122
What have I been doing?
876
00:46:48,122 --> 00:46:51,312
Well, I'm coming up with these like wordy descriptions of all the pieces.
877
00:46:51,312 --> 00:46:52,803
I don't put descriptions now.
878
00:46:52,803 --> 00:46:54,425
I enter in my inventory.
879
00:46:54,425 --> 00:46:57,787
I put the important stuff, the data that I'm going to need.
880
00:46:57,787 --> 00:47:00,189
Like what, what category is it?
881
00:47:00,189 --> 00:47:04,953
You know, just like the silly things that really actually matter when you pull the data.
882
00:47:04,953 --> 00:47:12,738
So I put a small assortment of stuff online for people to see what I offer, but that's it.
883
00:47:12,759 --> 00:47:19,504
no, no, I'm trying to like run ads to the page and get people to your conversions up.
884
00:47:19,504 --> 00:47:20,719
Like you don't care.
885
00:47:20,719 --> 00:47:22,950
No, it's an info website.
886
00:47:22,950 --> 00:47:23,930
Yeah, exactly.
887
00:47:23,930 --> 00:47:24,651
Come into the store.
888
00:47:24,651 --> 00:47:26,290
Come in or try it on.
889
00:47:26,290 --> 00:47:27,652
Come chat with me.
890
00:47:27,652 --> 00:47:28,849
Let me help you.
891
00:47:28,849 --> 00:47:32,269
I mean, I think I think it's so bold for you to say that and I love it.
892
00:47:32,269 --> 00:47:33,474
I completely agree.
893
00:47:33,474 --> 00:47:34,915
Well, thank you so much.
894
00:47:34,915 --> 00:47:39,497
I really appreciate you like walking through so much of your story and being so honest and
open.
895
00:47:39,497 --> 00:47:46,340
And I think like I think it's fun to feel like like you said, you had a little bit of a
practice round, a very expensive practice round.
896
00:47:46,340 --> 00:47:49,957
But like you had a practice round and now you're really like living in
897
00:47:49,957 --> 00:47:53,750
the boutique dream that actually feels the best.
898
00:47:53,750 --> 00:47:55,010
Because I think that's the other thing.
899
00:47:55,010 --> 00:47:58,873
I don't think that your last store wasn't like what you wanted.
900
00:47:58,873 --> 00:48:01,915
Like I think there was, know, because I relate to that so much.
901
00:48:01,915 --> 00:48:04,187
My store was like so cute and I loved it.
902
00:48:04,187 --> 00:48:06,448
was in a great downtown and we had great people.
903
00:48:06,448 --> 00:48:08,770
And like also it just didn't really work for me.
904
00:48:08,770 --> 00:48:10,281
Like it didn't feel good for me.
905
00:48:10,281 --> 00:48:15,704
And when it starts to not feel good, that's when you really have to like say what needs to
change.
906
00:48:15,704 --> 00:48:17,075
Like what is it?
907
00:48:17,075 --> 00:48:18,406
And you took a big risk.
908
00:48:18,406 --> 00:48:19,889
So I want to just like
909
00:48:19,889 --> 00:48:30,329
tell as many people as I can your story because you're such a good example of someone who
was like, I'm 100 % in and I'm going to navigate my way through this as scary as it is, as
910
00:48:30,329 --> 00:48:32,909
crazy as it took me six years.
911
00:48:33,109 --> 00:48:38,169
But like here I am and I'm set up for the next 20, 30, whatever you want.
912
00:48:38,169 --> 00:48:38,769
know what I mean?
913
00:48:38,769 --> 00:48:43,429
That's really, that's really, unless like, I don't know, unless something really insane
happens in our world.
914
00:48:43,429 --> 00:48:45,389
I mean like you're, you're there.
915
00:48:45,389 --> 00:48:46,115
you're there.
916
00:48:46,115 --> 00:48:46,985
and you're there.
917
00:48:46,985 --> 00:48:47,766
It's crazy.
918
00:48:47,766 --> 00:48:52,791
I can say that I've increased my posts because I feel good now.
919
00:48:52,791 --> 00:48:54,532
Like, I don't feel silly.
920
00:48:54,532 --> 00:48:56,994
Like, before I felt like a silly boutique owner.
921
00:48:56,994 --> 00:48:58,435
Like, I owned a store.
922
00:48:58,435 --> 00:49:00,887
And now it's like, I am a boutique owner.
923
00:49:00,887 --> 00:49:03,680
I own a profitable women's clothing store.
924
00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:04,921
And that's cool.
925
00:49:04,921 --> 00:49:06,182
And I'm proud of that.
926
00:49:06,182 --> 00:49:11,546
And I think that having that feeling has helped posting much better.
927
00:49:11,546 --> 00:49:12,797
It's not work anymore.
928
00:49:12,797 --> 00:49:14,108
like, it's time to post.
929
00:49:14,108 --> 00:49:15,121
Let me post something.
930
00:49:15,121 --> 00:49:16,732
There's less like stress about it.
931
00:49:16,732 --> 00:49:19,263
There's less stress across the board.
932
00:49:20,163 --> 00:49:21,033
It feels good.
933
00:49:21,033 --> 00:49:22,604
I love this so much.
934
00:49:22,664 --> 00:49:25,405
like the way, you're like my boutique land superstar.
935
00:49:25,405 --> 00:49:32,068
You're that like upper right quadrant on all my webinars where it's just like, you feel
good, you're profitable.
936
00:49:32,068 --> 00:49:34,889
Like you just know what you feel like you know what you're doing.
937
00:49:34,889 --> 00:49:36,420
And that's when it's not hard.
938
00:49:36,420 --> 00:49:38,801
Like everything you're saying, I'm just like, yes.
939
00:49:38,801 --> 00:49:39,091
Yeah.
940
00:49:39,091 --> 00:49:41,212
Like I kind of manifested you in a weird way.
941
00:49:41,212 --> 00:49:43,663
Cause like I've written a lot about.
942
00:49:43,663 --> 00:49:51,247
this feeling and this person and who they are and the journey they go through and like
you've gone through my entire probably like bits of customer journey.
943
00:49:51,247 --> 00:49:51,857
You know what I mean?
944
00:49:51,857 --> 00:49:53,118
Even from my perspective.
945
00:49:53,118 --> 00:49:55,093
So it's just so nice to see you.
946
00:49:55,093 --> 00:50:04,964
I'm like you said the other side of this and in that other side is just like the grass is
so green and the sun is shining bright and like you're living your best life.
947
00:50:04,964 --> 00:50:09,367
Like I just I have no other words than congratulations.
948
00:50:09,367 --> 00:50:10,017
Thank you.
949
00:50:10,017 --> 00:50:10,547
Thank you.
950
00:50:10,547 --> 00:50:12,288
I could not have done it without you though.
951
00:50:12,288 --> 00:50:13,657
I tell you what like
952
00:50:13,657 --> 00:50:19,342
The reframe of how to run a business is, mean, yeah, amazing.
953
00:50:19,342 --> 00:50:19,912
Thank you.
954
00:50:19,912 --> 00:50:20,593
Thank you.
955
00:50:20,593 --> 00:50:21,804
You're welcome.
956
00:50:21,804 --> 00:50:26,488
like, needed, I, you're the reason I keep doing it.
957
00:50:26,488 --> 00:50:30,711
Cause I have those days too, where I'm like, ah, what's gonna happen?
958
00:50:30,711 --> 00:50:42,221
You know, but I just, I truly in my bones feel like the downtown retail store, like what
you're doing will never not exist.
959
00:50:42,221 --> 00:50:42,691
Like,
960
00:50:42,691 --> 00:50:43,991
It has always existed.
961
00:50:43,991 --> 00:50:45,272
It always will exist.
962
00:50:45,272 --> 00:50:46,453
It may look different.
963
00:50:46,453 --> 00:50:48,794
It may feel different and be called something different.
964
00:50:48,794 --> 00:50:52,605
like retail is the oldest one of the oldest industries.
965
00:50:52,605 --> 00:50:54,746
Like it's not going to go away.
966
00:50:54,746 --> 00:50:57,304
And so I think you've made it work for you.
967
00:50:57,304 --> 00:50:58,687
You made it work for your customer.
968
00:50:58,687 --> 00:51:01,409
like, you know, everyone's like retail apocalypse.
969
00:51:01,409 --> 00:51:03,740
I'm like, come talk to my clients guys.
970
00:51:03,740 --> 00:51:08,592
Like they're not like, you know, we all have our pockets of worry and anxiety and I get
it.
971
00:51:08,592 --> 00:51:11,853
But like you said, when you're running it with a plan,
972
00:51:11,919 --> 00:51:18,231
to be profitable, you're set up for success and you're set up in a way that not much can
touch what you're doing.
973
00:51:18,231 --> 00:51:22,592
You're really solid in what your business plan is.
974
00:51:22,632 --> 00:51:23,833
I agree completely.
975
00:51:23,833 --> 00:51:24,733
Completely.
976
00:51:24,733 --> 00:51:25,163
Gosh.
977
00:51:25,163 --> 00:51:29,644
Well, if people want to follow you, we'll put your info in the show notes and all that
stuff.
978
00:51:29,644 --> 00:51:31,015
But Rushmore Routique in St.
979
00:51:31,015 --> 00:51:33,726
Louis, we absolutely, your store is beautiful.
980
00:51:33,726 --> 00:51:37,861
Everyone should follow you because like, just copy what you're doing and...
981
00:51:37,861 --> 00:51:46,823
feel your vibe of your energy because like it really is magnetic and energetic and it's
like it's so fun to like I feel like you're kind of like a little sister who I've like
982
00:51:46,823 --> 00:51:59,797
watched like grow up and like grow like blossom like really truly like I'm I don't like I
it sounds so stupid but I just like seeing where you came to me at to now it's really in
983
00:51:59,797 --> 00:52:07,601
three years like I mean it feels like a long time obviously it feels like in a turn I feel
like I've known you my whole life and at the same time like you turn the ship
984
00:52:07,601 --> 00:52:12,881
really fast and like you like you stayed in it through some really hard times.
985
00:52:12,881 --> 00:52:15,821
So like I just you have a great support system around you.
986
00:52:15,821 --> 00:52:19,001
You have great family like you've had a lot of good stuff on your side.
987
00:52:19,001 --> 00:52:21,261
So and you've capitalized on it.
988
00:52:21,261 --> 00:52:21,881
So yeah.
989
00:52:21,881 --> 00:52:22,961
Oh my husband.
990
00:52:23,181 --> 00:52:26,441
My husband goes tell Emily I said hi if she remembers me.
991
00:52:26,441 --> 00:52:28,781
I was like I'm sure she does.
992
00:52:28,781 --> 00:52:29,521
Of course I do.
993
00:52:29,521 --> 00:52:35,861
Do you know any husbands I know too like yours is not the only one like I love husbands
because it's like they care.
994
00:52:35,899 --> 00:52:37,090
They care.
995
00:52:37,190 --> 00:52:46,809
for me, my clients have generally have very supportive spouses and have family around them
that wants them to be successful.
996
00:52:46,809 --> 00:52:49,241
you're so lucky to have that, honestly.
997
00:52:49,241 --> 00:52:54,026
But I think that that's part of the deal is like saying, yes, get the help you need,
Sydney.
998
00:52:54,026 --> 00:52:59,410
Like, yes, go do this thing with Emily and seeing how it plays out.
999
00:52:59,611 --> 00:53:02,267
It's not a requirement to have your like.
Speaker:
00:53:02,267 --> 00:53:08,281
spouse's approval, but it's always a nice thing when you know you're in it together, you
know, and it's like a joint decision.
Speaker:
00:53:08,281 --> 00:53:09,741
Oh, I'm so happy.
Speaker:
00:53:09,741 --> 00:53:10,642
So thank you.
Speaker:
00:53:10,642 --> 00:53:11,823
Thank you, Sydney.
Speaker:
00:53:11,823 --> 00:53:13,073
I really appreciate it.
Speaker:
00:53:13,073 --> 00:53:14,124
Thank you.
Speaker:
00:53:14,124 --> 00:53:15,650
ah What a good talk.