Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikieda Williamson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For me, fashion has always been with me. I started my career of sorts in fashion at the tender age of eight or nine. I was asked to participate in the local Miss Easter Bonnet Pageant and from there my passion for the stage for fashion and design was ignited. Between the ages of nine to 28. I competed in about 30 different pageants and fashion shows a few of which I won or placed in the top 5 spots.
But 2003 was the year my designing career really took off. I entered a Miss Caribbean Swimsuit Pageant, and as part of the requirements, we were asked to wear a custom design swimsuit. After searching online without much luck, I decided to design my own. This was my first custom-designed swimsuit and it won, the title of Best Swimwear. After that, all my model friends and family wanted me to design a custom piece for them.
So, with some urging by my mother, I launched a small swimwear company called ItsyBitsy Swimwear. My custom design swimwear line grew, I enlisted a Brazilian Manufacturing company to produce my designs, but many of my clients keep asking for accessories to match with their designs. So, I sought out wholesale jewelry and handbag vendors to curate unique pieces to add to our ever-growing collection.
Things were growing at a quick pace, and I was finding some success in my business. However, with the recession of 2008, things quickly changed, we had to minimize our offerings and drastically slow down on production. ItsyBitsy Swimwear took a hiatus, I found it was way more costly to create a swimwear line than it was to curate pieces from a wholesale manufacturer and so Poshe Fashions was born, where we focused on offering fashion jewelry and clutches and other smaller accessories. Like a Phoenix from the ashes, and under a new name Poshe Fashions endured rebranded and revamped or image. We have taken the mission to consistently re-create and reinvent our brand to meet the ever-growing and changing needs of our customers.
Poshe Fashions has grown from a small offering of select jewelry and accessories to the ultimate online destination for women’s apparel and handbags and accessories.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? Heck no. As with starting any business, the obstacles are insurmountable, I was a novice business owner, yes I loved fashion but I had no clue about the inner workings in regards to running a business. I made many mistakes and had to go back to the drawing board many times.
There was so much I did not know, like legally setting up a business, securing funding or capital for the business, finding a manufacturer or supplier that was willing to work with a small company and then there are the customers, finding the customer base, who are willing to buy your products.
When I first launched, I had lots of models interested in my swimwear designs, but I had to figure out a way to get the average woman to be attracted to my styles, as well.
Then, there was the world-wide-web, yes sure we built a great website but we did not have a large customer base, nor a large marketing budget, that would make us competitive with the likes of brands like Forever21 or H&M. The onset of social media Facebook and Instagram really helped push our brand out there, however, marketing is an on-going thing and we are constantly working or looking at ways of reaching new demographics, with breaking the bank.
Please tell us about Shopposhe – what should we know?
Shopposhe.com is known for our chic jumpsuits and a wide variety of cocktail dresses, we pride our selves in curating the most unique trendsetting styles of dresses and jumpsuits but offering them at an affordable price. What sets us apart is that we work hard at staying ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion and finding the styles that our customers love and will love for years to come.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Our drive, we really love what we do! We love seeing our customers wearing our clothing etc. We are constantly working at improving our quality of products, quality of service, we are determined to work harder than most to make sure we get things done the right way, to ensure our customers always feel our love! We drive ourselves with purpose and align ourselves with excellence.
Contact Info:
- Address: 523 Dennery Road
APT 202 - Website: www.shopposhe.com
- Phone: 619-272-9523
- Email: sales@shopposhe.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopposhe
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/Shopposhe-1108848355927405/shop/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/shopposhe
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shopposhe/
Image Credit:
Ada Rey Seinturier
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