Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Shumaker.
Valerie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my first women’s boutique in 2009 on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa. By 2012, boutiques were closing around me as people seemed to be shopping more online and I ended up closing that store January 2014. Then I opened a Formal Wear shop in Grover Beach, California 2015 to 2017. There I learned about men’s suiting and the wedding industry.
I missed Orange County so I sold that store to move back to Costa Mesa and ran a men’s custom suit showroom. And as of September 2019, I launched my own women’s suits line called LUX Custom Suit and the men’s line is called SUIT-D (pronounced suited). I offer a mobile service and come to clients to their office where they can design every aspect of the suit as far as even putting their loved ones, dogs, sports teams, or logos pictures inside the lining of their jackets.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hard part is to not let your mind go to negative space. Worrying about money or clients won’t allow you to love what you do. I recommend doing one thing Daily toward your goal and if you love it and you’re a good person and you keep doing something toward that goal it will happen for you. Plan each day of the week for specific things that you need to do for your business. Don’t get overwhelmed and make sure to give yourself a balance of your personal life.
What should we know about Lux Custom Suit & Suit-D? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I absolutely love what I do. Creating custom Power suits with men and women in the design consultations is so much fun but also to see them in the final product and they get to see what they designed and it becomes addicting. The fit is different than an off the rack suit that is made to fit many body types. Custom feels and looks custom. I come to my clients and I don’t believe in charging ridiculous prices. One of my high-end clients says I should really charge more for the high quality I offer and I don’t want to do that.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
One of my finance clients is my mentor. He gives great advice and has been where I was when he started his business. Stay positive and happy because money likes happiness and success is eminent when you put the work in and give good client service. Clients work with who they like and building relationships in business is key to success.
Pricing:
- Custom Suits start at $500
- Custom shirts $100
- Overcoats $650
Contact Info:
- Website: Luxcustomsuit.com Suit-d.com
- Phone: 9493072602
- Email: suitlady@luxcustomsuit.com
- Instagram: Luxcustomsuit and customsuited
- Facebook: Lux custom suit and SUIT-D
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