Today we’d like to introduce you to Vickie Mireles.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In January 2013, I lost my older brother to heart failure. His death reminded me that life is short and because of that I wanted to make my life matter. A month after he went to be with the Lord, I took one giant leap and started my first blog. Then, in 2015, I felt a nudge to start a t-shirt business. I purchased the machine, received it in the mail and allowed it to sit in the closet for about a year. Fear had a grip on me and I allowed myself to think I was foolish for even thinking I could do this, but somehow, the dream and the nudges wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t until I attended Business Boutique with Christy Wright in April of 2017 that the spark was reignited. I learned that I didn’t need to have all the answers to start, furthermore, a lot of resources were within my fingertips. I gained the confidence to take the first step.
A few months later, I sold my t-shirts at my first pop up shop! It hasn’t even been a year and I’ve sold my products at various markets including The Boho Market and Fleastyle! Not just that, I have an online store and I’m still blogging. I have a long way to go, but I look back and I see how far I’ve come. I’m proud of that. All it took was the courage to make the first step.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing worth doing ever comes easy. It definitely has not been an easy road, but what I can say is that it has been completely worth it.
Some of the struggles I have encountered to be quite honest is lack of confidence which stems from lack of knowledge, lack of resources, etc. It’s so easy to get caught up in what we don’t have or what we don’t know. I’ve since learned when I can’t, God can. So, instead of focusing on lack, I focus on my strengths. And most importantly I focus on God’s promises – there are thousands of them!
My best advice would be to follow your dream. Yes, it’s simple, but it requires action. Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so, follow your dream.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Sweet Hive story. Tell us more about the business.
The Sweet Hive is a faith-based and inspiration line of tees, totes and vintage denim. All items are screen printed by hand, with designs created and designed by me. The Sweet Hive serves to pollinate the world with God’s love and good news through our products and blog posts. Whether you are wearing a t-shirt, gifting a tote, you are adding hope to this world. Additionally, 10% of all sales are donated to Dallas DogRRR, a group of dedicated, animal loving volunteers that help rescue dogs with a main focus being in SE Dallas. We are blessed to be a blessing.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Don’t compare your seed to someone else’s bouquet. What this means is simply stop comparing your beginnings to someone else’s end. Give yourself permission to be a beginner and be OK with that. Great things take time.
Lastly, don’t give up. The world needs your gifts.
Pricing:
- T-shirts $22
- Totes $12
- Dreamer Blocks $8
- Sale ranges from $18 – $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesweethive.com
- Phone: 214-415-0434
- Email: thesweethive@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesweethive
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesweethive
- Other: www.pinterest.com/thesweethive
Image Credit:
Kenneth Siscon Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
