Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Vinson.
Dawn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. I moved to Dallas in 2005 as a result of transferring my job with General Motors. As a single mother of one daughter, Ms. Kendall, I was determined to make a better life for us both. Between 2013 and 2015, things took a turn when I lost three important people in my life, back to back—my dad, mom, and brother. Grief consumed me and I started feeling lost and realizing how short life can be. I began putting more focus on things I enjoyed as a way of coping. In 2017, I started Suite913, an online women’s clothing boutique, as fashion has always been a love of mine ever since I can remember. Still working a full time job, I thought an online business was my best option. Today, I continue to grow my business, excited for my future, and hopeful that I can build a brand that people love and trust.
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?
Wow, smooth, no way! When I started, I had no clue what I was doing or how to do it. I learned as I went along. Lots of mistakes, and losses but the lessons i got from them were priceless. Learning is always continuous for me, through research, mentors, and my own mistakes. My biggest struggle honestly is balancing work, business, and home life. My full time job is pretty demanding, and when I come home more hours have to be put into my business, as well as my duties as a mom. I’ve become much better at multi-tasking these days. Since my business is online, marketing is extremely important. Finding the time to get out there, network, attend events, etc. can be challenging, but I promote wherever I can. I wear my brand most of the time and find that to be my best source of the promo.
Suite913 – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Suite913 is an online women’s clothing boutique. We sell clothing for the everyday woman. From stay at home moms who look for comfortable and versatile clothing to the working woman looking for after work, happy hour, dinner dates and brunch outfits. Comfortable, yet stylish pieces that can be dressed up or down is the goal. As a company, I believe in taking care of my customers. Customer service is vital in sustaining a level of trust between the consumer and the company. This is a one man show, I run all aspects of my company right now, and my goal is to create happy, returning customers. The thing I feel that sets Suite913 apart from other online shops is my purpose. You see, I’m not driven solely by monetary gain, of course it’s a plus but my focus is personal fulfillment. I enjoy providing. So, whether I’m having a good or bad month, I truly love what I do.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve been in business a little over two years, and I must say the proudest moment thus far is when I was attending a networking mixer one night and I was sitting at the bar when a woman complimented me on my sweater and asked where I got it. When I told her that I sell it and I own an online boutique called Suite913, she was like “oh my god, I love your stuff”! She told me that her coworker introduced her to my site and they both love it. That was a proud moment for me, realizing that my brand was starting to spread past just friends, family, and coworkers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.suite913.com
- Email: dawnmvin@att.net
- Instagram: @suite_913
- Facebook: Facebook.com/suite913
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