Today we’d like to introduce you to LaShawna Morrison.
LaShawna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is LaShawna Morrison, better known as Olori Arewa and I am the founder and owner of La Luxe Shoppe. La Luxe Shoppe was born after being laid off and fired from two corporate jobs back in 2018. I dreaded waking up everyday reporting to a job I that I did not enjoy working at while struggling financially. I then decided to create my own lane and build my own empire of success. I wanted to be in control of how much money I make and not someone else.
I had a friend create a logo for me and did a year and a half of in-depth research on how to launch an e-commerce store. I would be lying if I said that I have all of the answers and sources because I do not, but research definitely helped give me a better understanding of what to expect. I have always had a passion for fashion and an eye for creativity since I was a child. Being that I want to design my own pieces someday I decided, “Why not start my own clothing store and incorporate pieces that directly reflect me and my style?” I also want to expose the Dallas market to new trends in fashion that aren’t common here.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would be lying if I said the entrepreneurial life is a walk in the park because it is not. There have been several times where I wanted to walk away from it all and quit completely, because I felt my business was not going in the direction I had planned for it initially. Sales weren’t where I’d like for them to be after running several ads and tirelessly promoting. It is all a numbers game and we have to remind ourselves that we cannot lose our core focus and become discouraged by these numbers. Whether we gain the exposure we want across social media or not, we must continue to create content. People will always be watching and you never know who you may inspire from afar.
I oftentimes have to remind myself that I did not come this far just to come this far. Whenever I think about quitting, I have to remind myself why I originally started. The thoughts of all the time and money invested in my business is also a reminder of why I cannot quit since I’ve already made it this far. I am in too deep to quit and I have people constantly cheering me on while admiring my success from afar. I cannot let these people down nor myself.
I face many struggles as an entrepreneur but my biggest one by far is trying to maintain a business in the middle of a global pandemic (COVID-19). My business has been tremendously affected by this financially but by the grace of God, I am still able to successfully run my business and generate revenue. Due to the loss of employment for many consumers, this alone is affecting ALL businesses.
Please tell us about La Luxe Shoppe.
La Luxe Shoppe is an e-commerce boutique. We have been in business since November 2018. We sell a variety of affordable women’s luxury goods, such as purses, accessories, and apparel. La Luxe Shoppe was originally known for its unique and distinctive handbags. Our brand has grown since then and we now have incorporated accessories (jewelry) and apparel.
As a small business owner, I am most proud of the growth in my business in the middle of a global pandemic. I didn’t take my business as serious a year ago as I have here within the last few months. With the loss of jobs and not much money being put back into the economy, I am grateful for those who still continue to support my business, share it across social media, and purchase from it. This truly means the world to me and I will forever be grateful for everyone who has contributed to my brand’s success along the way.
Our unique style of minimal luxury is what sets La Luxe Shoppe apart from others. My core focus for my brand was to provide affordable luxury for consumers without breaking the bank. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars on materialistic things just to look good. My mantra is, “It is not about how expensive it is but how well you style and wear it”, meaning that you do not have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on fashion in order to look like a million bucks. You can stay budget-friendly and still create a masterpiece. I personally do this all the time.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I definitely would have done several things differently. If I could go back in time to start over, I definitely would have allowed more time to brainstorm, find more vendors, and put a team together. It truly takes a team to run a business. As much as we business owners want to be in 10 toes deep, we cannot because the demand is far too great. I have also learned to have patience. I often times would compare my business to other businesses and felt I wasn’t doing something right, because I saw their success come so quickly. I am learning that slow success builds character and fast success builds ego, therefore I am embracing the struggles and learning to overcome adversity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laluxeshoppe.com
- Phone: 512-952-4570
- Email: laluxeshoppe@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laluxeshoppe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laluxeshoppe
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaLuxeShoppe
Image Credit:
Jody MacArthur, Karina Medina
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
