Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Vogelman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from Odessa, Texas and after college, my husband and I moved back there-but something was missing. We decided on a whim to move to Dallas and everything just really fell into place for us. After we moved, I was looking for a way to connect to my new city. I have always loved writing and thought that starting a blog would be a fun way to help me get to learn & explore Dallas. I had zero clues about what I was doing and was unsure of where to begin. I started taking as many online classes for growing social media and building a website as I could. This whole idea of being an influencer kind of snowballed into me wanting to create an online women’s boutique. I am truly a creative at heart and did not realize how passionate I was about creating and growing a brand until I started doing it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has DEFINITELY not been a smooth road but I will say that sometimes things just fall into place that makes you feel like you are on the right path. It almost feels odd answering this question because I feel like I have so much further to go in my journey and in no way feel that I have reached the pinnacle of my goals BUT-I will say that starting for me is the easiest part. The trouble that I have had has been staying consistent and holding myself accountable. Make yourself a schedule, plan what you can and have friends/family that understand your dream to help hold you accountable.
One of the biggest struggles I have had is the comparison. Someone once told me that comparison is the thief of joy-I think it’s so easy to get caught up in how successful someone else is or how many followers they have etc., and you just have to remember that everyone has their own struggles and is on a different path. Stay focused, stay humble and be fueled by the negative-don’t let people’s negative comments change your dreams. If people don’t understand, it’s because they weren’t meant to and that ok. God put this dream in your heart for YOU to live out-no one else.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about West & Emerald Boutique and A Dallas Gal blog – what should we know?
A Dallas Gal is my personal blog that is focused on exploring Dallas and surrounding areas. I mostly visit and promote local restaurants but love going to any events or stores. My main goal is to be an online resource for people to use to explore Dallas.
West & Emerald is my online women’s clothing boutique that I launched last month. I tried to focus on getting pieces that are versatile, comfortable and stylish that any woman, at any stage of her life can wear. I plan on adding plus size in the near future so that everyone can truly find something in my boutique.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I was lucky enough to have been raised by a village of strong, independent women (raised-HAHA they’re still ‘raising’ me daily.) My grandmother, mom, and aunts are my biggest inspiration and driving force behind what I do. My grandmother passed away in December and her passing really sparked a fire in me to get my boutique launched. I named it West & Emerald-her maiden name was West and my birthstone is emerald. I wanted it to be something that we can all be proud of and a way to pay tribute to her.
My grandmother was widowed at the age of 33 and raised three young daughters all on her own. There was nothing more in this world that she was more proud of than her girls. She made sure that the four of us never relied on anything other than each other & God. Her faith was unshakeable and she truly encompassed all of the beauty & strength that I see when I look at pictures of her. I hope that if I do nothing else in this life, that I at least make her half as proud of me as I was to be her granddaughter.
Contact Info:
- Website: westandemerald.com and adallasgal.com
- Email: hello@westandemerald.com and jen@adallasgal.com
- Instagram: @westandemerald and @adallasgal
- Facebook: facebook.com/westandemerald and facebook.com/adallasgal
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.
