Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Marroquin.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I always envisioned starting a boutique but I kept letting “real life” get in the way. I was someone who worked full-time while in college. After college, the “adult responsibilities” of life kept pushing my dream to the back burner. A few years ago, I decided I would no longer allow life to keep me from fulfilling a dream of mine. I had/have a full-time job and borrowed some money from my 401k plan and purchased a limited amount of inventory.
Being a full-time employee I made an initial plan to be an online boutique. I eventually decided to look for a space I could rent to offer customers the opportunity to shop in person. I currently rent a booth inside a boutique called The Vibe. The store has employees that can assist and ring up sales. It allows me to have a physical store where customers can shop while I work my full-time job.
Alright, 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?
It has been a lot of trial and error. Through the years I think I struggled with brand image. I wanted to look and feel professional. I played around with colors and logos but nothing felt right. About two years ago, I met a graphic designer who helped create the vision I had been looking for.
We created a whole new branding kit for The Dreamhouse. It was a great investment. But I think the biggest obstacle for me is social media presence. Social media is a full-time job. It requires you to be so consistent and “on it.” In the meantime, I am learning what platforms and styles work for me on this social media path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Dreamhouse?
The Dreamhouse Boutique is a women’s clothing and accessory boutique that is a one-woman show run by myself. It represents the cliche saying “you can achieve anything you set your mind to.” In addition to being a small business owner, I am also a mom and work a full-time job.
The Dreamhouse is my passion project and I enjoy the opportunity to pursue my dream of owning a boutique. It has been a great experience on this business journey and I have met some great people as well. The Dreamhouse represents strong women who support one another. Women who through hardships in life can work towards something that makes them genuinely happy.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
Who deserves credit? I think it would be a combination of individuals. I am thankful for the support I have received from family and friends. Their support has been received in different forms ranging from sharing a social media post to purchasing products.
Also, this sounds cliché but customers also deserve the credit. I have had the opportunity to participate in vendor events in different cities and have met some amazing people throughout the years who have become repeat customers. Lastly, support has come from other small business owners. We celebrate each other’s successes because we understand the struggles that small businesses go through.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopthedreamhouse.com
- Instagram: @Shop_dream_house
- Facebook: @Shopthedreamhouse
Image Credits
Taylor Larsen
