Meet Shardae Jefferson of Shardaisy in North

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shardae Jefferson.

Shardae, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At 20, I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in fashion merchandising. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but never really honed in on it, and in hindsight, I am happy I didn’t at the time. I needed to go through personal growth and have some real-world experience for me to be prepared to be a business owner because as glamorous as Instagram has made it seem, it is not for the faint-hearted.

In 2019 I was two years post-grad and I knew it was time for me to step into a new chapter of my life. I was thriving as a personal shopper but when I created my vision board for 2020, where I was didn’t reflect where I wanted to be. People always asked me where my outfits were from, which made me realize how much free promo and business I was giving out. 2020 has been coined as my leap of faith year. My greatest asset is that I am a hard worker and I believe in myself so I knew adding a shop feature to my website would be a good investment. Adding to my leap of faith, I also decided that 2020 would be the year I packed up and moved to Dallas to continue to build myself and brand.

My boutique caters to an audience of women ranging from ages 18-40 who are edgy and like to stand out. I have found success in my website by being consistent, always being a student, and being open to change. Being a business owner takes a lot of grit. It takes thinking of ways to reach new people every day, and the desire to do so. When I don’t hit certain goals, I go back to the drawing board and figure out how I can pivot. I am constantly researching and learning new things, figuring out ways to grow, and pushing myself because I know the future of my business is beyond my wildest dreams.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Working in fashion and having a background in it has helped with my journey so far. Months before re-releasing my website, I took an e-business and marketing course so I could confidently step into having an online store. I’ve had to ask a lot of people questions about what they like to wear and why, so I could have an idea of what my audience would like. One of my biggest struggles is being patient. I am and have been doing well but I’m always so anxious to grow. I have weekly pep-talks with myself, reminding myself that it is all a marathon. Everything takes time, whether its AD engagement, how much inventory I can sustain, or how long it’ll take for an item to sell.

Shardaisy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Shardaisy is an online blog and a women’s boutique that carries edgy clothing that will be sure to make you feel confident and stand out. I am most proud of gathering what I had and just going for it. I used all of my own money to invest in inventory, I took classes to learn more about business, and I set myself and business up for success. What sets me apart from others is that you can come onto my website to shop and leave inspired by my blog posts. One of my favorite quotes I heard from Nipsey Hussle is “the highest human act is to inspire,” and I carry that with me in business. Whether I inspire you to read a new book, follow your dreams, or travel, I know my job is done outside of selling clothes because I was able to connect with you on a mental level.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, success is doing impactful work. I have the natural desire to help people, especially people that look like me. I’ve figured out a lot on my own and I know a lot of young women of color would benefit from having someone to talk to about life and career. Long term, I want to create a non-profit mentorship program for young women of color that focuses on confidence-building and entrepreneurship. I want to expand Shardaisy into a lifestyle and wellness brand that is more than clothes.

I define success by waking up every day and being in love with the life I’ve created. That life looks like having freedom and control over my days. It looks like breaking generational curses of poverty and creating avenues that will lead to generational wealth.

Pricing:

• My prices range from $20-$80.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shardaisy.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shardaisy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xoshardaisy/

Image Credit:
Photos by Dimir Henderson.

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