Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Duclottni.
Toni, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a child of the 80’s growing up in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, I wasn’t sure what my path would be. One thing I did know is that I was going to be successful one day. We didn’t have many material things when I was growing up but we sure had an abundance of love that my parents provided my three siblings and I with. They laid a foundation of faith and morals in us that would stick with me through the rest of my life. During high school, I played multiple sports (golf, tennis, and volleyball) simultaneously and held down at least 1 and sometimes 2 or 3 jobs in order to help my parents pay for the things I needed and wanted.
Creating my own path was something that resonated with me early on. From a career as a sound engineer to that of a marketing director and then entrepreneur, every job I had in between would prepare me for where I am today. House of Haute, Inc was formed in 2009 after I sold and parted ways with a previous company that I owned. It was never meant to be anything other than something to keep me occupied and entertained. The initial concept was actually birthed from the creation of a YouTube channel.
I created content based around fashion which quickly took off and afforded me the opportunity to become a YouTube partner within six months. I started receiving ad revenue and participating in collaborations with other “YouTubers” and a few small brands. A local news station featured me in a segment in hopes to explain what an “Influencer” was. It must have gone really well because within two months time I was offered a position as an Entertainment Reporter which later lead to Traffic Reporter for the semi-nationally syndicated morning show.
Later I would move my company and my two boys to Los Angeles, CA to continue pursuing my dreams. I began to work with bigger brands and gain more exposure to the fashion industry. I had developed a following of fashion lovers. Every week I would spend 2-3 hours a week responding to emails trying to help girls from my following find high end appearing lux fashions on a budget. I knew there had to be a better way of helping my online tribe.
Five years after the launch of the YouTube channel in 2009, House of Haute, the Store was born in April 2014. We started out selling accessories that were considered statement pieces. I jumped in headfirst down the self-taught path. Boy did I learn a lot of priceless lessons along the way. From building my own website from scratch to learning how to buy properly,
In 2017, unexpectedly I relocated again to Las Vegas where I founded Dorcas House, a 501c3 foundation that feeds the homeless community physically and spiritually. I met my now-husband while he was traveling and through Las Vegas on a connecting flight. He worked in Texas (wouldn’t you know it) which pushed me into a full-circle moment. Shortly after we married, we bought a home in Plano and Texas was once again home.
Currently, we’re in the middle of launching Dorcas House, Dallas as well as a training course under House of Haute Business Solutions (founded in early 2018) that is geared toward women wanting to learn about becoming an entrepreneur in the retail e-commerce industry. Everything that I learned and mistakes that I made is being turned into a training program for women wanting to open a boutique of their own… successfully. There are a lot of night and day boutiques that pop on a daily, but many of them fail. I want to catch them before it happens. From the beginning of it all, I knew I wanted to be successful so that I could help others. Here I am today, still learning but also in the position to extend a hand and help others in whichever way possible.
Has it been a smooth road?
My path has been full of challenges from childhood until not too long ago, but I am very thankful for them. While it’s not fun and can be downright excruciating, the obstacles we face in life are building blocks. Some are more critical to the foundation of who you are than others. Growing up underprivileged made me hungry but not desperate. The sexual abuse I experienced made me uniquely compassionate toward women and children even more so than I already was. It produced a drive in me that made me want to create a space and environment for women where they are empowered and have faith. Here’s what I know:
I did not come from wealth.
I did not graduate from college.
I did not succeed in my first marriage.
I did not succeed in my first business.
Yet…
I do still have great faith in God.
I do have two amazing teenagers.
I do have a wonderful husband that’s an incredible stepfather to my boys.
I do believe that I can achieve whatsoever my heart desires.
I am already victorious even though I’m still in the race.
It’s not our job to worry about what cards we don’t have, it is our job the play the hell out of the hand we were dealt with.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
House of Haute, the Store provides a unique fashion-forward experience for women that want to take on the world in beautiful, yet affordable garments. We believe that the inside and outside are very much connected. When you look good on the outside it definitely helps you to feel good on the inside. We serve real body types of all sizes.
The one thing that sets us apart from everyone else is our obsession with great customer service. Our brand was built on it and it remains at the top of our list of priorities.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe Dallas is a thriving city and receptive to new businesses in general. As for retail stores, I’d highly recommend doing a thorough amount of research on whether or not the area you choose can properly sustain your business. We are currently online and only have warehouse space. We are testing the waters now as we look to open a showroom in early 2020.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofhaute.com
- Phone: 310.855.3727
- Email: support@houseofhaute.com
- Instagram: @houseofhaute
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseOfHaute
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseOfHaute
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