Today we’d like to introduce you to Destiny Houston.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Destiny. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I was a Hurricane Katrina victim. With that being said at a young age, I lost everything. My mom was a single mother trying to do all she could for our siblings and me to have a better life than she had. My mom stayed in sales racks and consignment stores just so that we “didn’t look like what we were going through.” People use to joke around and call her the “Queen of Sales.” My knack for thrifting didn’t start until it was Prom Season in high school. I ended up with all three of my prom dresses for less than 20 dollars throughout the three years. I kept it up through college by just shopping thrift stores for parties and on campus events. After college, I worked in my field as a Social Worker in a Correctional Facility. With that, thrifting became my therapy for my mental health, since my career was starting to weigh on me mentally, even though it was so deserving.
Over time people would come up to me and say, “How do you go in there?”, “I just don’t have time!” and “How do you find cute clothes?” From there, I wanted people to feel as confident I was in my gently “loved” clothes. With life-changing with a new job, new home, and just being in my mid-twenties, I was distracted to expanding my therapy…But then COVID-19 happened.
I know a lot of people think of COVID as only a negative event, but for me it was the first time in my life I gave a lot of time to me. I started really pushing forward to making this “therapy” a message to people. My big push was on June 13th. I was sitting on my coworkers back porch with her wife, and her wife was explaining how Covid-19 really expanded her eBay business, due to online shopping being at an all-time high. I started to converse with her about my past idea of an online thrift store, and she did nothing but encourage me and really motivated me to just take the leap of faith. That same day, my boyfriend planted a seed $50 to start my business. So that same day, I went to my local discount store and just started to explore for items. The next day out of faith, I launched Destiny’s Treasures on Instagram with the motto: You can be chic for cheap. Within a month, my family and friend blessed me with a logo, a mannequin, sales but most of all, the message to inspire “people to look chic for cheap.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has had its ups and downs. The struggle was getting my name out there and for people to trust the process due to the negative cogitation with thrifting.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Destiny’s Treasures is an online thrift store that will cater to women with all shapes, sizes, and styles. The ultimate purpose of the store is to show people that you CAN buy something chic for cheap. Saving TONS of money on clothing is not impossible.
We specialize in an easy online thrifting experience. We offer items in all shapes, sizes, and gender. We can assist you in selling some of your gently “loved” items. We also offer personal shopping services if you want more of that personal touch. The aspect I am the most proud of is the joy of providing items that will make people feel beautiful, chic, but most of all, confidence. What sets me apart is the affordably and the convenience of shopping from your social media. The personal delivery service and personal thrifting give a more personable experience.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is that the work I do will impact someone to do better. I am a big believer of the quote, “The heart is meant to love and the hands are meant to serve.” Your character and life should inspire someone else to better their own life.
My criteria is to one day have a thrift store that hires felons, single mothers, high school dropouts, or just anyone who needs that light to do better. I want to inspire people that it does not take much to do better, it just takes a little encouragement, reassurance, and the proper resources to overcome those obstacles that society has placed on the following populations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: thrifting_with_des
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Destinys-Treasures-110495100720704
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