Today we’d like to introduce you to Phylicia Brown.
Hi Phylicia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks for having me! I’ve spent more than a decade working in corporate America in different consulting roles, but I’ve always brought my passion for fashion along. I was often the “overdressed” one at the office, and that was perfectly fine with me. I took my cues from my mom who was an educator for more than 30 years and dressed to the nines every day. My style was always a means of personal expression, and I also just FELT so much better when I was confident in my look. I am naturally an introvert, so networking, presenting, and being the center of attention can be very draining, but boss clothes bring out the boss in me. So in 2013, I decided to start a blog called One Stylish Lady, sharing my personal looks of the day for style inspiration. I also started personal styling part-time for a year and got really into Poshmark (check me out at @thestylish1), where people were able to shop looks from my closet. During this time, I found the same thing came up again and again. People had a hard time finding quality classic pieces at affordable prices. Trendy pieces were everywhere, but styles that could stand the test of time weren’t always easy to find. From there came the idea in 2019 to start OSL (One Stylish Lady), the online boutique. We pride ourselves on providing timeless, versatile pieces for the modern woman. We want all women to be able to feel confident and beautiful in the pieces they wear. We believe a confident woman becomes an empowered woman, and the rest is her-story!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Although several of my corporate years have been spent at a Fortune 50 retail company, starting my own retail business from scratch hasn’t been an easy feat. I started this by myself and still work my full-time job. Although my husband, family (I’ve pulled my sister into sooo many pop-ups) and friends have helped out and been SUPER supportive, the list of to dos for a small business owner can get overwhelming. From pop-up shops that were duds, to website issues, to marketing mishaps, to missing shipments – we’ve seen a lot. The biggest test came during the pandemic. We launched in October 2019 – right before the world stopped. That meant little to no sales during the beginning of COVID, no pop-up opportunities for exposure, late inventory arrivals, missed photo shoots and everything in between. Since then, things have smoothed out a little, but the ebbs and flows of business still come. If being a business owner teaches you anything, it’s resiliency, and I learned it daily. It’s led to many sweet customer messages and smiles at their special events in OSL, which make it all worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about One Stylish Lady (OSL)?
OSL is an online women’s clothing boutique that specializes in providing timeless and versatile styles at affordable prices. While most boutiques focus on the latest trend for a one-time wear, our goal is to provide women with pieces that help build their closets, creating multiple looks that can be worn season after season. We also utilize our social media for style inspiration to show women how they can put some of these looks together. I’m very proud of the quality of the styles we bring, the intention behind putting cohesive collections together, and the level of customer service we provide. One specific story comes to mind where we were able to help one of our customers get a dress for an engagement shoot at the very last minute. After several other options didn’t work out, she discovered us on Pinterest. We went above and beyond to make it work, and she couldn’t have been more appreciative. To be a small part of that special moment and see her excitement and the beautiful photos that came from it was a very memorable moment for me.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice would be to not take shortcuts. Work on all the not so fun parts of business – the business plan, all the legal requirements, identifying your target audience and brand identity, etc. Getting the fundamentals right early on will allow for a much smoother path long term. Also, I recommend that you find your community. It’s so helpful to have a network of other small business owners who understand the journey and can provide tips or even encouragement along the way. Finally, if you’re dating or in a relationship, make sure to find a supportive partner. The demands of an entrepreneur lifestyle aren’t for everyone, and having someone in your corner who gets it makes all the difference (shout out to my husbae Marcus)!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://onestylishlady.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoponestylishlady/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoponestylishlady
- Email: info@onestylishlady.com
Image Credits
Dani Smith Photography
