Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Shirley.
Rae, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Rae Shirley. I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. I am a wife, mother of two, business owner and full-time nursing student. I started selling things to friends and family in a very casual way: no website, no promo, no online store or any professional platform. It has always been a dream of mine to be a business owner who has multiple streams of income, so when the Covid-19 pandemic happened, I figured why not take advantage of the extra time on my hands and make my dreams a reality.
Fast forward a few months later and I am less than a year away from graduating and I’ve successfully started my ecommerce journey and launched my store. Since launching, my financial profits have exceeded my expectations, granted I am not yet where I want to be but THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! Being a full-time mom along with all the other hats I wear can be challenging at times but I am so grateful for taking that leap of faith and trusting God. My ultimate goal is to create an amazing life for my children and the generations after and I plan on working my hardest to make that goal come true.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve definitely had my challenges along the way. The biggest challenge for me was creating a schedule that worked and allowed me to fulfill all of my obligations. Apart from that, it was very discouraging at first knowing that there was a lot of competition out there that had better resources than I did. It scared me a bit and caused a lot of hesitation, But again, I took that leap of faith and realized that I did not have to be like anyone else and I did not have to worry because I am unique and what’s for me will always be mine. Changing my mentality and the way I saw myself changed my entire situation.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rae’s Beauty Bar story. Tell us more about the business.
Rae’s Beauty Bar specializes in Lingerie and Cosmetics. Our most successful collections thus far have been our “Linge-Rae’s Intimate Apparel” and “Minks By Rae.” Our Linge-Rae’s are designed with every woman in mind! We carry designs to fit all shapes and sizes. We encourage women to love their curves and love themselves by giving them something they can look and feel sexy in. Whether you’re a size zero or a size eighteen, We’ve got you covered! It’s all about boosting women’s confidence and encouraging self-love. Our Mink lashes are 100% mink and available in multiple styles and lengths. Our lashes are a great beauty enhancer and also super affordable.
The thing I’m most proud of is the reaction and response I get from my customers. I’ve had a lot of mothers tell me that the feeling they got from wearing my lingerie was one they thought they’d never feel again. It’s amazing knowing that I’m an influencer in positive body imaging and really making a difference in the way others view themselves. I also believe that is what sets me apart from the rest. It’s not just about lingerie, It’s about how that apparel makes people feel and that experience in itself is priceless.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Personally, I don’t believe in luck. I truly believe that we are capable of creating our own path and molding our destiny. I am a spiritual person so I do believe that everything is ultimately in God’s hands. I think life just happens and it’s up to us to take what we get and create something beautiful or sit around and allow negative thoughts to consume us. To make a long story short good things happen and bad things happen but how we react is what determines the outcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: raes-beauty-bar-atlanta.myshopify.com
- Email: raeshirley08@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raes.beauty.bar.atlanta/
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