Today we’d like to introduce you to Iva Elliott.
Hi Iva, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m originally born in New Jersey however I went to undergrad at Tuskegee University and later moved to Chicago for grad school here at UIC. I eventually stayed here to pursue my career in Social Work and later started my brand called Girl Goodies. As of March 2022, I have Co-opened a space called The Outfitt Hq which is located on Chicago’s south side in the Bridgeport neighborhood where Girl Goodies is housed in addition to 3 other brands.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
So starting my business was actually not as hard as some may think. I believe that managing the business in addition to juggling my career has been the challenge (not necessarily hard but it’s a job within a job). Now as it pertains to actually managing a physical location, that’s the hard part! The struggle with co-managing a physical location is that we are four separate brands that are all housed under one roof. The way we individually manage our own brands affects one another. Honestly, it always works out in our favor regardless of what it is but we are working hard so that we are all on the same page at all times. With running a business you’ll always experience fatigue and burn out so it’s vital to know your physical and mental capacities. It’s also important to form a tribe so that others can step in and assist when necessary.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I actually never talk much about my career life in correlation with my creative/entrepreneurial endeavors. Professionally, I am a Social Worker for almost 17 years now. I currently work for a health plan offered here in Chicago, Illinois as a Clinical Trainer. I have been with the plan since June of 2022. At my previous job, I was a Community Social Worker for five years. One day I went to work and realized that I had been at that job for five years and was ready for a change (because of the Covid shut down I hadn’t noticed how much time went by). I applied for my current position and got it. Immediately upon accepting the position, I was so happy because being the Trainer I am forced to interact more and brush up on my public speaking skills. All of which will help strengthen my brand in the long run.
It’s weird though. This is the first time in a long time that I feel like I need to look the part at work. Not that I never went to work cute before but the professional me is simplified. Off the clock Girl Goodies Iva is completely opposite and very much so glammed up. I laugh because it’s almost like a double life going to work and then going into The Outfitt Hq to work. I love both though!
As of recent, I was nominated and will be inducted into the Women Professionals League! I guess hard work pays off.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned quite a few lessons from the crisis. I learned that owning a brand you have to be visible 99% of the time. Whether it’s posting on social media hourly, sending new letters and emails or simply a txt thread. Your clients should know how and when to access you. I also learned that the traditional way of selling is a thing of the past. Because of the different social media platforms, I learned that my clients are interactive, they like the ability of being able to purchase on the go. During Covid, I would post specific hours to host a “closet sale.” During the sale, I’d allow other brand owners that I knew to hop on and introduce a product or their brand. We would then start the sale live and go for about 2 hours. I post the sale permanently on my page afterward so others that were unable to join would be able to shop the replay of what was left. From a curation standpoint, I have learned to buy less and sell more which should always be the goal. I also learned how to better manage my pricing so that I’m competitive, not lowballing myself but also able to retain my clientele.
Honestly, on a personal level Covid allowed me to see that I need to relax more. Take every day one day at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.girlgoodiesbrand.com
- Instagram: iva_of_Girlgoodies
Image Credits
Marcus Ivory, Adam Taylor, Joshua Taylor
