Today we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Shaw.
Hi Gillian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Brand Behind The Name: My name is Gillian Shaw, and I’m the founder of Gill’s Deals Experience — a styling brand born from passion, purpose, and personal growth. I was born in Laurel, Maryland and raised in Durham, North Carolina, where my love for fashion and creativity first took shape. Now, branding myself in Charlotte, North Carolina has ultimately moved my brand to the next level and it has been very rewarding .
What started as a simple day of mixing style and deals back in 2018 ,quickly turned into something much bigger. At first, I didn’t know I was creating a business I was simply building looks, finding great bargains, and sharing my personal style. But as I began helping others find confidence in their appearance without breaking the bank, Gills Deals naturally evolved into a styling brand that reflects empowerment, authenticity, and self-expression on a budget.
Over the last 7 years, this passion has taken me further than I ever imagined. I’ve grown from a stylist into a content creator, influencer, and motivational speaker — connecting with people not just through fashion, but through lifestyle and inspiration.
I’ve had the opportunity to partner with 35 brands from Amazon, Walmart, Shapellx, LTK to starting a vendor business and sharing my journey. My love for style, and the importance of self-confidence is who i am,
Along the way, my creativity expanded beyond fashion. I became a food influencer in 2024, as I speak and enjoy the mastermind of food creation, a digital storyteller, using my platform to celebrate everyday experiences and highlight the beauty in simplicity.
Today, Gills Deals Experience is more than a brand — it’s a movement that encourages people to look and feel their best, embrace their individuality, and live confidently no matter their budget. It’s about transformation, inside and out.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building this brand has been one of the most rewarding, yet challenging journeys of my life. Like many entrepreneurs, I started with passion and vision, but I quickly learned that turning an idea into a lasting brand takes more than creativity. I still work at 8 to 5 and so managing all these things takes a lot of perseverance, patience, and growth.
One of my biggest struggles has been staying consistent through all of life’s ups and downs. There were times when balancing work, personal life, and my business felt overwhelming. Some days I questioned whether I was doing enough, or if people really understood the purpose behind my brand. Consistency wasn’t always easy — especially when I faced burnout, limited resources, or the pressure to constantly create content in a fast-moving digital world.
Another challenge was learning to trust the process. There were seasons when growth felt slow, or when engagement didn’t reflect the effort I was putting in. But through those moments, I learned resilience, patience, and how to refocus on my “why” — helping others feel confident and stylish no matter their budget.
I also faced the struggle of doing everything myself from styling and content creation to event planning and promotion. It taught me how to wear many hats, but it also reminded me of the importance of rest, boundaries, and believing that progress doesn’t always mean perfection.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My journey began in journalism and media, where I worked as a reporter. That experience gave me my voice it taught me how to connect with people, tell their stories, and see the power of communication in shaping perspectives. Intending UNC-Greensboro to get my bachelors in communications and media where i furthered for my education at North Carolina Central University in speech, language, pathology, communication disorders.
After my time in journalism, I transitioned into corporate America, where I’ve spent the last 13 years building a strong career in health technology. Within that field, I’ve grown into a web specialist for the past six years using my skills in writing, digital communication, and technology to bring ideas to life online.
But creativity has always been a part of who I am. While excelling in my corporate career, I also built my passion project — Gill’s Deals Experience, a styling and lifestyle brand I founded in 2018. What started as a small moment of inspiration evolved into a platform that helps people look and feel their best while staying true to their budget.
Now, I proudly balance being a content creator, stylist, influencer, and speaker, blending my professional expertise with my creative vision. My background in media and web content gave me the tools to build a brand rooted in authenticity and storytelling, while my corporate experience gave me structure, strategy, and discipline.
Through every role reporter, corporate professional, stylist, and creator — I’ve learned that my true gift is connection: connecting people to confidence, creativity, and the courage to redefine what success looks like.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Personally, I’ve learned to embrace change instead of fear it. I’ve learned that growth often requires letting go of comfort and stepping into new opportunities with faith. I’ve spoken at events, built connections with incredible women, and grown my platform from a small idea into a voice that inspires others to live confidently — no matter their budget or background.
The last six years have been about alignment& aligning my work, my passions, and my lifestyle with who I truly am. Every role I’ve held from reporter to web specialist, stylist to influencer has been a chapter in my evolution.
What I want my readers to take away is this: you don’t have to have it all figured out to start. Your journey doesn’t have to look perfect to have purpose. Growth is messy, but it’s beautiful — and I’m living proof that every experience, every setback, and every pivot can lead you closer to your purpose if you keep moving with intention.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Styled.bygill & _flavorbygill
Image Credits
First Photo: Creds: With Stylist J. Bolin
