Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Tripp.
Ariel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Being born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I felt like I ultimately had one choice and that was to always go after everything that I’ve ever wanted. I graduated from high school at the age of 16 and went away to college one month after I turned 17. Although I was young, I set goals, standards and plans for my future. I knew that I had control of choosing the right path.
I spent my first 2.5 years at the University of Toledo as a Nursing major. Gaining experience within the field and carefully considering long term opportunities led to a change of heart. After five years, I attained a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration and a minor in Business. Switching my major and adding an additional year seemed like a setback at the time, but I realized it was the best decision that I could’ve made for myself since I’ve always had a passion for healthcare as well as becoming a business owner.
Once I completed my summer internship in 2014, my husband (fiancé at the time) and I relocated. We always tell people that we left Ohio with a dollar and a dream because neither of us had secured jobs in Georgia prior to moving. Two things that we did have were a small savings and a ton of faith. I immediately obtained a position as a Care Manager and after months of applying, I was able to begin a career at the health system I had been praying to one day get into.
In 2017, 4 months after my husband and I were married, our first child was conceived. Pregnancy sparked a new level of motivation for the both of us. For years, I told myself I would one day open a children’s store and instead of continuously dreaming about it, we decided to make it happen. Once we found out the gender of our child at the end of 2017, we knew the exact direction in which we wanted to take our brand. January 25, 2019, Deucey’s Way launched.
Has it been a smooth road?
Success doesn’t happen overnight. The road has been far from smooth; however, that is why accomplishing goals has such a triumphant feeling. Throughout my college journey, I had struggles like most people. I’ve dealt with being mentally drained, failing classes and being required to retake them as well as being very close to transferring to a school back home in Cleveland. Instead of giving up, I persevered, stayed true to myself and kept my faith. In my career and as a business owner, I’ve had to do the same. Consistency is vital.
Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
My advice to other women would be to go after your dreams without hesitation and invest in yourself. Never allow the fear of failing prevent you from doing what you desire. Always choose happiness. Things may not happen exactly how you plan but never get discouraged; God’s plan is always better. Be grateful. If there’s something that you’re passionate about, continue working, gaining knowledge and trying until you succeed. Whether you are single, a wife, mom, business owner, student and/or professional, finding balance is key. Never lose your faith and always trust the process. It may take time but it will be well worth it. Remove yourself from around any negative people or situation. There may be individuals who you expect to have your back and support you who genuinely don’t but use that as motivation. Focus your energy on doing what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Everyone will not see or understand your vision and that is fine. Stay inspired, persistent, dedicated, humble and think big. You owe it to yourself to win!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Deucey’s Way – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Aside from working full time utilizing my Health Care Administration degree, my husband and I are focused on building Deucey’s Way. Our brand was created to provide a variation to the shopping experience for children. We carry cool, quality, stylish and affordable boys/unisex clothing. We understand that shopping for little ones, specifically boys, can be challenging.
As a brand, we are proud of the exclusive options in our collections. It’s an incredible feeling when we receive compliments about how amazing and different our items are. We strive to have clothing that is unlikely to be sold at the “typical” children’s store. We are also proud when we see the diversity of our customers- different ages, sizes and backgrounds. Our goal is to empower children around the world.
There are a few things that set us apart from other brands. All of our clothing is carefully chosen with the consumers in mind. Each item goes through quality control to ensure standards are met prior to being added to our website. We are dedicated to delivering styles that are fashionable yet age-appropriate. From our website to our packaging, we want customers to know that there is love and passion behind our brand and we truly value each order that is received.
We have so many new things being added this year including the growth of our blog for parents as well as larger sizes within our collections. Something that began as a dream years ago is quickly growing and expanding beyond our expectations. As an owner, I am extremely happy, grateful, blessed and proud.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Growing up, I was very fortunate to have been raised by phenomenal parents. Not only have they consistently provided love, support and encouragement, but they also instilled greatness in me. They are the reason why I have so much drive and hunger to succeed in all that I do. The experience of watching them work hard to provide for their children without ever complaining or allowing us to feel any challenges that they may have faced was admirable. Whether it was academically or an extracurricular activity, they taught me to do my best and to never give up. I was raised to always be a leader rather than a follower, which is something that has stuck with me throughout my entire life.
My parents inspire me to be the greatest woman, wife and mother that I could possibly be. Even as an adult, I understand that I can always learn from their wisdom and life lessons. Having a strong, black, educated mom who has always exemplified class, grace, dignity and positivity is the type of role model that every young girl needs. I can’t thank God enough for blessing me with such an amazing support system. Because of them, I will never settle for anything less than I deserve and will always focus on continuously turning my dreams into my reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: deuceysway.com
- Email: info@deuceysway.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thedeuceyway
- Facebook: Facebook.com/deuceysway
Image Credit:
Model: Deuce
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