Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony Johnson.
Ebony, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, I have always wanted to be my own boss. In 2017, I had a dream to open my very own online clothing boutique. At first, I didn’t know what exactly my boutique would be centered around, I just could remember trying to order clothing from online boutiques, my sizes were always sold out or they didn’t carry them! I didn’t like that, lol! After always having the same experience and going back and forth with myself, I decided to take the first step and do my research on starting an online boutique. Once I started to research the information the more interested and intrigued, I became with the process. I decided to step out on faith and I took the first step and that was to register my business name, I then applied for my EIN number. Once I did those two things, I felt even better about my decision to finally move forward with starting my boutique. I prayed a lot during these last two years about my boutique and what I can say is that with every accomplishment, the more and more I feel like this is my purpose!! This is what I am supposed to be doing. Plush B will be the reason that I can retire from my state job in order to work full-time for myself. This is my baby!! A year ago, I spoke my dream out loud to two of my dear friends and a year later, I’m doing just what I said I would be doing! How awesome is that!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting an online boutique has not been easy by no means! It takes hard work, determination, and a lot of self-motivating. I have had to self-educate myself about marketing and targeting specific audiences, in which I am still learning how to do. This process is never ending, there is always something new to learn. You have to know the different fabrics used to make clothing; you have to know what quality pieces of clothing look like. You have to do a lot of talking to people and you have to do your research!! When ordering wholesale, I spend a lot of time reading customer reviews on different items. I have spent countless nights up reading and looking at different vendors. Like anything worth having, it takes a lot of work. It took me about two years to get my boutique published. There have been plenty of days that I have wanted to just hit the pause button but I can’t. I can’t stop now!! I’m just getting started! One of my biggest struggles was not having the support I thought that I should have had, but once I realized my outcome does not depend on others and that it solely depended on me, I let go of who didn’t support me and I started to focus on those that did. Another challenge is that I am employed as a Social Worker for the State of Alabama and that in itself takes a lot out of you on a day to day basis. However, I have learned to keep my mind and heart centered on the saying, ” Don’t work 8 hours a day for a company then go home and not work on your own goals.” I’ve learned to take my time and stay grounded in the fact that as long as I continue to work hard and give Plush B my all, it will be everything I want it to be!
Please tell us about your business.
Plush B Boutique is an online boutique that was created to cater to the everyday curvy girl. The girl that likes to be stylish while being cute and comfortable. I thought of myself. I am the everyday girl that likes to be comfy and cute. To the girl who has a hard time finding the right clothing because she is a little too tall, or a little too wide and curvy in certain areas. I am 5’9, extremely curvy and I weigh over 200lbs! It’s not easy finding clothing for myself, so I can just imagine what the next girl who is my height or taller and heavier goes through. I feel your pain girl and that is what I am here for! That is who Plush caters too. I love prints! I love denim! Leopard is my favorite print, so I will be incorporating a lot of different prints as well as denim items into my boutique. I try to carry the sizes that other boutiques don’t carry. My boutique also contains maxi dresses and basic pieces that can be matched and worn with anything. Plush B also has a section that contains clothing from my personal closet, clothing that I have purchased previously. That have been worn once or not at all!! I love when customers ask me about piecing of clothing and I get to explain the details of that item. I am most proud that I can make women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin while wearing the latest fashions from Plush B Boutique. My goal is to grow my online boutique and then one day open a store front! I hope to have stores in as many major cities as I can. With God, I know that everything I desire for Plush B will be.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I don’t have a lot of childhood memories centered around fashion in itself, but I am from New York! The Bronx that is!! I can remember my sister and I walking down 3rd Ave in the Bronx and buying jewelry from the different vendors and stores. I love looking at old pictures of my mother and her sisters from when we lived in New York!!! Talk about styling and profiling!! We all know that New York is known for having one of the largest and most successful fashion industries!!! My mom used to be fly and she was fine too!!!! She had the big hair and everything!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.plushbboutique.com
- Phone: 2053351899
- Email: plushbboutique@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/plush_b_boutiquellc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plushbboutiquellc
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/plushbboutique
Image Credit:
Derrick Curry/Camera Play Photography
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