Today we’d like to introduce you to JaLynda D.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
So naturally, I am a lover of clothes and discounts just like many people. My mother has always been big on catching every deal she possibly can and of course, that rubbed off on me. Thrift shopping began when I was a teenager in high school. I didn’t really enjoy shopping for used items as much as I do now because I felt the stores were smelly, overcrowded and it just wasn’t “the thing” to do.
Although, I loved the thrill of searching the racks and finding things that were priced practically 90% less than retail stores, it wasn’t until my early years of college at Savannah State University that I truly began to become obsessed with thrift shopping.
I knew that I had found a hobby I enjoyed and was naturally good at, once people began to overly compliment my thrifted outfits and used household items, only to find out that I had spent a few dollars on them. My friends admired the low prices I paid for items but they still weren’t 100% sold on the idea that some of those items could have been someone’s “deceased grandmother’s clothing.” I didn’t mind used clothing! I instantly fell in love with looking nice and wearing designer brands knowing that I was catching unimaginable bargains.
Over the years in college, I found myself in thrift stores more than ever. It wasn’t until I graduated from grad school, moved back home to Atlanta and started using Instagram more than ever to post my #OOTD (outfit of the day), that things began to shift. Once I started my corporate “Big Girl Job,” I began to post my work outfits and would get so many compliments on how well dressed I was in the office; no one believed the prices I was paying to look nice. I then started proving myself by posting my outfits as well as the price tags on Instagram. Once people saw the inexpensive price tags & brands, they were immediately interested; they were sold & wanted to know where to find nice pieces as well! I even started shopping for my now husband’s shoes & clothing and tagging him on social media which drew interest from my male followers; they could not believe how nice my husband looked and the price I would find his blazers and pants for.
In 2014, after consistently posting my thrift finds on my Instagram, one of my former classmates simply asked me to shop for her a new wardrobe and she would pay me for my services. At that very moment, I wasn’t thinking of starting a business whatsoever, however, I wasn’t against the idea of making extra cash on the side while doing something I loved. I remember that night like it was yesterday! I had no clue of how much I wanted to charge for my services, a logo or better yet, a name for my new company or anything, but I knew she was serious about me shopping for her and I needed to get down r business quick. My hubby and I began to brainstorm quickly & came up with the concept Queen Thrift A Lot. At the time, I was big on blogging about relationships and discussing the importance of women Knowing their Worth and wearing our invisible crowns in womanhood; I knew I wanted to incorporate the word: QUEEN (and besides, I was the Queen of Thrifting, right?).
Today, not only am I a business owner, I am a 2nd-grade teacher where I’ve used my social media platform to promote thrift shopping to teachers for their classroom decor and supplies and furniture needs. This past July, I hosted an event & partnered with Goodwill of North GA to inspire teachers to save their coins and shop used. My interview was covered on Fox 5 News ATL and brought out many educators in the Atlanta area. Many teachers were not aware of the savings they could take advantage of through thrift shopping and it was such a rewarding experience.
Over the past two years, I have worked diligently in creating new business avenues for Queen Thrift Lot. One, in particular, has been geared towards, interior design becoming the focal point of my company which has led to my latest brand, JaLynda Elaine Interiors where Queen Thrift A Lot is the mothering company.
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?
No, it has not always been a smooth road. With building any brand, it takes hard work, long hours, consistency, creativeness and of course, dedication.
I’ve had to learn the importance of balancing life outside of building a business ground up while still remaining consistent with content on my social media platforms & testing out different marketing strategies.
One of my biggest struggles with being a business owner has definitely been maintaining my focus and confidence during the high and low seasons of business. Sometimes, new entrepreneurs become easily discouraged when business is “booming,” and then suddenly out of now where, it slows down. This is an important time for entrepreneurs to not get discouraged but to instead, get back to the drawing board and seek new strategies to attract even more clientele. Whether that means posting more personable content for your followers or even rebranding yourself, you’ve got to find new ways to draw in your audience and remain consistent during all seasons of your business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Queen Thrift A Lot story. Tell us more about the business.
I am the owner of Queen Thrift A Lot, LLC. I provide services in interior design, event decor, wardrobe consulting and honestly, bringing all things creative to life is my natural specialty!
Mention, Queen Thrift A Lot and the first word that probably comes to anyone’s mind that’s been apart of this journey is, THRIFTING! Queen Thrift A Lot has a reputation for being a thrift-shopping- guru. I have taken thrift store shopping to another level by decorating any and everything whether a birthday party or the bedroom or your new home, “FLYY On A Budget” with majority of the items being thrifted or at amazing low costs. From DIY projects to living room makeovers, I always get the job done and I get it done within a reasonable budget.
Most people would think of Queen Thrift A Lot as a “One-Stop-Shop!” Not only is interior design and event decor a specialty within my company, but I also revamp used furniture whether through fabric swaps or complete paint jobs. I enjoy seeing the transformations of inexpensive “looked over” pieces turning into “OMG, WOW- you did this?” It’s just something about an amazing before and after picture!
I pride myself on the ability to source beautiful items on a budget while having the mentality of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!” I love being challenged and I enjoy being apart of jaw-dropping before and after experiences. I believe patience is key to my company’s success; you have to have patience to search racks and various stores for these unique items and prices and I definitely enjoy the thrill of the chase.
What has always set me apart from others is that I create beautiful designs and experiences for my clients with mostly thrifted items at very inexpensive costs. I have been known to exceed my client’s expectations because of the unbelievable prices their budget covers for their name brand clothing, furniture and event/home decor.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
I am most proud of my most recent feature headline on Fox 5 News Atlanta this past July 2019. I was interviewed to discuss a Back To School event that Goodwill of North Georgia and I partnered together on to encourage educators in GA to “shop used” for their classrooms in order to save money this school year! The interview discussed the truth about how many educators do not receive funding for classroom supplies and are expected to decorate their rooms and provide supplies for their students throughout the school year. As a teacher and business owner, I have shown many of my classroom thrift finds, DIY projects and bargains throughout the summer on my social media platforms and I was honored to interview with Fox 5 ATL to reach millions of viewers regarding the pros of thrift shopping.
If I had to start over, I honestly don’t think I would have done much differently. I am the woman I am today because of the impact my entrepreneurial journey has left on me. June 1, 2019, marked five years in business and I am excited about the years and growth to come in the next years.
Of course, as entrepreneurs, we discover room for improvement while working on projects or dealing with different types of clients. We discover new innovative ways to benefit our company in order to make things run more smoothly, but overall, I don’t think there’s much I would change as a brand. I love my baby, Queen Thrift A Lot and I have grown so much as a professional and woman since creating my company! Cheers to many more years!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JaLyndaElaine.com
- Phone: 7704059929
- Email: queenthriftalot@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Cornelius Baker @CbFilmz and myself
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