Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Gurari.
Hi Anna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, I always had a unique sense of style, as a little girl, I always picked my outfits and laid them out for my mom’s approval. My mom will never let me live it down that every time I walked into a clothing store to buy anything I automatically always reached for the most expensive or exclusive item!
Unfortunately, being an immigrant, it was embedded in me that I must follow a strong career in my studies so as many I followed the guidance of my family and studied pre-med in college. At that time, I also worked in healthcare and grew to love it and admire it. For the longest time, I told myself I will be a doctor, and I think I almost believed that I would be.
Somehow my intuition and life led me to a job on 5th Avenue in NY where my coworkers repeatedly told me that my path is Fashion. I walked the streets of 5th Ave every day and it always felt that this is where I belonged. With many turns and twists, I landed a job as an assistant footwear buyer for a boutique retailer in Brooklyn, which had its own challenges.
I was fortunate to learn the business inside and out and take away the most important life lessons. Footwear was always my biggest passion and for a moment there I contemplated starting a footwear line, but it was destiny when I landed a job as production manager for an Apparel company In Boca Raton Florida.
I was always very driven and ambitious; I knew I would start my own business, but it took a long time to get to Undressed. Originally, my idea was to build a unique and affordable lingerie brand that will support the needs of women between The Agent Provocateur and Victoria’s Secret of the world. Which I did build and launched in Nov 2019 with it only to flop.
That didn’t stop me for long, I took some time and advice from my Husband and turned to what I knew the most Apparel. Which led me to Shopundressed a premium destination for affordable European clothing.
Alright, 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?
I don’t think any business is a smooth road, even the biggest players struggle with the ever-changing industry and economy. One of the biggest challenges for me was believing that people will like what I choose for the store. It is sort of like being an artist, you paint a painting, and you look at it for days and months and criticize it from every angle.
When the store launched apparel, it was evident that this is the Niche that is missing from the mass market. My goal was to bring premium quality clothing for an affordable price. I know quality and production very well by this point but running an e-com business is not just picking out a collection that will sell.
I had to build a website, design a website, create marketing campaigns, and learn about ad strategy and social media management. It took months and thousands of dollars with many ups and downs. Running a small business requires dreaming but also believing, passion but also commitment, dedication but also consistency, and finally accepting that every failure is a step closer to success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a 30-something-year-old woman, I found myself in a constant search for wardrobe pieces that will reflect my current persona. It was a wild goose chase, between the fast fashion trends and the terrible quality that didn’t last one wash I was discouraged from adding any new items to my wardrobe.
For a long time, I leaned on thrifting as I was able to find styles and outfits that were well suited for my current desires, but I was missing the modern trends. After contemplating for a long time on how I would be able to create a Store and If I was even capable of doing that, I took the leap of faith and started Shopundressed.
Our goal is to bring unique, classic, well-made clothing to women that are in the market for that special little something for under $200. We believe that a woman’s wardrobe is her opportunity to stand out and make a lasting first impression. Launched in 2019, Undressed Online Boutique offers a wide range of apparel to fit any woman’s unique sense of style.
Our clothing is carefully curated to provide our customers with the latest fashions. To keep our customers in style we post new arrivals weekly, as well as offer stylist picks to help any indecisive shoppers. Undressed Online Boutique is a fashionista’s best place to create the perfect wardrobe.
Beyond helping you look your best; Undressed Online Boutique strives to make every purchase a positive experience. Our top priorities are excellent customer service, exceptional products, ultra-original pieces, and a hassle-free return policy. We value your feedback, whether positive or constructive and we are continuously working to improve your experience.
If you are a first-time visitor or long-standing customer, we know you will be thrilled with every aspect of your Undressed Online Boutique shopping experience.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
The most important factor to me is the quality of the clothing we sell. I know firsthand how a simple detail such as a zipper can ruin a garment’s ability to perform. Many mass market retailers cut corners with low-quality finishes and budget-friendly materials, which causes the end consumer to be disappointed when the dress they ordered for their birthday party rips in the bathroom.
That is the biggest reason why I chose to purchase and produce in Europe because their standards for quality and execution are much higher than in Asia (at least in the mass market). Sure, you can buy a bikini on Shein for $10 but tell me how many times you wear it before it rips, stretches’, snags or tears?
We sell clothing that you can keep in your wardrobe and bring back season after season, vacation after vacation. The clothing you can wash and not worry that it will ruin after the 5th cycle. Dresses that when you put them on, compliment your figure and curve you in all the right places.
Clothing is made for women that want to wear the dress more than once and feel confident and comfortable.
Pricing:
- Lounge $55-150
- Dresses $55-200
- Swim for $65-125
- Jumpsuits $85-110
- Suits $65-125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopundressed.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopundressed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopundressed
Image Credits
MOE Clothing Poland
