Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Patao.
Lauren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Aria Rose in August of 2018. Having been a fashion and lifestyle blogger for 4+. years, I realized my love for inspiring others to dress their best while feeling they’re most confident.
Ever since I can remember, owning a boutique was always the end goal for me. When I started Aria Rose, I started with barely any money in my bank account (very, very little) but I knew it was time to start. With a goal in mind to make women of all ages, sizes, clothing preferences, comfortable in what they wear, I began Aria Rose.
Since its inception, Aria Rose has not only curated online new arrivals weekly but also now has a Coral Gables showroom in the heart of Downtown Gables. We’re confident (and so excited) that this is only the beginning!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning your own business is never a smooth road. While I absolutely love being my own boss, it’s sometimes overpowering. As a business owner and a store owner at that, I’m never able to “shut off.” I often get yelled at by my friends or boyfriend for always being on my phone. I’m very involved in every single thing that happens at Aria Rose since we are an extremely small team, so that means wearing many hats and being responsive to my customers at all times. After all, they’re the reason I am where I am today.
I would say the most difficult thing would be balancing my personal life and work life and separating the two when necessary. Each one needs their own attention!
Of course, like with anything in life, there are bumps along the road. I’ve dealt with difficulties in the past year but, despite those difficulties, I am so grateful that I am able to own Aria Rose and have an absolutely amazing community of #ariarosegirls. Will it get easier? Probably not. Will I continue to make mistakes? Definitely. But every day is a new chance to learn something new and I absolutely love that.
Aria Rose – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Aria Rose is a women’s online store and Miami boutique. As a 25-year-old female living in Miami, I’ve always found it difficult to find clothing that is beautiful and sexy without being revealing. I think there’s a fine line between showing it all and leaving a little up to the imagination.
One thing we pride ourselves on at Aria Rose is curating pieces that everyone feels comfortable in and their most confident wearing. We cater to girls as young as 13 to women in their 70s. Our main goal is to make you feel like you’re shopping with your best friend. Our goal is not only to create long-lasting relationships with our customers (yes, some of them have even become good friends!), but to make them want to come back because it’s a place, whether online or in-store, that they feel comfortable shopping at.
I’m so proud of this community that Aria Rose has created over the past (almost) year. It hasn’t been easy but one thing we make sure of is that our customers know that we are their friends. We are honest, we are supportive, and we are uplifting. It’s a personal shopping experience and we want everyone to leave feeling excited about their new outfits and grateful for their time spent at Aria Rose. We will always tend to our #ariarosegirls, whether it’s answering DMs at midnight or staying at the store late waiting for a customer to come shop. Whatever it is, we do it. And we do it for our girls!
Another thing that’s really cool about Aria Rose is that it’s very family-run. While I am the owner, my dad takes all of my photos for new arrivals and my mom handles everything from finances, day-to-day, fun try-on sessions and helping customers.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
This is a difficult question because, with everything I have done, I have learned. I don’t think I would do anything differently because I am grateful for every little speed bump that I’ve had to overcome. I like to think about tomorrow rather than the past… because that’s the only way we grow!
Pricing:
- Everything is under $100!
Contact Info:
- Address: 147 Alhambra Circle
Suite 218
Coral Gables, FL 33134 - Website: www.ariarose.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopariarose/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopariarose/
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