Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Howell.
Hi Tamara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
When I was a little girl going into my teens, I always had this passion for fashion. My mom would always give me $400 every month and I use to run downtown to Macy, Rave, Rainbow, and Marshals and put a whole bunch of outfits together. I always stood out but I wanted to stand out even more that’s when I learned how to accessorize and color block. And over the years I just got more obsessed with fashion.
I started dressing up my boys and myself, and whenever I post a pic of us on social media, I get so many compliments and people use to ask me to style them or their kids, so I did that for a while and sometimes I still get random inquiries for styling but I stepped away from that.Because I wanted to focus on something Greater.Then in 2016, I thought to myself how about I open up a mobile boutique because at that time I didn’t know about LLCs or how to start an online boutique. Fast forward I started buying pieces from wholesalers in the area of my route because I am a MailLady and I knew just about everyone in the area and created bonds with them.
Business was good but some days I got discouraged and quit because I still couldn’t find my niche on what I really wanted to do with myself. All I knew it was going to be fashion related. So, one day I decided I was going to start a clothing line and that’s how Raw Territory got started. Now that’s my baby Raw Territory stands for Rich and Wealthy Lifestyle. Everyone wants to be RAW., I was successful with the Raw Territory it is a luxury urban wear for both men and women. It did so well that I got the opportunity to have my brand inside the Shoe Gallery Miami.
It sold out so well it was a proud moment for me. And to get on Instagram and see football basketball players and even producers with my brand on let me know I created a dope brand. I am still in the process to push my brand further. Right now, I am working on both businesses @Rawmiastyles and Raw Territory while also working my 9-5.
I don’t know how I do it but everything is falling into place. My online boutique is up and running well at rawmiastyles.com my goal is to eventually leave my job as a mail carrier and open a storefront in the future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road only because it takes a lot of hard work dedication, and patience and I can honestly say that I use to rush the process.
I wanted success now. But success doesn’t happen overnight, my biggest struggle was number 1 finding a great manufacturer for my clothing brand Raw Territory and great vendors for my online boutique.
Secondly the accounting part of it. I fund my own business from my job. So that was a struggle there. I wasn’t familiar with building business credit at the time. Now I am aware of these things I’m learning more about being a businesswoman.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My Work Is Unique, It’s Original It’s RAW! it Speaks For Itself. My Work Shows You Can Be From The Hood and Not Be A Product of your environment. You can still Work a 9-5 While Building A empire Just Off chasing your dreams no matter the circumstances. RAW is An Everyday Vision For Me And It’s More Than Just A Name It’s A LIFESTYLE.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me the most is my kids; this is why I grind the way I do with two different businesses. Because I want them to have a better life than me, I want them to bare all the fruits of my labor.
I want them to live comfortably, and enjoy life to the fullest so every day I wake up my number 1 goal is to try to do more than what I did the day before to accomplish that lifestyle for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: RawMiaStyles.com and RawTerritory.com
- Instagram: @ThaRealRawTee
- Facebook: Tamara Howell
