Today we’d like to introduce you to Elodie Romulus.
Elodie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, I was always the girl with the latest fashion trends, whether it was shoes, clothes, phones… anything you can think of, I always had it. I was very into my physical appearance and always found myself trying out new things to change my look. And then, an interesting thing happened: people began asking where they could get things like mine.
Once I turned 21, I decided it was time to channel my ambition into something I have a passion for, so I started my online women’s boutique. I’ve always dreamed of being my own boss and making sure my family is well taken care of. It was not an easy task since I had no experience in running a business myself. But with the help of my mother, close friends, and constant research on the internet, I was able to learn and launch a successful business. I am constantly learning and finding ways to better and expand my brand nationwide.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been an easy road. I had to make many sacrifices when I started my business. I was a full-time student and working a nine-to-five job while building my brand, which left me with no free time for myself and cost me some relationships with people who once were very close to me. I felt alone at times but I knew I had a purpose and I had a goal to accomplish. There’s absolutely nothing easy about starting your own business at such a young age, especially because I like to think I can figure out everything on my own and am my own biggest critic. I always had been introverted, but starting my own business forced me to become more social and put myself out there in order to target the right audience and network with other young business owners like myself and learn from them as well.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the owner of Pretty Exotic, an online women’s boutique. I’m always asked how I came up with that name for my company. People already knew me as “Pretty E” on social media and I constantly was being reminded of my “Exotic” look, so I decided to combine both into my brand to better represent myself.
At Pretty Exotic, we sell 3D and 5D mink lashes, swimsuits and coverups, and are planning to add much more this year. The price of our products have made us stand out from other similar women’s boutiques. We are committed to bringing to the masses the latest fashions at affordable prices. We want to make people feel comfortable while creating their own exotic style. As our motto says “Don’t Be Regular, When You Can Be Exotic! “
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I understand that knowledge and perseverance are keys to start a business. I have put my “all” to make sure that the business is a success. I should have been less hard on myself. Also, I believe that although I did a lot of research and networking, I could have done more. I have now learned that even entrepreneurs need advice, help and support. Reaching out to others within the same industry, or business executives to help better understand the ever-changing marketplace would have been helpful.
The work that I have done has helped me to build a foundation to start and grow a business. However, I know there are many tiers to the business development process of a business; and I am willing to continue learning, researching, and seeking advice to help me excel in this endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopprettyexotic.bigcartel.com
- Phone: (786) 309-6529
- Email: [email protected], [email protected]
- Instagram: @prettyexotic_co.
Image Credit:
@fwayproductions
@defxdesign
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