Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Sangiorgio.
Hi Taylor, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have dreamed of having an online boutique since I was a little girl. I always knew from a very young age what I wanted to do with my life and never doubted that this was the path for me. I started working at a popular/trendy boutique when I was 16 years old and continued to work in retail throughout my college years. In college, I majored in Fashion Merchandising and Design with a minor in business. Being able to work closely with boutique owners while also learning about the fashion industry in my classes heavily prepared me for starting my own company. After I graduated college, I began brainstorming ideas on how I could make this brand unique and turn my dreams into reality. I made a vision board, wrote out my mission statement and began to purchase merchandise. I built my online store using a Shopify template and watched videos on how to code in order to make my website stand out and alter it in the ways I wanted. After months of planning and endless late nights, I finally felt ready to launch.
Unfortunately, that same week we were all forced to go on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It did not feel right to launch my online boutique during a time of crisis, where so many people were losing their jobs and their loved ones. I had no choice but to hold off until things felt more under control and safe. Finally, in July of 2020 as things slowly began to go back to normal and businesses were reopening, I was able to launch Dusted Rose. This company means everything to me, it’s basically my firstborn child. Since we are still very new, I do every single aspect of it on my own. It’s a lot of stress, a lot of long nights. Work really never stops, but I honestly wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m still learning new things about this business each and everyday. I’m still figuring out what works and what doesn’t work– what I need to be doing more of or less of. Today my main focus is marketing and working to get this brand the exposure that it needs. I am a firm believer in the law of attraction and getting back the energy you give out. I believe that I manifested this life for myself by never doubting my capabilities or worthiness of achieving the dreams I have for myself. If you put in the work and you do it with purpose, it will always work out.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road at all. With the COVID-19 pandemic putting us on hold, I had endless worries. Considering we were supposed to launch in March 2020, all of the merchandise I picked out was purchased in December 2019 and in January 2020. I had no idea when we would be able to launch, so I was stuck with all this merchandise that I potentially wouldn’t be able to sell. Fashion is ever-changing and trends come and go. I was so worried that by the time I launched, none of the merchandise I picked out would be in style anymore. Luckily, I did research ahead of time on Spring/Summer 2020 trends and mainly purchased items in that category since my company is based out of California, and March here technically feels like spring weather. I was also worried about my health and the health of those around me. Having an online store doesn’t mean you always work from home.
I’m actually on the move a lot during my work weeks. I have to go visit my vendors to pick up and purchase new products, I have to meet with my model to shoot website imagery and get content for each of our social media platforms. I take extreme precautions daily to make sure I’m being safe. On top of all these struggles that come along with the pandemic, there’s also the normal bumps in the road that come along with starting any new business. There is so much competition in this industry and I struggle a lot with comparing myself to others. At the end of the day, I try to always remember that Dusted Rose is my own vision. It’s my own personalized, unique brand. Good things take time, and I need to remain patient because these things don’t just happen overnight.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dusted Rose. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Dusted Rose is my online boutique, the dream I’ve had for myself since I was a little girl. It is an online destination made for the lovers of fashion who are looking for the latest trends. The meaning behind the name Dusted Rose is inspired by the girls with many talents, the ones who are just as beautiful as they are intelligent. We are known for selling affordable, on-trend women’s apparel. I built this company with the focus of promoting confidence and individuality amongst young women everywhere. Something I always struggled with growing up was not being able to obtain self-confidence and constantly comparing myself to others. Fashion was one of the things that helped me break away from that. If I had a good outfit on, I instantly felt more confident. I was more social, more comfortable in my own skin– it even made me have a more positive outlook on my day. Wearing a good outfit can sincerely change your whole mood. I quickly realized my passion for the fashion industry was much greater than just creating clothes or putting together outfits. I love fashion because it’s a form of self-expression, it emphasizes what makes each individual person unique.
In today’s society with social media and influencer platforms growing nonstop, comparison is stronger than it’s ever been. I’m proud to be building a brand that has a sole purpose to promote confidence and celebrate versatility. What sets us apart from our competitors is being able to build this company using my personal experience and being able to truly relate to our target customer. I understand the struggle to find quality, fashionable items at an affordable cost. I understand wanting to build your ideal wardrobe but not knowing where to start. I understand feeling like you “have nothing to wear” and wanting to cancel plans because you know everyone there is going to dress to impress. I understand feeling insecure and uncomfortable because I’m comparing myself to every other person in the room. It’s extremely important to me to build a community within Dusted Rose. I want my customers to trust me and relate to me. I want them to know I’ve been there and it is my goal as a boutique owner to give young women everywhere access to affordable fashion that makes them feel strong and confident.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I find happiness in lots of things so I’ll name a few! To start, being able to make a career out of something I’m deeply passionate about makes me happy. Not very many people can say the same and it’s something I will never take for granted. Being outside and enjoying the world around me makes me happy. I find lots of my inspiration from being outside, people watching and analyzing trends. The fresh air and having a reason to get out of the house is always a plus. Being able to apply my creativity and my vision each and everyday in my career brings me so much joy. There’s no better feeling than being able to bring your vision to life and executing it perfectly. Music makes me happy. I feel like that’s self-explanatory, music is just always there for you. Making other people happy makes me happy. It always feels good to make someone’s day and bring happiness into other people’s lives. I can go on and on but those are first on the list!
Pricing:
- $25-$105
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.shopdustedrose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopdustedrose/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopdustedrose
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopdustedrose?lang=en
