Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Ables.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I helped build a shop (similar to the one I have now) in Portland, OR called Zig Zag Wanderer, and co-owned it for a brief time. After selling my half of the company, I moved to Joshua Tree to focus on music composition for TV and film, which has been my primary career for close to a decade. I eventually made my way to Los Angeles, and after a while I realized that I missed having a shop, and decided to try it out on my own. I looked at spaces in a handful of neighborhoods before finding a spot that I loved in Highland Park.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Opening a small business is never a smooth road. Money is always a struggle, and continues to be. The shop is doing well though, considering I just opened a year ago, and slowly but surely, I believe I’ll be able to get ahead financially. Trying to balance my other career making music with this one isn’t easy, but I’m making it work. I haven’t been able to have much of a social life because I work day and night, which is very common the first couple of years after you open your own business. I’m looking forward to having the option to hire some folks to help me out in another year or so.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I own a boutique that carries a diverse selection of clothing and handmade goods. The shop has a modern bohemian vibe, but not in a minimalist sense. It’s more like a packed, dark wood, ceramic and plant-heavy 70’s aesthetic. There are plenty of amazing boutiques in Los Angeles that have a similar thing going on. I suppose one of the things that makes my shop stand out is that I take chances on some smaller designer and apothecary lines that don’t have a big name yet in Los Angeles. Some of these companies are local, and some are scattered around the US. I try to keep my prices affordable, which is hard to find in a boutique like mine. Also, I like to think that my shop is friendly and inviting. A lot of people say it has a living room type of atmosphere.
What were you like growing up?
For the most part, I was introverted and a bit awkward. It took me a long time to break out of my shell. I’ve been interested in picking vintage, going furniture shopping, and designing rooms since I can remember. It makes sense that I fell into this as a career. Now I’m a much more social person, and I’m really excited to have a space where I can connect with people who have similar interests.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5727 N Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90042 - Website: www.preludeanddawn.com
- Phone: (323) 369-8782
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @prelude_and_dawn
- Facebook: @preludeanddawn
- Twitter: @preludeanddawn
- Yelp: biz.com/prelude-and-dawn-los-angeles
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