Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Olvey.
Hi Kim, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Just a little about me – my heart has always been in fashion. As I was heading off to college in Tampa, FL I really wanted to go to a design and textile school but seeing as I was the first person in our family to go to college my Dad said no you are going to a four-year college so off I went to the University of South Florida. After which I entered into the corporate world, and after almost 30 years in Corporate America (yes started when I was 5) I was working for Regal entertainment group when COVID hit and as you know our world was turned upside down. Well as you can imagine they closed the theatres so my group in the IT world were no longer needed and many of us were laid off. I talked to my husband to see what he thought about me starting an online boutique after all it is all I have ever wanted to do. After much conversation and prayer I decided to start Mae Larue Boutique. So, I started out of my home utilizing our extra bedrooms. I took to FaceBook to perform LIVEs once a week to promote and show off my product – which I still do today and so enjoy!!! After about a year, I found The Painted Perch and Co. which is a great shop down the street and truly found my home there. We have everything from furniture, home goods, wood cuts, antiques and now a boutique. It is truly my happy place and I love meeting my clients there to help them on their fashion journey!!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No it has not always been a smooth road, with lots of bumps actually. Although I have always loved fashion and helping others shop, it was a huge responsibility to buy clothes for the boutique that would appeal to everyone. Finding the right color and styles for everyone and deciding what items will sell has always been a hard decision. Learning the in’s and out’s about business and paying monthly and yearly taxes has also had it bumps. Like I did not know when I first started sales taxes were collected on a monthly basis and received a bill for over $500 when I had sold nothing at all. Learning how to set up a Facebook shop and going live in front of all Facebook users also had many challenges and much of it was just trial and error and full of a lot of anxiety. Learning to navigate it and feeling comfortable in front of the camera (my phone) took lots of practice with many errors mixed in, and now I absolutely love it!!
As you know, we’re big fans of Mae Larue Boutique. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I strive to help women discover their outer beauty so that it will match the inner beauty while finding the right outfits to help them flourish. I tend to market to a more mature women as I feel it is hard to find trendy, quality and stylish clothes as we age past our 20’s and 30’s. So many women put themselves last and need to know they are a priority and that they cannot help anyone until they take care of themselves first. If you are having a bad day – – the right outfit can really lift your spirits. I love to invite women into the shop and style them from head to toe. I love to participate in fashion shows so that a broader base can see the outfits I can bring to everyone. I also love going live on Facebook and Instagram weekly putting 8 to 10 outfits together for women to see themselves in. I have always had a corporate job that was not fulfilling and what a different feeling to be doing something you absolutely love.
What does success mean to you?
I believe success is different for every person and I think the first thing that comes to mind is money and revenue. While this is very important, success is also accomplishing a life long dream to start your own business while helping women to look and feel their very best. Success to me can also be measured in no longer working in Corporate America and setting out to start my own business during a pandemic and working with women to bring their confidence to another level. For me personally and in my business, it is so important to build and maintain relationships with women so that I can get to know them and their needs even better. Love that I get to brighten someone’s day by even having a conversation and supporting them in their dreams and passions also.
Pricing:
- I strive to bring in quality items that will not break the bank. Style can be trendy and affordable.
- Prices range from $20 to $90
Contact Info:
- Website: maelarue.com
- Instagram: @shopmaelarue
- Facebook: @shopmaelarue
Image Credits
Amy Sullivan Photography
