Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricki Craft.
Hi Ricki, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At a young age, my mother owned a gently used clothing store in a small Tennessee town (Oneida) where she also had tanning beds. Hattie’s Tropical Tanning. I spent my summers helping work & seen just how clothing, a compliment & conversations could completely change a person’s day. Giving them the confidence they couldn’t return! I loved fashion & being in the spotlight. I also traveled, competing in many pageants.
I was the 1997 Miss TN pre-teen title holder & went on to compete in Miss USA. I got married & birthed my only child at age 18. In my early 20s, I was a divorced single mother solely raising my son, Jonah Blu. My dreams were doable but nothing was coming easy. After putting myself through college, and working jobs but never happy.
My teenage son reiterated the talk I had given him about following his dreams & ask when I was going to follow mine. It caught me off guard but also got my attention. My boutique had been my dream but my mindset was I couldn’t raise my son AND be a business owner. I started praying, my mindset shifted & everything started falling into place. Blu La Rue Boutique launched online shopping only in September 2020.
Less than a year later, I opened where customers could shop Blu La Rue in person in that same small town where my mother had her store 30 years ago. Blu La Rue Boutique in August of 2021 was now online & in person inside K&M Sports in Oneida, TN. Dec 2021 the boutique held its first live sale fashion show & another in January 2022. In December an 18 years old young lady from a nearby city, Oak Ridge, TN was battling rare cancer.
The boutique held a fundraiser raising 1,444..00 within one weekend that was donated to this young lady, Chloe Wells & her family on Christmas Eve! On May 22, The Boutique was invited to be spotlighted in its hometown in Powell, Tn at the First Horizon Bank of our community. May is also mental health awareness month. I myself have struggled with mental health & my son has watched the struggles it can cause.
Jonah Blu had a vision for a t-shirt to be designed & offered at Blu La Rue to bring awareness to mental health. With every shirt purchased a percentage was set aside for Blu acts of kindness. We want to spread some happiness not only in the month of May but always. Now there is a section on the website where anything purchased in that section a percentage goes to Blu acts of kindness.
Thus far we have filled several bags of all sizes with a shirt & hygiene items to be given to those in need. We make it known this wouldn’t be possible without all of Blu La Rue’s customers & we truly believe we have the best customers around! Be on the lookout as the boutique goes on the road this summer & look for the launch date for Blu La Rue’s very own app, yes we’re getting an app so customers can literally shop so effortlessly at any time.
You can do it all! My story is still being written but in this short time, I deeply feel God has blessed me greatly & has so much more for me to accomplish. My reminder to anyone is never to give up on your dreams. The small business community has impacted me & my business in a great manner.
When you find others that put community over the competition you have found your people & with people & through God is the best way to win.
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?
I started with my previous job’s last paycheck & a huge leap of faith. I’ve struggled to purchase inventory & also pay my bills. Technology has been a learning experience.
Staying up to date on the back end as well as keeping up with every other title to be handed is overwhelming. I’m a one-woman show!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I own Blu La Rue Boutique. A boutique you can shop anytime online or in person during business hours. Blu La Rue is proud to be size exclusive. Carrying sizes small – 4x.
We’re not just any boutique. When you shop with us, you become a friend. Blu La Rue has a Facebook VIP group where women lift women up! We live anyone up! I do weekly live sales & absolutely love engaging with any & all customers. I like to get to know them & I want them to really know me!
If a customer sends a message to the boutique I will be the one to respond. Customer service is very important & the customer should always feel that.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I always enjoy a good read. Honestly, since opening Blu La Rue I have had a tight circle of family & other business owners that have helped navigate me through different situations.
We encourage each other, cry on the overwhelming days & pray for each other. God & my son, Jonah Blu truly impact me the most.
InstaBoss is a large group I’m a member of that has really been a group of knowledge that has helped me grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blularueboutique.commentsold.com/
- Instagram: @blularue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blularue/
