I met Amanda Henderson during my mad dash to find an apartment for next fall. I responded to a housing ad and met up with Amanda the other day to tour the townhouse she owns off Hartsfield road. We got to talking about apartments and roommates and she mentioned that she was a recent alumni and newlywed who currently resided in Indiana, but was in town for a photo shoot. Amanda also owns her own online boutique called Ashe Couture. After a quick peek through the inventory, I was hooked. One of my favorite pieces from the Ashe collection is going to be raffled off at our Valentine’s Day blood drive on February 19. This vintage American flag scarf is a must-have for any Collegiette!
HC: So Amanda, what first got you interested in fashion and owning your own business?
AH: I first got into fashion at the age of 16. I worked for a local boutique for seven years and the owner, LeeAnn Spriggs, really took me under her wing, teaching me how to take chances and follow my gut when making important business decisions. After I graduated from FSU, my husband and I decided to relocate north to be near family. While in Indiana, I worked in a corporate environment, still in fashion, but while loving my position, it was never completely fulfilling. I needed something that I could really run with. So in the fall of 2013, I took a huge leap of faith and started Ashe Couture. I chose my boutique to be online to maintain flexibility in my personal life. I needed Ashe Couture to be different, to be something you wouldn’t see everyday at every boutique. I wanted to incorporate my personal style while also taking chances.
HC: What would you say your biggest initial challenge was when starting Ashe Couture?
AH: All of my sales experience was in a physical store, where you could set up displays and physically interact with your customers. Having an online presence is a completely different game. Things like figuring out who your customer is, how to market, and how to advertise to get your name out to who you think and want your customer to be; it’s a very unique and different process. Because I am still in my early stages of business, I am still tweaking things and it will be a little longer before it is 100% where I want it to be. But the process of getting there has been amazing.
HC: Running your own business must be difficult. How has it been so far?
AH: It has been wonderful so far! Every day things surprise me! Whether it be something selling out that’s only been live for an hour or an item not doing as well as anticipated. In early February 2014, we were named part of Tori Spellings’ “All Things We Love” and were asked to participate in a huge giveaway alongside some really amazing labels. All stages of business, especially the beginning, have some interesting experiences and things like that. I’m just honored to have Ashe be apart of this group.
HC: Do you have any advice for our readers?
AH: I have a few separate, small pieces of advice.
1. You don’t have to be a millionaire to follow your dreams. All you need is a budget and the passion to drive it.
2. You have to be able to admit to yourself that (eventually) you are going to need help and need to relinquish some control.
3. Network constantly; have a mentor and a great support system. They are going to be a great listening ear when you are having difficulties and your biggest fans through all of your successes and accomplishments.