We had the good fortune of connecting with Carla Tanner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carla, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was about having multiple sources of income. I have always been a self starter and very imaginative and was always really good at coming up with creative ideas to make additional income. It came to a point in my life where I had to create something sustainable that I can have even when my main career was in a decline. Many people don’t know but I’m a licensed Pharmacist in the state of Texas. I worked for 7 years until the birth of my son in 2017, my husband and I relocated to Jacksonville, FL for his job and I was basically a stay at home mom. We relocated back to Texas After about a year and a half because I was ready to get back into the workforce but I noticed the jobs in Pharmacy were few and far in between and the jobs that were available were paying less than the usual market rate that I had become accustomed to. The Pharmacy world had become really saturated due to the surge of pharmacy schools opening everywhere causing a surplus of pharmacist especially in big Metropolitan cities like DFW. Big corporations decided that Pharmacist made too much and begin lobbying and getting laws changed to let Pharmacy Technicians perform some of the tasks previously only a pharmacist would do and increase ratios in favor of techs so they could hire more of them and less of us and pay them way less. So this is when I decided that i cannot rely solely on being a registered pharmacist anymore and started Garbz Boutique. I had always been a lover of fashion and good at putting together looks and already somewhat business savvy because of my inquisitive nature. I’m a natural researcher and made sure I took advantage of any opportunity to grow as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As previously stated, I have been a registered Pharmacist in the state of Texas for 1 1 years now and started my boutique during a time that I had decided to step back from the pharmacy world and dedicate that time to my son, not realizing a shift was happening in the field of pharmacy and pharmacist were on the short end of the stick. I delved even more deeper in my boutique business to keep my mind off of not being able to find decent permanent employment with benefits like the good ole days. I decided I wanted my brand to be known for exclusivity whilst also being inclusive. Being an avid shopper, I would always get upset that a certain style I liked would never be available in sizes bigger than Large or XL and sometimes the XL would be a juniors XL and not a Women’s XL lol. I wanted my brand to at least be Small to 3XL to accommodate a wider range of women who would be able to purchase cute and timelessly trendy items that can be worn past 1 or 2 wears/washes. The quality of merchandise is just as important to me as affordability and style of the merchandise. I will be 40 years young on July 1st, but I still feel cute and sassy and don’t want to look like grandma just yet, Im just getting started! So my target audience is somewhat like me a little older and professional but still be unique and stylish at the same time, Sis lives for Brunch and or Happy Hour?! Okay!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For food we would definitely hit up Yardbirds, Beto and Son, Paradisio, Pangea Dallas, Moxies, Sixty Vines, Tupelo Honey, its so many to name. For drinks I would go to Wolfgang Puck 360, Gloria’s (Food Too), XOXO dining room, Ebb and Flow, Mi Cocina etc. Would visit Epic Waterpark, Top Golf, Allen Premium Outlets and Six Flags etc. Don’t really hang out much but when I do Kings Spa, Hookah Lounges, The Statler Rooftop, Ritz Carlton Bar, The Westin Lobby Bar and the Daiquiri Shop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First I would like to dedicate this to my wonderful husband! He was my initial investor in my boutique journey and I couldn’t have done it without him. Next I want to dedicate this to my friends and family members who support me and buy things before I even have a chance to put it out lol. I also would like to thank all of the influencers I met through Dallas Social Influencers Agency Josh, Jen and Crys they know who they are. I have learned so much and made so many connections from my membership in DSI and I am very grateful to have met such a wonderful group of ladies. Shout out to my business besties Kelyn Nash and Tahnee Jones for their support! #EachOneTeachOne

Website: www.garbzboutique.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/garbzboutique/

Linkedin: Garbz Boutique

Twitter: @garbzboutique

Facebook: @garbzboutique

Image Credits
Photographers: IG @jessfx_photography, @crystallografy_, @joshlynphotography

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