Meet Quanna Goosby | Boutique Owner

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

Hi Quanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In March 2020, I lost my younger brother. This was right around the time covid had officially begun and businesses were shutting down or forcing employees to work from home. I decided to go to my mom’s house in Florida and work virtually for a month. Fortunately, we would soon receive a stimulus check. As I logged into work every morning feeling unappreciated and undervalued; I decided I wanted to take my stimulus check and start my own business. I sat and thought about what business I should go into, as I was always into fashion and even made shoes by hand while being pregnant with my daughter and unable to work. So then I realized, it was obvious, I needed to start a women’s shoe business. I took my stimulus check, built my own website and bought 20 pair of shoes to start off. I sold out of my first release within 3 days and took off from there.

What should our readers know about your business?
After I started my business online, I knew that I needed a place people could come to try shoes on. I couldn’t afford to get my own space at the time, so I figured I would get a place at the flea market. I made a status on my facebook about how I wanted to get my items at the flea market and received so much discouragement; telling me that they have a waitlist or they don’t let black people sell there. I decided to go see for myself. I went up to the flea market on a saturday, they told me that had a space available, so I paid for the space and started selling my items there the next day. For over a year, I sold my items at the flea market, I started out outside working in over 90 degree weather, to getting a space inside where people would come to see me every weekend. Of course with so much going on, it became overwhelming. I tried to hire a few people to help but it didn’t work out. I eventually decided I needed a space outside of the flea market where people can purchase everyday. I got a realtor and found a small cute space at a location across the street of the most popular mall in Oklahoma City. After being at this location for a month, I was asked to leave without reason. I then had to move my business back to the flea market. I continued to work out of the flea market until I noticed that one of the facebook friends had posted a video of them hanging tv’s in a location inside of Penn Square Mall (The most popular mall in Oklahoma City). I contacted the friend and asked for them to pass my information to the owner so that I could see if I could add my items in their location. The facebook friend told me they would try, but never got back to me. A few days later I was at a location and the owner of the store just so happened to be there handing out flyers to advertise the grand opening; I told them that I was planning to come by their store that Monday and try to talk to someone about getting my items inside the store, the owner told me to come by Monday and that’s what I did. Not expecting me to show up, the owner opens the door after knocking and let’s me in. We speak about my business, what I have to bring and agree on a space and a price in the corner of the store. After about 2 months, the owner noticed all of the customers my business was bringing into the store and offered me a co-owner position. I currently have items located inside of this store, in the process of moving locations inside of penn square mall and opening a new location (Boutique Lounge/Event Space) in Grand Prairie, TX.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am just moving to texas in March 2022 and being a single mother, I very rarely get to get out much, I have visited the XOXO lounge, which is a very cute experience. I have also been to the deep ellum area; which I enjoy seeing black people having a good time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My 5 year old daughter Jerzi is my motivation, support and encouragement. I was once in a situation where mentally I was abused and taken advantage of. My daughter and I were once homeless at a point. But she encouraged me to never give up. When someone depends on you to protect them, feed them and guide them; you have no choice but to do what you have to do. I want to break generational curses and have something I can pass down to my child.

Website: www.drapedoutfitters.com

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