Meet Stacie Seaton | Boutique Owner

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

Hi Stacie, how do you think about risk?
Risk is often associated with danger or something bad. It is often used negatively, emphasizing only the setbacks associated with potential actions. We seem to forget that risk also means “possibility”!

Risk-taking can be intimidating because of the chance of setbacks, but taking risks can also lead to success that would otherwise be unimaginable. In my business and my personal life, I have learned the importance of taking calculated risks.

On my vision board, I have written the following definition: “Risk propensity is the willingness to take risks with the possibility of gaining increased reward”. Every time I see this, I’m reminded to boldly take risks, while weighing the reward opportunity against the potential consequences.

Taking risks, especially in a small business, can be daunting, stressful, and costly. Presently, the Boutique is in the process of taking a considerable risk. To manage this risk, significant research, marketing, and financial resources were needed. I believe that knowing what is being undertaken and what the opportunity is if the risk succeeds are the keys to risk-taking. Even though there is a possibility of a setback, I know the opportunities and potential it could bring to my business. This makes me willing to take those chances.

Along the way, there have been moments of doubt. I have had to weigh those doubts and have prepared myself to deal with them by remembering the reasons and goals that led me to take the risk in the first place. I also celebrate milestones along the way. Focusing on those milestones and small successes helps motivate me to keep moving forward.

It was once said, “When you take risks there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” I believe this is a vital mindset for risk-takers. Even if a setback occurs, these opportunities for learning and growth are invaluable to you and your business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Empowerment Boutique aims to elevate the online shopping experience of apparel, we call it fashion done differently. Focusing on style and fit, we guide our customers as they make conscious purchasing decisions. Our company began in 2022 as “3rd Time’s a Charm” promoting the normalization of secondhand fashion while educating on how to reduce textile waste. In 2023, we transformed into “The Empowerment Boutique” both expanding on our original mission and utilizing an online platform to do live selling shows. As part of our commitment to our customers, we encourage the purchase of pre-loved and upcycled garments, making conscious purchases, and repurposing unwanted styles. With over 35% of online apparel orders returned due to sizing issues, we are working hard to lower this statistic and reduce textile waste. We do this by providing measurements alongside sizes and encouraging our customers to ask questions before making their purchases. This helps simplify the online shopping experience for our customers and empowers them to make informed purchases they can feel confident about. Confidently shopping means fewer returns and extending apparel’s lifespan from the average 7 wears to many, many wonderful years.
I am excited to be bringing in two new individuals to our team this year. Their roles will be in inventory acquisition and assisting with our live shows. Hiring these amazing women will enable me to spend more time connecting with our customers, providing a more personal shopping experience.
Online businesses present a variety of challenges. When consumers have so many choices, reaching the right customer base can be challenging. When sales were low, I felt discouraged and wanted to give up. It felt impossible to achieve my dream and vision for the boutique. Determination to see my dream achieved along with the gentle encouragement of my wonderful partner was crucial to overcoming these challenges. Along the way, there have been mistakes and oversights made that resulted in returns, refunded orders, or loss of customers. I used the lessons learned from these mistakes as opportunities to learn what didn’t work for the business and I made the changes necessary to improve. By revising my methods I found success and continued to push forward, trying again and again. For me, success is about liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

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?
When my friend from New Hampshire comes to visit we always have a great time visiting local coffee shops, thrift stores, and spending time in the outdoors. I take her to a little coffee shop called “Roots Coffeehouse” in North Richland Hills and then we start at Texas Thrift and go on a “thrift crawl” throughout the area. For lunch, we would go to “Empa Mundo” in Irving. Their authentic cuisine reminds me of my visit to Argentina. After a day of shopping, we would relax by taking photographs at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be able to own a successful business without the encouragement of my family and friends. They have always been there for me showing support, lending an ear, and providing honest feedback. Special thanks to my life partner who lovingly supports everything that I do and encourages me to boldly take risks.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.empowerment.boutique/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEmpowermentBoutique/

Other: https://linktr.ee/the.empowerment.boutique

Image Credits
Stacie Seaton