Today we’d like to introduce you to Halee Wayne.
Halee, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my online boutique in January 2021 after spending a little over a year (hard to believe!) working from home due to COVID.
Back in May of 2020, I was on a walk and listening to a podcast about a woman who started an online boutique and what the process was like for her. She’s killing it in the world of online boutiques, so I tried to calm myself down after I got super excited about the idea. I knew it would take a lot of work and time, but I had the drive and ambition to do something creative and create a community of women to help build confidence in other women’s lives.
From that point on, I started reading blogs, watching YouTube videos, listening to podcasts to obtain as much knowledge as I possibly could. I spent countless hours coming up with a name, logo, brand colors, etc. I wanted the name of the boutique to sound like two sisters, but the meaning is much deeper. We had lost our beagle several months prior (Emmy) and I wanted to incorporate her name, and we have a family middle name of Rae, so I combined the two and landed on Emi + Rae Boutique.
From starting in January 2021 to today, I have learned SO much about owning a small business, taking photos, creating an LLC, establishing a brand and meeting so many incredible women through the process. I can’t wait to see where this small business leads me, but I know that it’s truly about helping other women feel good in their clothing and creating lasting friendships.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I have struggled with the exhaustion of trying to “do it all” and by that, I mean – being a good mom to my 2 young children, be a wife to my fantastic husband, work my 9-5 job and learn how to do it all with having to go back to an office setting.
I absolutely love working on the boutique and all the parts of it; however, I have to learn how/when to take a break. Since it doesn’t feel like “work” I find myself constantly thinking about new things I should buy or marketing ideas. This will always be a work in progress.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Emi + Rae Boutique?
I own an online women’s clothing boutique focusing on helping other women feel good in their clothing. I specialize in buying/helping style women’s outfits by sourcing quality fabrics that are comfortable for women and moms on the go. I also have some fun and unique pieces that are perfect for a mom’s night out or fun brunch. I enjoy having something to look forward to and I want to help others feel that excitement by feeling confident in what they’re wearing.
What sets me apart from other online boutiques is my passion for helping women style for their body types and feeling empowered to wear something that they normally wouldn’t.
I’m most proud of the community and connections that I’ve built and want to continue to enhance this to be a larger community of women to come together and be supportive of one another.
I’d love for you to check out my online boutique and watch for upcoming pop ups/sip + shops so that I can meet more ladies! I strive for fast shipping (ship orders same day or next day), free local pick up, excellent customer service…..I want to be as accessible as possible for questions about fit/fabrics, etc. If the item you received isn’t what you were expecting, I would love to know and work with you on how to fix it.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The best advice I have is to find someone who you want to strive to be like and reach out to them and ask if they’d be willing to spend 20-30 minutes with you to pick their brain. I have reached out to many people asking for advice and have yet to be turned down. There are a lot of wonderful people in this world. 🙂
Specifically for networking, that is my jam – I am a people person and love to meet people through vendor events. I reach out to different wineries/breweries, etc. to ask if I can be a vendor at their pop up events and this is a great way to get to know similar people in your area.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.emiandrae.com
- Instagram: @shopemiandrae
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopemiandrae
