We recently connected with Victoria Paul-Chatman and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Victoria , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Growing up, in Long Island New York, I was born in Brooklyn and raised in 1990′ s Suburbia by my mom and grandma to a one parent household with 5 siblings and a whole lot of love. My family descended from the Carribean Island known as Hispaniola, Haiti. Emigrating from the islands, came with very strict principles that were heavily enforced by my grandmother. The love in our home was so immense it often drew in distant family, friends and neighbors. Days would turn into weeks, weeks would turn into months or some would completely move-in. lol During our guests stays, I’d find myself catering to them as people from the islands tend to do. I’d give away some of my newest dresses, clothing, shoes & accessories, inadvertently, making them over. Transforming their look & subsequently boosting their self-confidence. Everyone would always leave better than they came. The reaction I’d get from them ,was priceless. The way a persons eyes would light up, brought me Instant joy and my heart would smile. This of course, would frustrate my mother but I never got in any trouble, so I viewed my act of kindness as a good thing,
This was the first catalyst to discovering my varying purpose(s). I do believe, a purpose isn’t limited to one specific attribute or thing. I also believe that I tap into my purpose whenever I am fulfilling my hearts desires. My purpose is found whenever I am elevating my environment, building their confidence and enhancing the beauty of others. My purpose is found in places where I can make a difference; and authentically be myself. I find purpose in purposeful things and even in simple hobbies that have personal or in-depth meanings. But, in the grand scheme of things, my career purpose has been the freedom and opportunity to combine both of my passions. Those two things are, Fashion and Philanthropy.
My life’s work is giving!
I find gifts, acts of service and words of affirmation to be my fondest love languages. My purpose derives from tapping into my God-Given talents and exploring them. The ability to give and make others feel good are a part of my purpose.
As a Boutique Owner and Experience Curator today, I can look back and see that my professional life and all of my experiences are a direct reflection of my upbringing and the skills I continue to develop along the way.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Born in the Fashion Capital of America, New York City is my birthplace! I was born in Brooklyn, to the tone of the 90’s era.
By the age of 5, my mother had moved my siblings and I to Long Island New York, also known as Suburbia. We were always moving on up, like the Jeffersons! My mother and aunties were all into Fashion, Beauty and all things luxury, So naturally, I grew up with a passion for fashion, styling and setting my look apart from others. My mother would take us shopping at some of the most coveted NYC boutiques, malls, Jewelers & thrift stores. We’d score the city for the hottest off-price retailers! On the weekends we’d travel near and far for the latest in luxury.
My love for fashion and financial woes, led me to withdrawing from Long Island University, where I was pursuing a degree in Psychology and Business. I accepted a job offer for a well known Fashion House, While working there, I got my first real taste of the fashion industry from a backend perspective. That was the beginning of me embarking on my journey to fully pursue fashion, I would later take the steps to creating and designing my very first t-shirt clothing brand, The Billionaire Girls Club. The shirts were a hit! I pitched the collection to any buyer who would listen. The process to launching in stores was the most challenging and discouraging. At that time, most stores were not willing to roll the dice on a black owned designer or business. We were automatically labeled as an urban brand.
I would spend the next few years working Sales & Retail Jobs; while developing my business plan and non for profit organization, behind the scenes.
In 2009, I moved from New York to Atlanta to further my career goals.
After several years of successfully executing hundreds of Pop-Up Shops and Events in both cities, I was able to build strong ties and engagements with Brands, Designers, Influencers, Entrepreneurs, Corporate Sponsors, Celebrities, Press and more.
But, having to deal with the disparities of being a black-woman owned small business has been no easy feat.
I made a promise to myself that when given the opportunity, I would provide entrepreneurs and brands a simpler, un-biased and seamless process to selling their products in retail stores.
The Graytin Haus & Co formerly known as The Ultimate Closet was established in June 2017. in Atlanta Georgia.
The first physical location was opened in Decatur, Georgia at the Cut Creator Salon Suites. With the use of my visual merchandising experience I transformed, 600 square feet of office space into a retail boutique. Within a year, the business was thriving and The Ultimate Closet began to live up to its name!
By 2019, I had outgrew the space. In November 2019, our size had doubled. I relocated to 2,100 sq ft at The Perimeter Mall, located in Dunwoody, GA and then into NorthPoint Mall.
In July 2023, I rebranded and relocated to our first brick & mortar location at The Point at Emory, in Atlanta, GA.
Despite the many challenges we have faced, the marathon continues.
My goal, is to continue to partner with local non for profits and businesses to further our mission to becoming, The Ultimate Community driven boutique. Our motto, ‘We’re more than just clothes, we are creating a business that immerses itself in community. I do believe, that the sole advantage of power is to do more good. The plan is to expand our department store concept and in the future we aspire to have several locations that are solely comprised of mission based, women and minority owned brands.
Today, less than 1% of retailers sell products owned by minorities.
The Graytin Haus & Co. Boutique specializes in fashion, beauty and consumer products industries. We offer a space for mission and minority owned brands to carry their products in store. Our mission is simple – connect Customers to underserved brands and these Brands to Customers. With a service model that takes care of all the heavy lifting, we’ve launched over 350 pop-ups, since 2006 including partnerships with Corporate Sponsors, like Tiff’s Treats, Chipotle, Jersey Mikes,John Emerald Distillery, Nothing Bundt Cake, Redbull, Boston Market just to name a few and dozens of small-, medium to large sized-Fashion & Beauty brands. Some of our events coverage can be seen in both print and digital press in NYC, ATLANTA & Los Angeles as well as on social media.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In an attempt to limit our idle time, at five years old, my mother signed me up for our local track & field team.
It was there I received my first lessons in resilience, consistency, self-confidence and the importance of finishing what you start. Westbury Track & Field was my second home, I left it all on the track. I grew up with the mindset of an athlete. From childhood to present. I’d typically find myself in leadership positions or the Captain of the many teams I’d join, such as track, cheer, dance and more. As a kid, I could be found, creating, teaching and directing groups. taking on projects, devising a plan. designing dresses for my crew or scheduling group meetings called “spit outs” to discuss our indifferences. I was the peacemaker and the problem solver. I learned early on the benefits of being persistent. proactive and pragmatic.
I observed my mother raise 5 children and take on the responsibility of many others, on a tight budget and never waiver. My mother had a unique way of making the most challenging of task seem effortless. She also had a hardworking, persistent personality with a knack for getting her desired results; which she also instilled in her children.
I lived vicariously through her and the life experiences of those around me. I learned early on how to balance being the observer and active participant. On my 14th Birthday, before the ink could even dry on my working papers, I had applied for my first job.
After school. I’d take 3 buses across town to get there while maintaining my high school GPA. Doing the work, was never an option. I realized early on, that no-one was coming to save me and that I’d have to strap up my boots and do the work.
Once I decided to follow my passion, I only sought out work aligned to my career goals. I small to large retailers.
From Sales Associate, to Visual Merchandising, Management etc,
Flash forward to my life today, I am a boutique owner who plans community driven events and enjoys consulting small businesses. I teach start ups. how to start up. My non-for profit organization, Button Up America works with at-risk youth to teach and improve on their life skills & financial literacy. Students also learn problem-solving skills, Interview -job training, business acumen and additional resources
All of these skills including my employment history, continue to play a major role in my life’s journey today. What I have learned is that, all of your life’s experiences and decisions will have an impact on the trajectory of your life.
The experiences, how you react to these experiences, adjusting to the changes these experiences will cause both positive and negative, the application and execution of the lessons, will all be the sum of your life’s journey.
The best advice I can give anyone would be to prioritize personal and professional development. Self-awareness is a major key to navigating your way through life. When you improve yourself, you have the ability to improve and set the tone for everything else. I leave you with these three things, Be proactive, dig deep and do what you love.
Stop and smell the Magnolias but also don’t forget the smell of the manure. There are lessons in both.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge we currently face is that, since inception, the business has been self-funded. As a small minority owned business, our access to capital has been systematically limited. This alone, places us at a greater disadvantage from our industry counterparts. It is no secret, that Black Americans have long been at a disadvantage when it comes to starting a business; largely due to systemic gaps in wealth that limit available capital. Capital access remains the most important factor limiting the expansion and growth of my business and many other minority-owned businesses. Given this well established constraint, the current Financial environment has placed a greater burden on minority entrepreneurs, like myself, who are trying to keep their businesses thriving in today’s economy.
In the midst of our economic storm, we have chosen to pivot and offer additional services including that of an event space.
The Graytin Haus Boutique & Co serves as a marketplace and event space for underserved minority owned and mission based brands.
We have also chosen to launch our crowd-funding campaign with GOFUNDME In an effort to support our mission to offer underserved brands a space to carry their products. Our product placement incubator program gives brands the ability to test the market and get their product(s) in front of their audience.
LINK TO SUPPORT https://gofund.me/64bd7a84
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tgthaus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgthaus
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegraytinhaus
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/victoriapaulchatman
- Other: GOFUNDME CROWD-FUNDING CAMPAIGN
LINK TO SUPPORT https://gofund.me/64bd7a84
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