We recently connected with Adrienne Denniston and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Adrienne, 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?
My purpose found me! There was a time in my life when I was searching for something I wasn’t even sure of. I knew life had given me a gift of connection. Connecting with others is a joy, and it’s when I feel alive. I had no idea how my creative side would be able to create a connection until I found fashion. Being on purpose in my passion with intention was when I combined fashion and relationships. Bringing a smile to my client’s face, helping her feel confident, and allowing her to express her own personal style is my sweet spot. Through conversation, you will find all the pieces you need to help women shop. By simply asking questions, you will develop a relationship of trust and build long-lasting friendships. I am just simply there to guide her along her shopping journey.
I fell into fashion with no prior background, put one foot in front of the other, and learned along the way. What I found was that unbeknownst to me, I was actually good at it. What I found was I have an eye for fashion and I am a fast learner. I needed to learn fast to survive this fast-paced business. The more I listened to my client’s needs and found solutions for them, the happier they were. I quickly applied everything I heard from my clients to build the foundation of Heart Boutique and give her what she was looking for in her shopping experience.
One thing I love to do at Heart Boutique is merchandise. I love to create collections that might speak to a woman’s personal style, color palette, or lifestyle. For example, a client might shop off one of our racks that I have specifically designed so that every piece on that rack is interchangeable with one another. My goal is to ADD VALUE to their closet by providing long-lasting wardrobe-building pieces.
When I shop for the boutique, I ALWAYS keep my clients in mind.
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?
The most important thing I would like you to know about me is, I am just like you, and if I can do this so can YOU! My secret sauce is simple! I showed up for myself! Not just one day, but every day! I am and continue to be oddly consistent in life and with my business. I believe that the magic happens with all the little things you do or don’t do. It is the small micro things you do every day that add up to make the big differences.
My focus in my business right now is bringing Heart Boutique back to the community where it all started. It’s easy to get lost in the daily responsibilities of running a small business and lose sight of how you got this far. I told my team in 2024 I wanted to dive back into the community and create opportunities to give and bring awareness to some issues that surround us. Using Heart Boutique for that vehicle is my focus this year.
I have created a Straight From The Sofa on Instagram where we talk about any issues that might be going on in fashion or that our clients may be having. This is not a selling opportunity, it’s a sharing opportunity. Talking about anything from how to clean out your closet to what to do with all the clothes when you clean out your closet so they don’t land in the landfill. Our most recent event was raising money for our local High Schools Dance Team. We raised $960.00 dollars and made some new friends. We do denim drives and donate the dropped-off denim to a company that upcycles the unwanted denim into pet beds and insulation. These are just a few examples of where our focus has been for 2024.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The 3 qualities that best served me so far are…tenacity, courage & consistency.
Tenacity to keep moving forward even when I didn’t know how or where I was going. Opening a business is frightening and I was determined to try and fail rather than to not try at all!
Courage to put your heart on a platter and show the world who you truly are and be brave enough to know it is possible that they might not like you.
Consistency in showing up even when you don’t want to! To be exhausted and to ask yourself at bedtime, “How am I going to do this again tomorrow?” And you do! You wake up, your feet hit the floor, and you show up!
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
It is hard to compete with the huge online stores like Amazon or other e-commerce stores. It can be hard to hear your clients share how they may get similar or like products for cheaper and shipped right to their front doorstep for free, too!
I realize we are all on budgets and want to be mindful of how we spend our money. I just wonder if all the doors we see closing around us are because of the convenience and cheap prices that mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar stores can not compete. It has always been on my mind to gracefully navigate this issue.
I truly believe small businesses are the heart and soul of every community. If done correctly, a small business can create a long-lasting impact in the community and someone’s life. The minute you walk through the door of a well-run small business that is putting its clients first, you will know by the way you are greeted and by the way you feel when you are in their small business. Putting hospitality first is what small businesses do best.
What I am doing is focusing on what I can control. I built an online website about 8 years ago. Building a website is no small feet if you have never done this before. At the time I had no money but I did have time so I taught myself how to do it. We recently refreshed our website and offered free shipping to our clients in the USA. I do my very best to stay optimistic that creating an online presence will keep us relevant, and I look forward to watching this part of our business grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heart-boutique.com
- Instagram: heartboutique_
- Facebook: heartwomensboutique
Image Credits
second photo
Evan
seventh photo
David Joseph Varela
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
