We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Delaney Erks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Delaney, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My business journey began in 2019 when I opened an Etsy shop for my first business. I named it DRE Illustrations and sold t-shirts, stickers, and earrings that I handmade out of my parents house in Ohio. I wanted to reach more people so I started to attend local markets and events. I was 19 and about to be on my way to college in Savannah, GA. I took all of my products with me and continued to attend markets in Savannah. I was only a few quarters into school when Covid hit and classes went online. I decided I wanted to invest in myself a different way and dropped out. I was making big plans to grow and expand my business, and I knew they would need my full attention. I always knew in the back of my mind that college wasn’t for me and I had a different purpose. My t-shirts were my bestsellers on Etsy so that really pulled me into the fashion world. I honestly had no idea what my future looked like until Covid hit and it made me think differently. I always wanted to work for myself and sell products that I loved. I grew up shopping at boutiques with my mom and I always loved how unique they were. I knew instantly a boutique would be the answer to my business dreams. I could create a beautiful space, connect with the community, and provide products that I knew would make people happy. It was all I ever wanted in a business! I dropped out and got to work on finding the perfect location for my dream. Right away I felt like I was working towards my purpose and heading in the right direction. Everything felt right and I continued to follow my intuition. I opened Delaney Rose Boutique in 2021 and just celebrated my 2 year anniversary. I heavily believe that if it is meant to be that it will happen. That is what I told myself along the way and that is what has gotten to me to where I am today!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I opened Delaney Rose Boutique in 2021 in Savannah, GA. I was 20 years old and had just dropped out of college. I noticed the city’s lack of size inclusive stores and knew I had something different to set me apart. I carry sizes small to 3XL in dresses, tops, bottoms, and more. My styles are trendy and modern for all sizes. I even have accessories including jewelry, purses, shoes, skincare, sunglasses, stickers, greeting cards, and more! We also carry local products from small businesses in our area and college students. There really is something for everyone! Our hangers are organized by size so tan hangers are sizes S-L and white hangers are sizes 1X-3X. They are scattered throughout the store so there are no more secluded plus size sections. The best part is that I get to bring my dog Honey to work with me everyday. My customers absolutely love her, especially the college kids. Delaney Rose Boutique is located in the gorgeous Starland District at 1813 Bull St. It is the perfect area to grab a coffee and do some shopping. We host different events like pop-ups, sip-n-shops, and Spin The Wheel Wednesdays. So be sure to come by on a Wednesday to spin the wheel for a freebie or discount! To follow my journey and the next moves, be sure to follow @shopdelaneyrose on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! Thank you all so much for the support and love!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Patience is key for when growing a business. There will be days when you make $0 and days where you hit personal records. I always told myself it is okay to grow slow. Your business will not blow up over night, but if you have patience and stick with it, amazing things will happen. I stuck to it, put myself out there, and let my products do the work. Another thing to know is when to take a break. You can’t work your best when your mind is exhausted. It is absolutely okay to take mental health days and focus on yourself. Burnout is real and can ruin a business. Lastly, don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. They started at a different time, they have a different story, and they are definitely not you. Your uniqueness and personality are what make your business special, not how many people follow you or your sales count for the month. Comparing yourself to others is a waste of time and will only hold you back. Focus on you and what makes you unique and that will be what helps you flourish.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
It is extremely easy to get overwhelmed as a business owner. It is hard to avoid that feeling, but there are definitely ways to help push through it. Business owners have to be good at multitasking. Especially if you are just starting out, you are in control of everything from social media, marketing, merchandising, human resources, customer service, sales, and just about anything you can think of. So how do we wear all these hats AND get the job done successfully? Time management is huge for me. I love making lists of daily tasks I need to get done for the day. This helps plan my week out better and gives me a schedule of what I need to get done. Sometimes I will even make a list for the week of different tasks to do. Writing your tasks down helps to clear your mind for other important things. There may be a lot to do, but don’t overwork yourself. I try to get 90% of my work done for the day during work hours only. It is important to me to have a social life after work and to be able to take care of my home and personal life. It is super easy to get lost in your work life and have it overcome your personal life. Even if you are a business owner, it’s important to separate work from life. Take days off, get some fresh air, work outside, and just remember it’s okay to take a break. Working while you are overwhelmed or stressed will have more negative effects than positive.
Contact Info:
- Website: delaneyroseboutique.com
- Instagram: @shopdelaneyrose
- Facebook: Delaney Rose Boutique
- Other: TikTok: @shopdelaneyrose
