Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mandi Dunn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mandi, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
For years now I have struggled with depression, anxiety and panic attacks. It has been a long journey, and I don’t think it will ever *not* be a part of my life. But through therapy, medication and leaning on my loved ones, I have been able to figure out how to live life around these mental health issues.
My faith has played a big role. When I look back at the road to owning Blush, I see God planning the steps. Without Him, I would not have had the courage to take on owning a business. It is not faith in myself that allowed me to move forward. It is faith that He will be there no matter what and that, even if I don’t see it, He is working for my good
My husband is the smartest, most confident person I have ever met in my life. Without his support and encouragement, I would not be a business owner. When I start to doubt or get anxious, he is there to remind me how far I have come and that I am more than capable to handle the stresses of owning small business. He is always willing to help solve a problem or just listen to me as I figure everything out.
I have a wonderful community of family and friends that surround and support me. I have to be open and real with the people in my life. I need to set boundaries, sometimes I need to say no to things, and remember that my identity is not found in the success or failure of this business. I want to especially thank Emilie Cassaday, the original owner of Blush, for her ongoing support. I still look to her for advice, and she is an infinite source of knowledge, ideas, and willingness to help. Keeping all this mind, I am able to take risks, to trust my judgement, and to ask for help when I need it.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The mission of Blush Boutique is to make people feel valued, loved, and beautiful. When people step into our brick & mortar store, I want them to sense a different atmosphere. I want peace, safety, and unconditional love to be associated with our brand. We do this through an amazing team who genuinely wants to help women feel good about themselves. I curate our collections with a variety of women in mind. I try to remember that everyone has a different path and focus on gathering products that will meet and encourage women wherever they are on their self-love journey. That goes for clothing, decor pieces, jewelry, bath & body, and devotionals with great messages.
I also love to be part of anything new and exciting! I am always looking for fun events or classes to host. On May 4th, while we have Harmony Bazaar here doing mommy & me permanent jewelry, I am hoping to launch a new line: Blush’s Hat Bar. Customize your own ball cap with a selection of patches and other fun things! I’m really excited about it. I love giving people the opportunity to express themselves. I believe creativity is a huge part of discovering yourself and learning to love who you are. I even get to bring in my floral design background for a class here and there!
Blush is also a place for local artists to sell some of their goods and expand their brand. It is so important to me that we support other small business owners. We have handmade jewelry, hand-poured soy candles by Noble Candle Co. who partners with WinGs Ministry, lotions, bath salts, goat soaps and other spa products, baby items, and hand-painted cards. We frequently host pop-ups for local vendors as well. I love that we have a way to help these owners grow.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe the most important lesson is the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. If you treat employees, clients, partners with respect and kindness, you will get a lot further much faster. That doesn’t mean to let people walk all over you though. You still have to advocate for yourself, your beliefs, and make the best decisions for your business. But I believe you can be firm and still respectful.
Put a team together of people you trust. But then make sure to step back and let them do it – no need to micro-manage. Learning humility and trust is huge. I know I cannot do everything on my own and it is OK to ask for help. It is OK to admit you were wrong, that you made a mistake. It is OK to be human. Embracing my imperfection and shortcomings has allowed me to trust the people around me. And I believe, they trust me in return. It helps others grow when you give them the opportunity too. Showing true appreciation to your team will create employees who are happy to help you out. For example, even just a text to say the display they worked on looks great means a lot to the people who work for your business.
Finally, always be learning in your industry. I knew very little about running a boutique when I took over Blush. Since July 1st, 2023, when I officially became the new owner, I have invested a lot of time in education. I have never been a numbers person, but through education from successful boutique owners, I find myself loving the numbers and data side. It helps me make better decisions. That is just one example of the incredible amount of knowledge I have gained. At no point should you ever feel like you know everything and there is nothing left to learn. Being open and receptive to new ideas will make adapting to changes in your industry so much easier. It is always better to be leading the way, rather than just trying to catch up.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Right now, I am obsessed with personal color analysis. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is when you see a professional consultant who can help you discover your best color palette. They are usually defined by seasons: autumn, spring, summer, & winter. Then there are subcategories within those. Ultimately, the goal is to help you discover what colors of clothing, make-up, hair color can make you look the best based on your own coloring and complexion. I am fascinated by this process and could see a huge benefit to my clients. The goal of Blush is to make women feel their best. I think this is one more step.
I would love to host a pop-up or partner with a color analysis for a recurring event. My clients would benefit from this service and I think it would impact my choices when curating our collections.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blushboutiqueco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blushboutiqueco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blushboutiqueco/
- Other: for anyone wanting to collaborate on the color analysis: mandi@blushboutiqueco.com anyone who wants to join our Blush Babes community group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/429248713108072
Image Credits
Photographer KDM Photography
