We’re looking forward to introducing you to Emily Hovermale. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely—getting my oldest son, AJ, off to college! It was a mix of pride, excitement, and just a little bit of chaos.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I run Monkee’s of Lakewood Ranch, a boutique where we focus on finding unique, high-quality pieces you won’t see anywhere else. I love mixing established designers with local artisans, and making shopping feel fun, personal, and inspiring. Right now, we’re excited about events like Locals Week and bringing in new collections that really let people express their style.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Definitely my parents. My mom has always worked in different industries, and my dad owned a restaurant and put in a ton of hard work. I grew up watching both of them hustle and learning from the example they set every day.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Every other day, honestly—that’s part of being a small business owner! It’s such a rollercoaster of emotions. When business gets tough or family stuff happens, I definitely think about giving up. But then you have a really good day—like making a customer happy, having a financially strong day, or seeing a gorgeous new delivery that you know people will love—and you fall back in love with it all over again.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Someone I admire is my husband, Adam. I’ve watched him run his own business for years, and his dedication inspired me to follow my own passion. He is patient, kind, and especially passionate about his work, which motivated me to open my own store—because fashion is my passion too!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Absolutely! I was “tap dancing” to work right before I opened my store, when everything was arriving and anticipation was at its peak. I was ready to move into the space and see the whole design come together. There was such excitement in watching it all come to life and in opening my doors for the very first time. It was a mix of fear of the unknown and pure joy—the kind of excitement that makes you want to run into work every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://monkeesoflakewoodranch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkeesoflakewoodranch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monkeeslwr
Image Credits
Professional family photos in white shirt/ green skirt by Rana ( https://www.instagram.com/roohiphoto/ )
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