Hi my name is
Shannon, personal stylist and owner/curator of the online boutique Layered By
Cake, where I help busy mommas out of their style ruts!
My website is Layed by Cake where you can shop online 24/7. My IG
page is like a curated catalog of what can be found on my site, plus some “Mom
Funnies” to keep you laughing throughout your week. You can find me on Instagram, on my VIP Facebook Group and I am also on Pinterest. I recently ramped up some MAJOR excitement in my VIP Facebook
Group Page with my first ever LIVE FLASH SALE!! It was so much fun and the
mommas hanging out in my group page truly are my VIP’s. I give them first pick
at my new arrivals and we have some amazing chats about #momlife. I also pin so many helpful
resources on Pinterest for mom style that many of my clients love!
My shop is for moms and busy gals that need help getting their style in check!
You see, I hand select all the apparel in my shop with the busy momma in mind.
I have, not only a BA in Fashion Design, but over 12 years of retail
management experience with Anthropologie. Many of my in store styles
are influenced by my employment with Anthro, so if your a fan of Anthropologie,
I know you will love my selection and, even better, my prices!
I opened up my shop with $600 from a tax refund in 2014, when my youngest was
only 4 months old. (That's what happens when you put an over-achiever/big
dreamer on maternity leave for too long!) I was working as a Sales/Marketing
manager for a local business, in the technology industry, but having a desk job
with 2 kids at home was less than ideal. I should mention that my husband is
also self employed and had only been in business about a 1 1/2 years when I decided
to launch my business. Call us crazy, yes, but so far so good and we are both
pushing through our goals and dreams daily, so we feel incredibly blessed.
My business has always been a goal of mine, to
own my own store. I thought when I was younger that I wanted to host a store of
all my own designs, but as I grew up I realized that I find incredible amounts
of joy in inspiring and helping woman find clothing that speaks to them. I have
always had a talent for “discovering” what others have a tendency to overlook.
Maybe it's the creative in me, or just my own rebellious “go against the grain
attitude,” but owning my boutique has provided me an unexpected, wonderful journey thus far. My business is
really new (only 2 years, barely) and in the world of business, it takes A LOT,
to find your way and uncover your own story. I wish more
business owners talked openly about how challenging it is to learn every aspect
of owning a business. It has been a tiring 2 years, but I am now growing
steadily with a very promising growth path ahead for 2016. And it's not by
accident! I have worked to make this business what I had envisioned, and am
blessed to say that it gets better and better as I learn more about this crazy world
of entrepreneurship.
My husband is a
self employed, finished carpenter. He is crazy talented and supports our family
with his endless dedication, kindness and hard work. I am a lucky gal to have
him as my partner in life. Our two kiddos are Payton, 5 1/2 and Tucker, 2 yrs
old. Two kids is about all we can handle, and I like to say we really have 4
kids because our businesses our are other babies! My daughter is kind, wild and
loves fashion just like her momma. Tucker doesn't think my boutique is cool
unless there are toy trucks around to play with. He is my work buddy because we
frequent my shop to meet with local clients (by appointment only), and to ship
orders, processing, etc. Tucker's grandma (my mom) is an owner of an H &
R Block which is connected to my shop internally, so Tucker gets to visit grammy
pretty often which is great!
My company is
helping me to be a better mom, a better wife and one heck of an online marketer
(since I spend a lot of my time learning new ways to market my product lines)!
I have learned that my journey is unique to me, and it is exactly where I am
meant to be. This journey has taught me incredible things like - we are
all capable of living out our dreams and that the only thing that holds any of
us back is our own negativity. Doing what you love, and doing it with those that
love you most, is the most amazing journey you can ever ask for! I am blessed to
be working hard and living out my dreams one day at a time.
Fashion has
always been in my blood! My sister and I would play dress up like no other
girls I knew. I was fascinated with the art of adornment from a
very young age, and how style really is a creative outlet. Fashion saved me from
completely losing myself when my parents divorced when I was 12. I managed to
maintain my 4.0 GPA throughout school, amidst chaos in my house for almost 6
years. I realized, some years later, that it was because of my love of fashion. It kept me focused on my goals in school. I was 7 years old when I decided I
would be a fashion designer. So, even though I am not designing my own line (as
of yet), I am doing what I always wanted to do - work in the fashion
industry. Better yet, I get to help people that struggle with fashion find joy
in it again, and confidence in their style choices.
At the moment, it's me and my best friend's little sister (who is
also my photographer) who run my shop. My family definitely helps out, but I
will be hiring in the very near future for some part time help to ease my
hands-on duties so that I can really start to grow this business into the brand
I have always dreamed about. For now, I am the model, photo editor, website tech, writer,
customer service provider, quality control, shipping and receiving, online
marketing guru and one heck of a busy momma! I also attend trade
shows twice a year and head out to LA to discover new brands with the right
quality, fit and style my clients desire.
This business is always
changing and evolving. Or maybe I should say I am changing and evolving. My
business is an extension of me, and as it grows, I grow. We are one in the same.
I am so excited for what the future holds, but most importantly, I am excited to
help more mommas find joy and confidence in their style. It's my favorite part
about what I do!
Right now, doing it all myself is my biggest challenge. I need
to hire help at this point. I plan, eventually, to have an
online community that helps moms everywhere, finding styles they feel confident
in. When I opened shop, it was my intention to make sure no mom runs out of time
to be stylish and confident. I want to make it easy for all moms to fall in
love with their style again, like they did before they had babies.
I love prints! I
am very picky about prints, and their composition, so I only bring in something
that I think is truly unique and on trend. I don't like to bring in what every
other boutique is pushing unless it's right for my style community. I love
prints because I will receive testimonials from my customers telling me that
their children stopped to compliment them on how beautiful they look in that
blouse or dress. It's the best part of what I do, making moms feel great!
I'm the gal you don't want to sit next to because I will talk
your ear off for days about marketing strategies and how to better grow your
business! I am a tad bit obsessed with the marketing aspect. So, I always say - do your
research, know who you are trying to market to and don't be afraid to be the
face of your own business. Many entrepreneurs hide behind their brand, and
although I may be a little too much in my brand (being the model, my face
all over my IG feed), it helps future clients to know who they are doing
business with. And, at the end of the day, people want to do business with
people, not brands! So, be yourself and be proud of whatever journey
mom-preneurialship
(yes I think
that's a real word) will take you on.
I love to support other boutiques and handmade shops, especially those owned by mommas!
My 2 best gals pals own amazing businesses that I support whole-heartedly.
Here's some I really love (including theirs): Ellie and James, My Bump to Bundle, Clover and Arrownautics, The Dainty Doe, Shop Ruche, Spool 72, Patterns and Pops and Shop and Apparel.
If you are interested in joining my community of busy
mommas, Sign up for my Dream Closet Challenge (click to join). It is my newest video series,
where I help ladies organize their closets, discover their personal style needs
and preferences plus help them find more joy and confidence in their morning
routines. It's basically, free styling advice and I think most gals would enjoy that!
Thanks Shannon, loved having you!
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