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Q: What advice would you give yourself during the first year of business if you could go back in time?
A: Stop panicking when things don’t go EXACTLY the way you think they should. Focus on your mindset and what you are building – NOT what you don’t have yet.
Q: What was most important as you were building your business?
A: Integrity, Integrity, Integrity. Always has been and always will be. I built my business with heart and always show up for my clients & students in a way that is overdelivering and serving them in a POWERFUL way.
Q: What is your business, when did you create it, and what inspired you to start?
A: I am a Fashion Stylist & Stylist Biz Mentor.
What inspired me on that styling side is changing lives for the better – instilling confidence and joy and expansion into my style clients through our work together that they then take and do freakin AMAZING things within the world through THEIR impact.
What inspired me as a stylist mentor was seeing SO MANY stylists suffer and struggle and continue the story of “well this is just how it is”. I KNEW there had to be better options so I made it my GOAL to learn how and then share with as many stylists in the world as I could.
Q: What is your favorite activities?
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
– Gandhi
I make sure that I don’t just TALK about what I want to see – I LIVE it in every possible way I can!!
I had the opportunity to go on a retreat, spend time with other stylists, and have 3 days of small group sessions with my mentor IN PERSON!
I am DELIGHTED to be featuring my business mentor, Kate Taylor, and share a bit about her, directly from her!
Let’s step in! 👇
📚 New Style Seminar!
In this episode of Snacks With an Expert, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and host, Spark Offices, talk about how to dress to impress for the holiday season!
👉 Check it out: Snacks With an Expert
Last thoughts 💭
“When you know you are of worth – not asking it but knowing it – you walk into a room with a particular power.”
– Maya Angelou
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: Believing in yourself. One thing I say to myself ALL THE TIME lately is “Say what you mean, don’t say it mean.” Remembering this one line has helped me become more confident in the way I express myself as a boss, creative, and beyond.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since starting your business?
A: I’ve learned so much, but the biggest thing is to trust myself. If a client doesn’t feel like the right fit, say goodbye early, no hard feelings.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your clients?
A: I’d say watching them gain confidence in front of the camera is the most rewarding part. It’s no easy feat to hop on camera and be yourself for the sake of your business.
Q: What advice would you give yourself during the first year of business if you could go back in time?
A: Hire earlier! I hired my first team member a year and 3 months in and then ended up bringing on 3 team members in 2 months. I waited too long but you live and learn.
Q: What was most important to you while building your business?
A: Staying true to women working with women. At first, people said I was crazy and I’ve had a few situations where I had the opportunity to change that but it just didn’t feel right. Didn’t feel like me.
Q: Why was it important for you to start this business?
A: I know how daunting social media can be, but I’ve seen firsthand the positive impacts it has had on small businesses and I want every women-owned business to experience the same success, with little stress.
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start?
A: I run a social media marketing agency, working with women-owned/operated small businesses. I started Valoisa in 2021 after seeing many businesses close having had little or no social media presence.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: I love to travel! With a business and family, it’s not always easy but we try to prioritize travel a few times a year. It always does my soul good to get out of my comfort zone and explore new areas near and far.
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
A: Honestly, if I picked something it would have just come from a google search. Ha! BUT, I do love (no idea who said it or if it’s an official quote)
“The only person standing in the way of you and your dreams is YOU.”
— Someone
Sarah Jane of Valoisa Media is a Creative Marketer and Social Media Manager and shared so much great information about creating video content for social media platforms!
Let’s step in! 👇
Last thoughts 💭
“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go”
– Unknown
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: Overall, for me, confidence is about being comfortable in your own skin and owning it!
Q: Where can our community find you?
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Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since starting your business?
A: Biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be patient and that there is so much to learn!
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your clients?
A: The best part is getting to know everyone and establishing those relationships.
Another favorite part is that we get to make a difference that goes beyond our business. We are proud to offer our Monthly Community Giving Days where a percentage of our sales are donated to a local organization.
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice during the first year of owning your business, what would it be?
A: Oh boy! To make sure to have a lot of patience, accept that you cannot do everything, be kind to yourself, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
Q: What was important for you personally and professionally as you were building your business?
A: To continue the original mission and vision, be relevant in the industry, contribute to our local community, inspire others, and to always work towards keeping our customers happy!
Q: Why was it important for you to go into this business?
A: I was a loyal customer for over 20 years and absolutely loved it. In 1990, Karen Goddard started Mother and Child as a small consignment shop focusing on clothing for mothers and children.
As the business grew the name changed to become M&C Clothing and Gifts which honors its origins while being more reflective of the business today.
My husband and I would always joke and say when the owner is ready to move on, we need to jump in! And here we are!
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start?
A: M&C Clothing and Gifts is New Hampshire’s premiere retail consignment store, redefining consignment shopping since 1990. We are about so much more than saving money.
By giving clothing a second life, we are a part of a sustainable, conscious community. Consignment is an essential part of our model because it keeps money circulating through our local community and allows for people to Reduce – Repurpose – Reuse – Recycle & Rethink.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: Spending time with my family and fur babies, and I love to spend time at the beach.
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
I am so excited to be featuring the new owners of one of my favorite local consignment stores, M&C Clothing, and Gifts! Irene and Scott Alton took over last year and I’m thrilled to share this interview with Irene!
Let’s step in! 👇
Last thoughts 💭
“When you learn, teach, when you get, give.”
– Maya Angelou
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: Such a good question! Something like, it is safe enough to try. So safe that I am proud of where I am and where I am headed.
Q: Where can our community find you
Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since starting your business?
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your clients?
A: Small business owners are so creative and committed. Plus, they usually have something to bring to the world that is so fricken needed, so it is an honor to support it coming to life.
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice during the first year of owning your business, what would it be?
A: Relax, everything is just fine!! Take a breath, ask for support, and keep going.
Q: What was important for you while building your business?
Q: Why was it important for you to create your business?
A: I love working with other people who have big dreams and want to take small sweet steps to bring them to life. Seeing folks bringing their passion to the playing field has been so inspiring.
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start?
A: I launched my coaching business in 2020. All of my various experiences queued me up to be present with other entrepreneurs as they launch, expand, or refine their small business vision and delivery.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: I love to play ultimate frisbee, juggle, and make mobiles out of driftwood and cute trinkets. I also love to cook delicious food and share it with others.
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
“We’re all just walking each other home.”
— Ram Dass
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Rose Slam! Johnson on their series, “Inside Scoop”, and I’m honored to be returning the interview by featuring their coaching business in this edition of our newsletter!
Let’s step in! 👇
Last thoughts 💭
“The more you celebrate your life the more there is in life to celebrate!”
– Oprah Winfrey
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: Confidence means being able to show up as your authentic, genuine self, unapologetically, whether that’s in front of a stadium full of people, or when you look in the mirror at home.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your clients?
A: I love seeing the attitude change when it comes to how they view themselves, how they feel lighter and excited to not just get dressed but to go out, to be seen, try new things and pursue other goals.
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice during the first year of owning your business, what would it be?
A: Don’t be afraid of “failure” – we never really fail, we just learn how to do something better next time.
Q: Why was it important for you to create your business?
A: My main focus is to give others the chance to be seen, heard, and be themselves. As a queer woman, those took me a LONG time. Showing up and paying attention to my needs helped me pursue what I wanted in life.
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start?
A: I’ve always known the relationship we create with our clothing and self-image is incredibly impactful on our lives. But it wasn’t until 2020 that I took a step back and realized how important it was to me.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: I love watching and playing D&D, video games like Assassin’s Creed or interesting indie games like Spirit Farer and Child of Light, or reading. I tend to have 3 different books going at one time!
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
– Maya Angelou
Today’s interview is with…me! Because what better way to share how much this community means and a bit about myself than by interviewing myself? Please welcome the creator of Vostra Moda, personal stylist, and intentional wardrobe curator, me!
Let’s step in! 👇
Last thoughts 💭
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Q: What does pride month mean at History UnErased and why is it important?
A: Pride month means continuing the fight for inclusivity and liberation that was started by many brave and powerful people who came before us.
Q: How can our supporters join this organization and its mission?
A: People can donate on our website unerased.org/donate Monetary gifts have a powerful and lasting impact!
We also have a “How You Can Help” page.
Q: Where can our community find your resources and learn more?
Q: Why is it important for more people to learn about this organization and share about it?
A: Our goal is to be in every school across the nation. This is a way to save lives and change futures. Sharing our work will help us reach more schools and students.
Our curriculum allows students to apply their own identity lens(es) as they approach their learning, whether it be race, gender, ethnicity, or nationality. This ensures dignity and equitable representation for all students.
Q: How does History UnErased create an impact in the world?
A: Education is everything in a democratic society. Imagine how your life might be different if you learned LGBTQIA+ history in school?
People who we label and understand today as LGBTQ have always existed–in every part of humanity–but the absence of LGBTQIA+ narratives in our nation’s classrooms means that students never learn the stories of people and events that were critical to the founding and shaping of the United States or that people like them have existed across the world throughout history!
Erasing this history teaches students that LGBTQIA+ people never existed. The absence of such identities in what students learn about our shared human history has been doing harm as evidenced by the staggering statistics relating to LGBTQIA+ youth and suicidality, homelessness, and risk behaviors.
It is essential that all students learn this history and see themselves reflected in what they learn– this is truly life-saving As one student shared so clearly with us:
“This isn’t LGBTQIA+ history, it’s just history. We should be learning this from elementary school on.”
— Smart Student
Q: What is History UnErased’s mission, and who do you support with your mission?
A: History UnErased is an education nonprofit founded in 2015 by veteran classroom teachers to provide K-12 schools with the curriculum and training they need to teach LGBTQIA+ inclusive history as it intersects with race, gender, and nationality within the mainstream curriculum.
We support schools– educators, administrators, caregivers, and students- to build inclusive communities for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Our mission is to bring life-affirming, life-changing, and life-saving LGBTQIA+ US history into the mainstream curriculum in K-12 schools across the nation.
Q: Where does History UnErased’s story begin? How did the organization get started?
A: History UnErased’s founders, Deb Fowler and Miriam Morgenstern, witnessed first-hand how visibility and representation in the content they taught in their classrooms of new immigrant and refugee students have an immediate and lasting impact, as students deepened their connection to what they were learning while also developing a sense of belonging and respect for each other.
While teaching, Deb produced two documentary films, Hard Truth, Levity, and Hope (2011) and Through Gay Eyes (2013) to promote awareness of students and families who are ignored, marginalized, or excluded within the public school system.
Through Gay Eyes was a spark plug to found the organization, as the voices of students, teachers, parents, and community members, independent of each other, spoke to the dire need to bring LGBTQIA+ visibility and representation into the mainstream curriculum.
I want to share about this amazing resource I learned about after a wonderful conversation with one of the co-founders, Deb Fowler. Learn more about History UnErased, a local non-profit working to create visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community and education.
Let’s step in!👇
🎙️ New Style Spotlight!
In this episode of Inside Scoop, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and host, Rose Slam! Johnson, talk about empowering the queer community through clothing and self-expression.
👉 Check it out: Inside Scoop
Last thoughts 💭
“Hope will never be silent.”
— Harvey Milk
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: It means knowing what makes you tick and understanding why you behave the way you do. Also, holding your head up high and not giving a shit about what anyone else thinks.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since starting your business?
A: I am enough.
Q: What is your favorite part about supporting your clients?
A: The sheer appreciation and gratitude are overwhelming. Time and time again, I’m told how important and impactful my work is. The truth is the impact I receive is exponentially more than I could ever give.
Q: What advice would now you give past you during the first year of your business
A: There is no competition when there are 8 billion+ people in the world and I am exactly where I’m supposed to be on my journey. Totally takes the anxiety out and lets me keep going!
Q: What was important for you as you were building your business?
A: It was important to understand the problems of those not able to live as their authentic self. I wanted to build something that was inclusive, where someone was always in your corner.
Q: Why was it important for you to create your business?
A: Figuring out how to get dressed is difficult, imagine trying to dress a body that you don’t understand. If I can help one person dress AND learn their inner style AND feel confident walking in society – my job is done!
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start it?
A: In 2019 I founded Lindsey Taub, Image Consulting & Styling predominantly working with the Transgender Community. In all honesty, the inspiration was to create freedom from the average 9-5 job.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: Hanging out with my hubs & pups, it doesn’t happen often so when it does I relish the downtime! Also still working on “how to” have fun, because I LOVE what I do and don’t see it as work!
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
Keep going, Keep growing
— Someone
Today’s guest for the #womensupportingwomen feature is my good friend, and fellow stylist, Lindsey Taub who is making a positive impact and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
Let’s step in! 👇
📚 New Style Seminar!
In this episode of Real Estate, Marketing & Coffee, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and host, Ed Troxell, talk about how to look and feel good on camera.
👉 Check it out: Real Estate, Marketing & Coffee
Last thoughts 💭
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect.”
– Zoey Sayward
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: Confidence to me means showing up looking and feeling your best and not being afraid to step outside your comfort zone to try new things!
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your specific clients?
A: My favorite part of working with my clients is helping support their goals! I love seeing the transformation we create together and how confident and powerful they feel after our time together.
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice during the first year of owning (or starting) your business, what would it be?
A: Just do it! It’s all very scary and new at first, but eventually, all those scary things you have to do become second nature to you.
Q: What was important for you personally and professionally as you were building your business?
A: I wanted to focus on using what women have, rather than buying all new wardrobes or an item for one-time use. Coming from the fashion world I see how wasteful it is.
Q: Why was it important for you to create your business?
A: I know how powerful women are, and I think many women don’t see that in themselves. Style is a way to do that, by stepping into the shoes of the woman you want to be, you are capable of anything!
Q: When did you create your business, and what inspired you to start it?
A: I created my business in September of 2020. I know the importance of feeling confident and I view clothing as an art form, so styling came pretty naturally to me.
Q: Quick, what are 3 fun facts about you?
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
A: Hmm, I have SO many! I just came across one that other day that really resonated with me:
“You are the greatest project you will ever work on”.
— Someone
This is so inspiring to me because as a business owner you learn so much about yourself.
Today’s guest for the #womensupportingwomen feature is my best friend from the west end of the US, Alena LeBlanc of LeBlanc Label! I’m so excited to share about this inspirational woman in my life!
Let’s step in! 👇
🎙️ New Style Spotlight!
In this episode of Bonnie Dickson Photography, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and hosts, Bonnie, talk about how to show up professionally whether you’re on or off the clock.
👉 Check it out: Bonnie Dickson Photography
Last thoughts 💭
“If you try to be all things to all people, you end up being ‘nothing to nobody’.”
– Iris Apfel
Q: What does confidence mean to you?
A: For me, confidence means being able to call upon my own inner resources, to know I can problem solve even when I’m faced with something new or challenging.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since starting your business?
A: You don’t eat fruit the day you plant the seed. You have to water, feed, and nurture it until it grows and bears the fruit. I am often guilty of wanting things to happen right away.
Q: If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice during the first year of owning (or starting) your business, what would it be?
A: Ahhh, well, I keep telling myself not to give up!
Q: What is your favorite part about working with/supporting your clients?
A: It’s amazing how much people can be uplifted by immersing themselves in a new hobby! I love to see how my students become more confident as they work through a project.
Q: What was important for you personally and professionally as you were building your business?
A: I am still in the start-up phase of my business, but integrity is very important to me professionally and personally. I want to be honest, compassionate, and caring too.
Q: Why was it important for you to create your business?
A: I want to encourage people as they go through their historical sewing journey and empower them with knowledge and skills so they can enjoy the process.
Q: What is your business, and what inspired you to start it?
A: I’m a historical costume designer and fashion historian. I started out making historical costumes for museums but when the pandemic hit, I pivoted to teaching online.
Q: What is your favorite activity when you aren’t working?
A: I love spending time with my family. Now that our kids are grown and moved away, the time with them is so precious. We also have a 7-year-old granddaughter and she’s such a joy to be with.
Q: What is a personal favorite quote?
“If you fall behind, you’re left behind!”
— Pirates of the Caribbean
I guess there’s some wisdom in that quote, especially for business.
Today’s guest for the #womensupportingwomen feature is the wonderfully talented and inspirational Kelly Mann of Sewistorical! I was honored to be the onset stylist at her recent branding photoshoot with Trayce Gregoire Photography.
Let’s step in! 👇
📚 New Style Seminar!
In this episode of Snacks With an Expert, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and host, Spark Offices, talk about how to beat the heat in style!
👉 Check it out: Snacks With an Expert
🎙️ New Style Spotlight!
In this episode of The D6 Generation, Bri White of Vostra Moda, and host, Raef “Hollywood” Granger, talk about adventures in cosplay and Dungeons & Dragons.
👉 Check it out: The D6 Generation