New Year, New Direction!

With a new year, comes new beginnings.  A fresh start, a year full of opportunities, and for myself personally - a new direction!  For those of you who do not know my story, Southern Jewlz began as a hobby for me in college.  What started as stringing necklaces on a kitchen table in a duplex has now evolved over the years into a lifestyle brand boutique.  I have never had a financial investor or a business partner.  I've lived and learned every aspect and building block along the way.  Looking in the rear view mirror - my proudest business accomplishment to date was making the Aggie 100 in 2014.  The Aggie 100 is the top 100 fastest growing Aggie owned companies in the NATION of ALL industries.  I was the #11 of 100 and the youngest female entrepreneur that year, as well as to date.  But looking forward - I've got so much more to accomplish.  For I have only just begun!

I am proud to say that I have closed the doors to the Southern Jewlz Retail Boutique in College Station, TX because I will be putting all of my career time and energy into the online business!  The future of SJ as well as the future of retail is all moving online!  I have loved having a store front for over 6 years - and that's quite a victory in itself.  Now i will use the platform that I have built to grow and take SouthernJewlz.com to the next level!  Every package shipped, road show attended, boutique sale, instagram follower, email blast, employee tenure, fashion show, lifestyle brand model, customer relationship, etc. from the past has allowed the SJ brand to be what it is.  But I want this brand to be a household nationwide brand that is inspiring and encouraging to all!  It is one of my goals to make each of YOU proud with this new path I'll be paving.  Taking SouthernJewlz.com to an all new level is at the top of my 2017 resolution list!

But I am going to do something that I have never ever done in my life - I'm going to slow down, breathe in some fresh air, and take a little "me" time.  That's right, I'm gonna take a personal break to go get married to the most incredible man I will soon get to call my husband!  Grant is the most supportive man I could ever ask for when it comes to me being a full time entrepreneur that goes 110% at all times.  However, I know this time we will experience over the next couple of weeks is so very special, intimate and emotional.  Time is one thing that you can't get back, so I ask that you understand; if you're feeling generous with prayers - I will gladly take them as I enter a new phase of my personal life at the same time as the re-direction with my business life.  I take entering the sacrament of matrimony very seriously, so freeing up the hours and overhead of the storefront should not only allow me to move forward with SouthernJewlz.com, but that will also allow me some time to be a wife.  I want to be the absolute best wife because I have been blessed with true love, and Grant deserves my best!  He will become my #1 priority and #2 will be my career.  

Once I'm a married woman and back from my honeymoon, I will hit the ground running on the website facelift and a few other projects (that I will announce throughout the Spring).  In addition to a website facelift, I will become "by appointment only" available as well.  The website will still be active all along, gift cards redeemable (and I will extend the expiration date on them all to match the personal break time I'm taking), I'll be shipping orders out, and now that in-store pick up is not an option, I am going to make the entire website FREE SHIPPING on all orders!  New arrivals will be posted as they come in, but keep in mind, the big change you will notice will be after my wedding.  I mean a girl can only do so much at one time, and lucky for me, Grant gets my priority at this current time.

How could this transition possibly get any better!?!?  Well, I'm so excited and proud to announce that I will be leasing my space on Harvey Road out to a very dear business mentor and friend - Nancy Gilmore with the Mule Barn.  She and I have traveled to markets together for years, she's a past sponsor of my fashion show, and we love to cheer each other on.  You can see her website here.  I am sooooo excited to see the renovations Nancy does to my store and the success she will have in her new location.  I will be setting up pop-up shops from time to time in her store - with a strong emphasis during game day season!  So if you're not liking this whole "online change thing" and don't know about this "by appointment only thing", then let me introduce and gladly welcome you to the "future SJ pop up shop thing".

Look for the SJ website facelift, all of my other exciting future announcements, and for the Mule Barn to be open on Harvey Road by April 1!

Thank you to EVERYONE who has made the Southern Jewlz brand a success over the years.  I am beyond excited for this new direction and hope that you're excited to join me, too!  I hope that each of you reading this are inspired to change your direction if need be for 2017.  And if you're on the right path, I hope you reach your goal line you've set for this year!  Even though it can seem very frightening to announce a storefront closing and pursuing a new direction - I feel so brave and proud of myself for making the best transition for both my personal and career life.  I'm staying ahead of the curve and moving in the direction where retail is growing. I know there will be some critics out there during this change, but I'm too busy with my head in the clouds to pay any negativity any attention.  I like to live in my own little fairy bubble filled with dreamers, do'ers, encouragers, hard workers, and those that inspire and love me like crazy!  My bubble is thicker and more durable than ever before, so don't think it's gonna get popped.  And please don't feel sad or sorry for me - I am so happy and excited about the future of SJ!

First to-do on my short personal break!?  Leave for my bachelorette party tomorrow!  Follow along on my snapchat if you wanna!  Direct link here.

Let me close with a quote that I wrote down 2 weeks before I opened my very first brick and mortar location:

"Be Selfless and dedicated, give a compliment when needed.  Learn something new every day.  Say your prayers and count your blessings.  Be a role model, a leader, and an icon of success and hard work.  Think outside the box, push every single boundary, and know that there is no limit to what you can do or who you can become.”

Southern - Growing up Southern is a privelege, really.  It’s more than where you were born.  It’s an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth.  It’s more than loving fried chicken, high school football, and country music.  It’s being hospitable, being devoted to porches, sweet tea, and most importantly to each other.  We don’t become Southern, we are born that way.

Jewl - A self motivated female that has no limit to her success level.  While she is dressed impeccably and gains attention, her confidence and dignity are the most noticeable attributes she possesses; making others feel their worth and beauty is her true destiny.  With love, class, and a touch of sass, she has the ambition and determination to set the world on fire.

xoxo - Randa