Tell me about yourself and your business
My name is Stephanie Taylor Jackson. I am 26 years old. I work full-time and I am an MBA student at Texas Tech University. I am married to Jason Jackson and mom to Jason, Jr. (4) and Gavin Jackson (3).
Chloe & Tatum is an online, designer children’s clothing boutique that I run out of my home with the help of my husband and sister! I launched the business in September 2013 after several years of going back and forth trying to muster up the courage to jump in and just do it! I always knew that I wanted to own a clothing store and eventually my own clothing line. In order to get started, I wanted to start small. So, I decided to start with girls clothing. Being an online boutique gives me the flexibility to continue working full-time.
Chloe is the name of my best friends adorable daughter. Tatum is a name that I have always loved and hope to use one day for my own daughter!
What drove you to start your own business?
To me it is so important to live my life building something that is mine. I don’t want to work for someone else my entire life, nor do I want my children to feel obligated to do so. I spent several years afraid of failure and contemplating the “what ifs” but I realized last year, after a lot of thought and prayer, that I only have one life to live and I want to do it building something that I am passionate about– something that is true to me. So, I took a leap of faith and started my company, Chloe & Tatum LLC.
What were the challenges you faced when you started your business?
The biggest and only real challenge I faced during this process has been overcoming my own doubts and fears associated with starting the business.
What did you do to overcome those challenges?
Overcoming my doubts and fears meant remembering why I started this journey in the first place. Starting the business definitely hasn’t been easy, but life isn’t supposed to be easy, and I have to constantly remind myself of that. I won’t get where I want to be if I am complacent or if I just go with the flow. I have to be intentional in the decisions that I make. My long term goal is to design my own clothing line and have it sold in major retailers across the globe. This is my stepping stone to that and is what drives me to keep going!
What have you learned about yourself during this process?
I am a lot smarter and stronger than I give myself credit for.
What has been the most rewarding moment that you have experienced since the start of your business?
The most rewarding moment was seeing my dream come into a reality. When I received my website proofs and my business cards and stationary in the mail, it was the most amazing feeling because it made me realize … this is REALLY happening!
What would be your advice to young entrepreneurs that wish to start their own business?
Don’t ever give up. Do what you love. Define your life, don’t let others do it for you. Don’t let fear stop you from being great!
You can find more info about her business here:
http://www.facebook.com/chloetatumllc
http://www.shopchloetatum.com/blog
Interview by Xinia Hernandez
