"Find a mentor" with Desireé Marie

Desireé Marie is a custom made Fashion Designer with an eye for bridal wear. She attended the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando where she studied Fashion Design and Merchandising. Desireé graduated at the top of her class and interned with a nearby boutique, where she soon was contracted for alterations. Moving with her cats and now husband, Eric, to Austin, she has been releasing a mini-collection once a year of untraditional bridal wear and accessories and working one-on-one with brides to make their dress dreams come true.

Website www.desireemariedesign.com

Can you tell our readers about your background? 

I grew up sewing with my mother and grandmother. I have always been very inspired by the past and passionate about couture sewing.

What inspired you to start your business?

My passion for sewing. Then after working in the industry, I have realized I want my business to be different. I do not have a size chart, and I do not carry inventory. Everything I make is custom made for my clients and made to order. I have always just wanted to make beautiful dresses for women. It makes me very happy to see my clients wearing my looks and feeling beautiful.

Where is your business based?

I work from my home in North Austin, the heart of Texas.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took? 

I started my business after graduating Fashion Design school in 2011, getting a business license felt like a first step for me, so I did that. I also had previously created an Etsy shop where I was already selling my creations to mostly my sister and her friends at first. My dad has his own business as well, so he was mentoring me.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?  

Word of mouth. Having a past client, friend, or even an Instagram follower recommend me has been the biggest and best way I have brought awareness to my business.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Luckily my biggest challenge so far has just been keeping positive even when no sales are coming in.

How do you stay focused?

My clients keep me focused. Not literally, but knowing that I have something so valuable to them in my hands, I make it a priority.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

I touched on this earlier, but I am different because I am doing things like how they used to be done. You find a trusted dressmaker in your local area and contact them for a custom gown. I take your measurements, we meet several times, and you leave happily with dress in hand after 3-6 months of fittings.  

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?  

Google. I have started a bridal worksheet I have my clients fill out when they start the process and they tell me, very often, they found me on Google, or Yelp.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?  

To find a mentor. I am looking for a mentor, and believe if I would have had one, I would not have made some marketing/advertising mistakes that I did.  

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?  

I love Pinterest. Not only for dress & sewing inspirations, but also food ideas.

My favorite blog is Late Afternoon by Liz Cherk. I have been following her for over a decade now. I love everything she wears, and she taught me to be more adventurous with my personal clothing choices.

My favorite book is A Girl Waits With a Gun—The main character, Constance, is very independent, strong, and ambitious, and the book is based off a true story in the early twentieth century--She’s very inspiring.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?  

Squarespace. I do not know SEO, so having the ability to edit my own website to the way I want it, is very resourceful.  

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sarah Seven. She started on Etsy like me, and has a similar business approach because she is still having everything made in the USA and the brand is known for untraditional bridal wear.

How do you balance work and life?

My husband makes it easy. I work while he’s working and sometimes when he’s home as well, but we always make time for each other every day, whether it’s just watching a show together, or taking a walk.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My favorite way to decompress is to play with my cats or binge watch Survivor with my husband.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Finishing up some wedding dresses for clients and working on a new mini bridal collection. 

How can our readers connect with you?

Subscribe to my blog at www.desireemariedesign.com There’s a form towards the bottom of the page

Facebook www.facebook.com/desireemariedesigns

Instagram www.instagram.com/desireemariedesign