We had the good fortune of connecting with Kamaria Frazier and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kamaria, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Different people have different interests in life. There are some people who like to work and manage things, and they are excellent at that. While there are another group of people who like the whole idea of creating something from scratch and watching it grow and provide value to people. I am of the second kind.
So, to answer your question, my thought process is very simple. I want to solve a problem for myself, my family, and the generations to come. I truly believe that financial freedom, abundance, and having a purpose in life is the key to securing generational wealth. Of course these are the main selfish reasons everyone, including myself wants to start a business.
On the other hand, helping people and providing value to the world are the higher goals of starting my business.
So whenever I feel frustrated, I keep reminding myself about these personal reasons, and higher level goals in order to keep moving forward.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Chic Universe is an online and brick and mortar women’s clothing store. Our brick and mortar location is currently located in Hoover, AL inside of Be Gorgeous studio.
In the world we live in today, the markets are oversaturated, especially with the ability to shop online. Most people are searching for the cheapest price and shipping costs versus quality. This is why we go above and beyond in our quest for customer satisfaction and happiness to set our business apart, both online and in store. In addition, we offer amazing perks like same day pick up and local delivery, same day shipping, and complimentary glasses of wine with in store purchases. Last but not least Chic Universe also created two scholarship programs. They are The Prom Scholarship and Back to School Scholarship which we sponsor yearly.
Currently I am most excited about my daughter having the opportunity to see first hand how to start and grow a business from scratch. Also, I’m super excited to see our customer base expanding as a result of marketing and our recent relocation. This lets me know that my business is headed in the right direction and I am looking forward to further expansion.
I have to be brutally honest. Business wise, I got to where I am today by trial and error. I had so many brilliant ideas, but no idea what I was doing. This was a very trying time for my business. Experiencing loss and ideas not going as planned almost made me want to throw in the towel. After making unwise business and financial decisions, I had to take a step back to plan effectively and actually do the research which was not easy.
I was finally able to over come these challenges by realizing that it is not a race. I made the mistake of wanting to see results and major profits from my business overnight. When I actually sat down and taught myself how to study my business analytics and the market, that is when I gained understanding of how the retail industry and business works in general.
There will always be people who try to deter you from following your dreams and sometimes you could be one of those people. As the saying goes “We are our biggest critics”. In this business I have leaned that perception is everything, so never let them see you sweat!
I chose the name Chic Universe because I wanted my brand to signify love and acceptance for all of creation. We are an unbiased brand who looks to promote peace and harmony through the universe in style. We understand that many people like express themselves through fashion which is why we focus on providing variety.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fire Birds Happy Hour Mon- Fri 4-6PM
Double Black Diamond Martini is a must!
Cassanova Bar & Lounge
Happy every day 6-8PM
$10 Hookahs $8 Hypnotic Margarita
Laffleur Coffee Boutique
Mon-Sat 7AM-2PM
Must try the Pink Trap!!
Urban Smoke Bar & Grill
Smoke fries and rainbow shots!!!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my 15 year old daughter JaMiya Frazier. My sweet girl made her grand entrance into this world when I was only 16 years old. When I first held her and looked into her eyes, it was at that very moment I knew that I had to change the dynamic of our family. I immediately set out on a life long mission to show my daughter that any goal or dream is attainable. She is the reason why I don’t take no for an answer and why I have accomplished so much thus far. All of the recognition goes to her.
Website: www.shopchicuniverse.com
Instagram: shopchicuniverse
Facebook: Chic Universe
Other: Business address: 3081 Lorna Rd Suite 104 Hoover, AL 35216
Image Credits
JA Media (Jorell Johnson)