Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigha Stepp.
Hi Leigha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At the beginning of 2020, I had the dream job. I was working remotely as an interior designer, and my job went with me anywhere. Because of this, I began traveling and made big travel plans for 2020. I spent February in California and had started planning a summer Europe trip. I could not wait to hop on. Train and explore Europe for a few months.
I vividly remember sitting at LAX awaiting my flight back to Florida when I opened my computer to knock out some work and instead saw the breaking news… “The First Case of COVID-19 In The USA”… however, at the time, I had no clue how much of an impact this disease would have on my life and everyone else’s.
When I made it back to Florida, I continued working like normal, and after being home for just a few weeks, I received an email from my employer stating that due to covid, they were laying off over 400 of the designers with the company, and unfortunately I was one of them.
Completely devastated was an understatement. I’d worked so hard and studied so hard to land this job. I knew I had to keep going. I had to find the next thing and make the most of this global pandemic and all of the free time I suddenly had. But first, I had to ride out the countries shut down. I rode out quarantine and the U.S. shut down with my now fiance, who I had only been on one or two dates with before having to quarantine together. Talk about an interesting way to get to know someone?
As soon as it began to feel safe to leave the house again, I ran out for a few errands when I saw a “For Lease” sign in the window of the cutest retail space in my hometown, and it just hit me. My little central FL town had no boutique stores, and it was something I’d always wanted to take on. I called the number on the sign, and by mid-June, I had a lease signed and the keys to a 100-year old retail space.
I called my cousin, Candice, who I know has always thought of opening a retail store and got her on board with my nutty idea. With just a few thousand in my savings account, we DIY’d everything from the cash-wrap counter to the display table and bench that you’ll still find in the store today. (The table is made from an old bowling alley lane that was pulled from a local bowling alley before they tore it down… cool, right?) Anyways, I had no idea how to open a boutique and this is when Google became my best friend. I spent countless nights not sleeping and instead researching how to get this retail store off of the ground.
By August, we were filling the space we had built out with inventory and set a grand opening date for August 8th. We chose to name the store Franklin and Rose, after our grandparents. The name of the shop is my favorite part about it, honestly. During the entire time, we were working on the space before opening, I made sure to market locally and on social media. I created a Tik Tok account and began posting videos of the journey and before I knew it, I had hit two million views and over 50k followers.
Thanks to these marketing efforts, we beat our grand opening goal and made back the money we invested in just the first week. It was truly so incredible to watch our community come together to support a new small business after we had all just been locked away in our homes for a month or more.
Fast forward to now, May 2021. My small retail store has made over six figures in less than a year, and my Tik Tok account has hit over 150k followers and that number continues to grow every day.
In addition to Franklin and Rose, I spent three months writing an E-Guide to help other women who are in the same shoes I was in just a year ago open their own boutique and take control of their lives. This E-Guide launched in March 2021 and has sold over 2,000 copies.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been all smooth sailing. Opening a boutique during a global pandemic limited my ability to travel to the Atlanta Apparel Market or any other market really. This forced me to do all of my wholesale buying online from vendors that I had never seen in person or even heard of. This was so scary. Some things were not great (sizing was way off, or quality was just terrible) but other than a few bad pieces, I’ve been pretty lucky with the amazing vendors I’ve discovered! I’ll finally be taking my first buying trip this summer to the LA FashionD District and I am so pumped to see these vendors I’ve been buying from in person.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At first, the plan was just to open a boutique in my hometown in hopes of simply making a honest living and giving more affordable apparel options to the women who live locally. Franklin and Rose became a curated selection of apparel, all under $40 and that is something I am so very proud of. Franklin and Rose is for sure my baby.
However, owning the shop did not scratch the itch I’ve always had to help others. On our social media platforms, I was asked constantly, “how did you do it?”, “how do you open a boutique,” etc. I quickly remembered how when I spent hours on Google trying to figure out what step to take next, I wished for a “Step-By-Step” guide to help me but there was nothing. I noticed the need for this and a resource where women who want to open a retail store/boutique can go to so they don’t feel so alone on this journey!
I spent three months writing an E-Guide called The Step By Step Guide To Opening Your Boutique and creating HowToOpenABoutique.com. This E-Guide has sold over 2,000 copies in two months. I continue to write blog posts and offer free templates and information to women who need just a little push to get their boutique dreams going! It is such a fulfilling career to have a business that I am proud of, as well as be a resource for others. After all, knowledge is useless if you don’t share it.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have a business partner! My cousin, Candice. Relatives by blood and best friend by choice. We consider her a silent partner, as she is so busy with her four kids and a part-time job in Children’s Ministry at a local church here. Although she’s not seen much on our social media, she’s a big part of making this business go-round.
Contact Info:
- Email: shopfranklinandrose@gmail.com
- Website: franklinandrose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopfranklinandrose
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopfranklinandrose/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopfranklinandrose?lang=en
