Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlie Henderson & Lauren Hoesly.
Hi Ashlie & Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Our company is called Once Upon a Wardrobe, and we were established in December 2020.
We are two best friends that have always shared a genuine love for Disney and travel. Our business was born from an idea to help make the styling and packing portion of going on Disney and Universal vacations easier for all park attendees.
We started by practicing with our friends and family to workshop our process. Once we had the best structure figured out, we launched our website and social media accounts where we post a regular stream of new content!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge was not having a clear-cut system to model the structure of our business after, since we didn’t know of any other personal styling companies marketing specifically to Disney and Universal vacations.
Being the first one is exciting, but can also be nerve-wracking at times. We have also had to figure out how to market ourselves having formerly been an elementary school teacher and a ballet instructor without marketing backgrounds.
We have managed to build strong relationships with followers and forged new relationships with a lot of our clients, many of whom have already been repeating customers despite having only been in business since the end of 2020. We are incredibly grateful for each and every one!
We’ve been impressed with Once Upon a Wardrobe, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We virtually assemble complete outfits (including clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags, accessories, etc.), based on our individual client’s styling preferences. In the final presentation, they receive a PDF with each item clearly laid out and embedded with a direct shopping link to the retailer, so all they have to do is click, and “add to cart”.
The needs of our clients range from people who want us to style a special occasion like a runDisney event or a Capture Your Moment session, to people who just want help in easing the packing process. We can help plan outfits for one specific day, your whole trip, or anything in-between! You only purchase what you want, when you want, and we can also incorporate items that you already own. We work hard to find budget-friendly, quality items, without sacrificing individual style. Our sessions can also help minimize spending when it comes to overbuying before a trip!
As frequent park visitors, we believe that comfort is a big part of your experience, so we take the time to find items that will keep you stylish and comfortable all day long. Where we shop is usually based on a client’s style preference, so we really pull from all over, but we love supporting small shops. One of the biggest pieces of feedback we’ve received from our clients is how much time and stress we have saved them. Testimonials like this are probably what we are most proud of:
“I made my reservations for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World the day they opened for availability. I planned and planned and had several friends and colleagues joining me. I wanted everything to be perfect, and that included my look since I knew I wanted to photograph and video everything as marketing for my travel agency. Once Upon A Wardrobe took over for me and never looked back.
They are completely over-delivered. I expected a packing list. What I got was a personalized PowerPoint of two themed looks for each of my days, hot-linked to the store where I could purchase items from the interchangeable looks, AND a video to explain their choices for me. Each outfit was reasonably priced and checked for availability in my size before I received the PDF.
Before we started our work together, I filled out a survey that included learning my favorite Disney characters and attractions. These ladies were listening. I got looks that featured all my favorites and were individualized to me.
I didn’t feel as if I was wearing the same look that everyone can buy in shopDisney. The biggest bonus was how many compliments I received every single day from cast members and fellow guests alike. I used to not like to be in my own photos, and selfies were not a thing for me. All that changed on this trip.
I smiled from Ear to Ear (pun intended) as I took my PhotoPass pictures, got selfies, and took videos galore. I even found the nerve to go live on FB one day.”
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can go to our website www.ouawardrobe.com and reach out to us through our booking form.
Or, you can direct message us through our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, where our handle is @ouawardrobe. We also recently launched our YouTube channel, Once Upon a Wardrobe, where we discuss product reviews and experiences we’ve had at the parks.
Leaving reviews, interacting on social media, sharing our page, and following our accounts are all ways to support our business and help us to grow!
Pricing:
- There are two different styling packages we offer: The first one is a 3 for $10 option (called a “Minnie” session) which allows you to select the 3 specific items you would like us to search for. It could be a shirt, necklace, ears, or any combination of pieces you need. This can be the perfect option for someone who already knows or owns a lot of the components they would like to bring on their trip and simply wants us to fill in the blanks!
- The second option is our $15 full look, which includes a complete outfit of clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, hair accessories, etc. Regardless of which route is chosen, we always include a slide of “Magical Extras” composed of fun, bonus items we think you will like!
Contact Info:
- Email: ouawardrobe@gmail.com
- Website: www.ouawardrobe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouawardrobe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ouawardrobe
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ouawardrobe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI843ToxkY9umDu6DAZoeGw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ouawardrobe
