Today we’d like to introduce you to Zora Valentine.
Zora, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I wish I could say I started Dirty Little Store with some grand plan in mind, but I didn’t. I started DLS late one night while watching a random Netflix show with my husband and dog at my side. I recently watched a few YouTube videos on people selling digital products on Etsy and told myself that I should just try it out.
In the past, I had tried selling downloadable candle labels, but that was a big bust. I believe it didn’t work, not because my designs were bad but because I had no real connection to the content.
So before starting this new project, I asked myself, “What matters to me?” The answer…my relationship. That was the lightbulb moment. My relationship was what my project needed to focus on. So on that night, I created a downloadable relationship coupon book. I told myself, “If 1 person buys this by the end of the year, I would make more of them.”
After just a few hours, I heard the famous “cha ching” sound. I couldn’t believe it. Someone actually bought my product. After that, I kept creating more downloadable products, and to my surprise, they kept on selling.
In Spring 2023, my husband, Chris Valentine, asked me if he could make some of my products come to life. I was nervous because I had never created or sold any physical products before, but I agreed. He then spent about a month choosing the right manufacturers, determining dimensions, ordering samples, and making my best-selling digital card game come to life.
Once we got a small batch of these card games printed and packaged, we were ready to launch. I nervously developed the Etsy sales page, hit the “publish” button, and waited. In less than 24 hours, we had our first order.
Since then, we have been creating and sharing these relationship-focused card games with the world through Etsy, Shopify, and soon-to-be Amazon.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. Dirty Little Store’s mission is to enhance communication and connection within relationships. Unfortunately, not all companies register our mission the same way. Because many of our products focus on intimacy, which is a vital part of any adult relationship, we often get bucketed as an “explicit” brand.
We have been kicked off of multiple email platforms, had to find alternative payment processors, and dealt with many issues relating to advertising on social media platforms. At first, it was difficult. All we wanted to do was to share our products with the world. However, these struggles have taught me a valuable lesson, “there is always another way around.” Not all email platforms are the same. Not all social media platforms are the same. There is a way. It just takes a bit of creativity.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dirty Little Store?
Dirty Little Store is a relationship-focused gift store. Our mission is to enhance communication and connection within relationships. My husband and I spearhead the operation from Winter Park, FL.
What makes our products stand out is the quality. At this time, all products are hand-assembled and designed to last a lifetime. The highlight products are our card games. Each card comes with its own protective sleeve. This way you can use them time and time again without wear or tear.
With serving 1,000’s of customers in less than 2 years, we have developed one of the fastest-growing relationship-focused gift stores in the nation. This is largely due to our ‘customer comes first’ policy, which has helped us earn an overall rating of 4.86/5.0.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
When I was super young, I was very shy and quiet. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I broke out of my shell and developed my own mind and voice. From there, I would describe myself as determined. I became highly involved in sports and ended up being captain of all the teams I was a part of. I was quite scholastic and loved pushing myself to my academic limit.
Outside of school, I indulged in my love of fashion. I would play around with new outfits and beauty trends that I saw in magazines. I found my love of singing and would often perform in the local choir.
Pricing:
- The average product goes from $20-30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ourdirtylittlestore.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourdirtylittlestore/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoravalentine/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/itszoravalentine/
Image Credits
The photoshoot images were taken by Benny Renee Studios
