2inspire Inspirational Woman: Ali Murray Founder of Alila Boutique

Ali Murray first opened Alila in late 2007 in the city of centre of Dublin. After 5 fantastic years there all business was moved online in 2012.  In August 2016 Alila.ie launched their brand new showroom so that bridesmaids can make appointments to come in and see all the bridesmaids collections including the fantastic Eliza & Ethan collection.  Ali has been born and raised in the fashion industry, her parents were fashion distributors in Ireland and her grandparents were manufacturers.  After completing a degree in International Business & Languages in DCU, Ireland Ali attended the Grafton Academy of Design in Dublin.  It was during this time that Ali opened Alila. Read her inspirational interview below:

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

Each day can vary! There are always plenty of jobs to be done from packing up all the orders nicely to go out that day, answering emails from panicked brides who have had a bridesmaids dress dilemma or girls looking for debs dresses (ordering cheap dresses online that look nothing like the online image, or alteration disasters) and need new bridesmaids dresses or debs dresses that week (we can help!). If there has been a big red carpet event we will do a special blog post on that reporting on all the style hits and misses.  If there is a new delivery in we get it photographed and up online asap! It’s also important to try the new stock on our standard mannequin to make sure that the fit is a good fit so that when you buy online you can confidently order the correct size with our help in the description.  There is such a variation from label to label with sizing now it can be crazy.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

My family has always been in the fashion industry, my grandparents were manufacturers and had their own label (Pallas knitwear) and then my parents were fashion distributors.  It was 2007 I was working in the family business and studying fashion design by night and the ideal location came up to open a boutique so I got to work - designing the interior of the boutique, and then the buying and planning. 

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

I opened Alila boutique in the city centre of Dublin in October in 2007 and 3 months later the recession really hit.  I managed to keep my business afloat throughout the recession and not get myself into any debt.  I started the online at the end of 2010 and moved all business then online in September 2012. We are 9 years in business this year and still going strong! I can’t believe it’s 9 years!

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Obviously keeping a business running and afloat throughout the recession was the biggest challenge.  Other challenges we face now online are making sure people are aware of the brand and the online store.  Some people still have a fear of online shopping so I always do my best to disspell that fear and make sure people are aware that Alila.ie really is an online boutique with a personal touch.

What are your future plans for the business?

By the end of 2016 we hope to have opened a brand new showroom here in Alila HQ so that with an appointment you can come and try on dresses before purchasing if you prefer.  We also hope to have introduced lots more new exclusive labels to Alila maintaining our mission to provide labels you won’t find easily elsewhere so you can be confident you are wearing something fabulous that you won’t see someone else in.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

That’s such a tough question! One thing I probably would have done differently was paint the interior of the boutique a different colour! The original Alila boutique on Drury Street was a pink palace, so pink in fact that it made dresses look a different colour than they actually were! That’s only a minor thing though. Any mistakes made were incredibly important lessons in business though so they were all worthwhile.  As tough as the recession was I learned a lot about the world of business and the important decisions that have to be made.  I’ve done the retail bricks and mortar side and the online and I’m very happy with how everything is going for Alila right now and excited for Alila’s future.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Because anything is possible in the world we live in today.  Look at Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook) and Sophia Amorusa (Founder of Nastygal.com).  They have reached fantastic levels in their careers, through hard work and determination and are an inspiration to all young women. They are taking the positions that in a past era would only have been taken up by men and showing us all that Girl Power isn’t just an idea, it’s a reality. When things got really tough during the recession and the idea of closing down was considered my mum pushed me through and encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream. I had put so much into Alila at that stage and Mum was a pillar of strength for me to dig deep, keep building my business and keep following my dreams.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Do your research, do your homework.  If you are going to open up a boutique what will make yours different to others already out there? A lot of times you see people opening up a new shop and just trying to stock labels that their neighbour already has. What is the point in that?  Decide who your customer is going to be, and be specific.  Have a plan in place and a good strong strategy. Look at what support is already out there being offered to you from your local government, you’d be surprised how much they can actually help. 

What or who inspires you in business and why?

There are the big hitters like Victoria Beckham and Sophia Amoruso who inspire me and then there are those close to home who have built up successful businesses through hard work and determination.  A good friend Courtney Smith is a fantastic fashion stylist based in Ireland whose business is just growing and growing.  I massively admire her work ethic and how well she has done and continues to do. My dad also has been a massive influence on me, having started working for him from the age of 12 when on school holidays and seeing how hard he worked and how he passed that work ethic on to me.  If there is one thing I have learnt over the years it is that to be successful you have to dig deep and not be afraid to get your hands dirty. There will always be those jobs you hate to do but they have to be done. It’s just part and parcel of running your own business.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“If you believe it, you can achieve it”

And then I also love the Coco Chanel quote - “A girl should be two things; classy and fabulous”

Ali

www.alila.ie

ali@alila.ie

www.facebook.com/alilaboutique     Instagram: @alila.ie  www.twitter.com/alilaboutique

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Ganiyat Alli, Founder of Mr and Miss Nigeria UK

Ganiyat Alli is a woman on a mission to unite the Nigerian Diaspora in the UK. The 27 year old entrepreneur has the ambition and drive to make a difference in the Nigerian Diaspora community through the Mr & Miss Nigeria UK pageant. After years of experience within the African events scene she decided to launch the first joint male and female cultural pageant specifically for the Nigerian community as a way to unite the diaspora. In early 2013, after almost losing her mother to a sudden head injury, Ganiyat became disillusioned by the entertainment and events industry and fell into depression. Read her inspirational interview today!

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

In preparation for the event there are a lot of emails and cold claim that needs to be done, depending on what stage we are at as a team we are usually contacting companies and venues, try to secure sponsorship and dates for the show.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

Event planing started as a hobby while I was in university, I love the idea of putting something together that makes people feel good. With Mr & Miss Nigeria UK it was a distraction from the negative place I found myself in daily. It helped me to refocus on what I really loved to do. I also wanted to put together something that would help Nigerian’s in the diaspora celebrate their heritage.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

It would have to be making it to our 3^rd year, it has been difficult but possible. I've been able to learn so much and find new ways to grow the brand.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Finding consistent people, dealing with people who do not understand the vision or understand how much work goes into running such an event has really shown me that it is not personal. The best thing to do is to find solutions and not dwell.

What are your future plans for the business?

The brand will definitely be expanding into other areas, we want to create more opportunities for young people to gain practical skills that will allow them to go straight into work over having to stay in education, especially if education is something they are not strong in.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have developed the idea a bit more and attempted to find better ways to fund the event. The planning stages are so key when trying to put together a successful event so I would have loved more time to get things done.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Everyone is born with a purpose in life and it is important to know that you don't need to have it all figured out by the time you are 18. By continuously working hard and trying new things what you love to do will soon be what pays your bills and it won't even feel like work. Everyone needs someone to look up to and be inspired by, so if I could be that for just one young girl that would be the best thing in the world.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Before going straight in it is best to do as much volunteering, attach yourself to someone who has been in the industry for years and don't be afraid to ask questions. I feel like I could have been a lot further in my career if I had someone to run ideas by and learn from.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I have never really been inspired by anyone before but since getting deeper in my faith, knowing God more has really kept me going and has really allowed me to have more faith in what I do.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

‘Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’ Matthew 7:7

Twitter and Instagram: @OfficialMMNUK

Website: http://www.officialmmnuk.com/

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Michelle Brewster Founder of Supachick

Meet Michelle Brewster, The Founder of the online fitness plan website SupaChick.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

For me one working day is never the same as the next; being an online fitness trainer is not a 9-5 job. Because my online business is available 24/7 all over the world, I often have to work in the evenings and on weekends. However, it’s important to ensure I have downtime, so I do manage myself quite rigidly to ensure I have a healthy work-life balance.

Being a fitness entrepreneur didn’t come about by chance; I am passionate about my own health and wellbeing as well as my clients’, so every morning I get up early and head to the gym before my working day starts. I find it energises me for the day ahead, and and allows me thinking time. I train holistically, practicing yoga and meditation to help with my flexibility, mobility and mindset.

My first task once I’ve warmed up is spend an hour catching up with the health and fitness social media community, replying to follower comments and questions on the SupaChick website and updating my social media pages and website with my daily post or blog.

Each of my clients has a tailored 4, 8 or 12 week cycle which they follow, so a large part of my day is spent sending workout to them, through my partner application Bodireel, along with conducting Skype calls with my clients, attenting meetings with key business influencers, and ambassador work for companies I’ve partnered with.

I love the flexibility and variety my job gives me, but the best part is the rapport I have with my clients, the journey we take together and helping them to achieve their goals.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

After I gained my Masters in Business & Management I soon qualified as a Fitness Professional. In this role I worked privately with clients and it was here that I found my true passion for helping busy women to find a healthy balance between fitness, wellness and lifestyle.

I wanted to utilise my experience in both customer facing and product operation management, to reach more women worldwide, and help them achieve their goals through an approach that truly worked for them.

I am dedicated to supporting women embrace the true meaning of Supachick: it’s about recognising ageless beauty, inner radiance, and an undeniable belief in oneself through confidence, wellness - and being Supa.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

My greatest accomplishment was building the courage to become an entrepreneur. Being the founder of my own business and successfully bringing SupaChick to market- changing woman’s lifestyle for the better – is undoubtedly the thing I am most proud of.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

The health and fitness industry is becoming more and more saturated, particularly the UK, USA and Australia, where many of my clients are based. Finding a way to differentiate SupaChick from others, keeping it fresh, relevant and competitive, has been my biggest challenge so far.

The tailored programme and app, along with the educational blogs and female fitness hub on my site have achieved this, but it is an ongoing challenge and I am determined to continue to evolve to ensure SupaChick stays at the forefront of the virtual personal training world.

What are your future plans for the business?

As well as continuing to grow SupaChick to reach as many woman as possible worldwide, I also want to eventually work with the elderly, children and male clients, to help embed wellness into their lifestyles too.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

The only thing I would have changed was to have done it sooner; I spent too many years thinking about this life long ambition without putting any of these thoughts into action -until now!

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Life is too short to be stuck in a rut with no end goal. I want to inspire women to have the confidence to believe that they can do anything - because they can.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Aspire to be the best at what you do, and never stop learning. The health and fitness industry is so fast-paced - the minute you stop learning is the moment you fall behind the competition. Learn from your peers, read educational articles to stay aligned with your goals, enrol in courses in which you are passionate about and focus on your speciality – do whatever it takes to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Two entrepreneurs I really respect are Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, of SoulCycle. They were determined to find an alternative to the fitness routines which felt too much like hard work. Combining inspirational coaching and high energy music, they  designed a workout to benefit both the mind and the body. Today, their workouts engage and empower riders in a way that leaves them mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived. The first studio was opened on the Upper West Side and in 2012 they made their way to California, opening the first west coast studio in West Hollywood. Now SoulCycle operates in 62 locations nationwide, and is continuing to grow.

Julie and Elizabeth were just regular girls with a shared passion and vision and they have achieved so much by simply staying true to their dream. To me, that is truly inspirational.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.”

– Oprah Winfrey

More details about Michelle and SupaChick can be found on her website: www.supachick.com

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Princess Onitilo, Founder of TressFree.com

Born in South East London to a Sierra Leonean mother and Nigerian father Princess Onitilo has always had a calling of excellence in her life. Having graduated with honours from Warwick University with a degree in Law and Sociology the future seemed set for Princess but her entrepreneurial spirit has led her down a different path with the launch of Tress Free, The UK's first multicultural hair & beauty booking website.  Read her inspirational interview here and be inspired! 

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

I don’t have a typical business day because I am currently running my business alongside full time employment. I spent most of my time working around my work obligations, but  for the business I spend most of my time liaising with my web developers, partner stylists and developing marketing strategies.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

The idea to start the business came after I was let down last minute by a hairdresser. I didn’t bother looking for an alternative hairdresser for the same day because I knew it would require a lot of energy – either phoning different hairdressers I know hoping they may be free, or phoning friends to get contact details of their hairdresser. It was at that point that I thought to myself that the process of finding a decent hair stylist in London should be a lot easier than it currently is. The idea of Tress Free is to provide convenience as well as giving the customer the opportunity to view images of the hairdressers work to judge for themselves whether booking an appointment will be worth it.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

I don’t think I have reached a point where I feel like I can cite accomplishments in regards to the business. I think the best thing so far has been the launch. The fact that I brought an idea into fruition is my first accomplishment and I look forward to experiencing the greatest accomplishment in the future.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

My biggest challenge has been trying to get more stylists signed up to Tress Free. The more stylists that are signed up, the more choice a customer using the website will have. I appreciate that this is a temporary challenge as it is a new business, but with time and more publicity this challenge will become a thing of the past.

What are your future plans for the business?

For now the plan is to build the Tress Free brand in the UK, making it the go to platform for Afro-Caribbean hair and beauty needs. There after I would like to roll it out into Europe and hopefully Africa as well.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would definitely spend more time researching the market and the feasibility of the business model. I would also spend more time planning. I often get carried away with ideas and rush to the finish line without taking a step back to plan and think.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

I think it is important because empowered women have the capacity to impact and go on to inspire generations. Women should not be made to feel that their achievements should be inhibited because they are female or because of the expectations society places on us.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

The hair and beauty industry (particularly the Afro-Caribbean market) is highly fragmented and seeking to penetrate a market that is so big and often difficult to understand is not easy.  There will be set backs but I believe your perseverance will set you apart.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Tech entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Spiegel inspire me. Building a technology based business is difficult because you are selling concepts and ideas rather than tangible things hoping that people will buy into your idea. The starting journeys for such companies were not easy but they had a dream and passion for what they are doing and stuck at it. I am inspired by them and this the attitude I have when it comes to my business.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My inspirational quotes are scriptures from the bible. One that is a constant inspiration for me is:

'I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me' Philippians 4:13 

Find Tress Free: http://www.tressfree.com/

Twitter/Instagram @tressfree

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tressfreee

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Lucy Parsons Founder of Life More Extraordinary

Meet Lucy Parsons, Founder of LifeMoreExtraordinary.com, a Cambridge graduate and qualified teacher with a passion for helping young people maximise their academic success! Read her inspirational interview below.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

I get up at 6am and meditate and exercise. I find that if I don’t exercise first thing in the morning I don’t fit it into my day. It’s something I learned about habit formation - if there’s something you want to be sure to get done, do it first! My children, who are 6 and 4 get up around 7 and we all get dressed and have breakfast. I drop them off at school then come home and work. Throughout September and October I’ll be working on my book which is going to be published in February 2017, so much of my time will be consumed by writing that. I also write my weekly blog post, attend to social media and write emails to the people who subscribe to my blog. Sometimes I do a speaking engagement in a school.

I pick my children up from school and spend time with them, cooking tea etc until their bedtime. Once the children are in bed I get back to work! I work 2-3 evenings per week coaching and tutoring the students who I work with. The other evenings I usually collapse in front of the television with my husband. We go to bed pretty early so we can be up early the next day!


What made you start the business and how did you get started?

I started my business, lifemoreextraordinary.com, after my second child was born. I didn’t want to go back to classroom teaching because I didn’t find it very family friendly. I knew I couldn’t do that properly and bring up my own children well at the same time. However, I was still passionate about the power of education. What I knew that I was exceptionally good at, compared to other people, was getting amazing grades in my exams. So, I thought I’d build a business around teaching study skills, which are highly transferable and everyone needs if they’re going to succeed in their education.

I started by launching my blog, which was immediately popular with GCSE and A-level students. I also launched my e-book very shortly afterwards. I’ve grown into offering coaching and speaking in schools over time. I also offer help with UCAS personal statements.


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

My proudest moment was being asked to publish a book with John Catt, the educational publishers. I’ve always wanted to have a properly published book and it was a massive boost when they approached me rather than me having to go round to lots of different publishers asking them to work with me! It’s lovely to have their faith in my work and the cache of having a publisher wanting to work with me.


What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

My biggest challenge is knowing who I should be marketing my work to. There are three groups of people interested in what I do: students, parents and teachers. Students are the end users of anything that I create, however they rarely have the funds to pay for it. The marketing is a great deal more complicated than it is for many other businesses because of this.

What are your future plans for the business?

Once my book is published next year I’d love to work with more ambitious students one-to-one over skype or the phone. It’s wonderful to go on a journey over a number of months or years helping a young person to realise their dreams in terms of their grades and getting into their chosen university. I’d also love to speak regularly in schools and write more books!



If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I think I’d test out more thoroughly from early on whether the students or the parents were going to be the most viable audience for my ideas. I wish I had resolved this question much earlier on.


Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

I think I want to inspire young women so much because I was one once! I think life for women these days abounds with choice, but that choice almost restricts us. We can choose from any career we like, to have a family or not, to get married or not, where to live etc. This can be very confusing. Young women also have a nasty habit of talking themselves down and not believing in themselves. I want them to know that they can choose the life that best suits them and go after it whole-heartedly, so long as they believe in their own talents and abilities. Compromise is no longer necessary.


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Be a very good listener. Listen to your clients, listen to your audience and respond to them accordingly.


What or who inspires you in business and why?

It inspires me to see so many mothers starting internet businesses that they can run from home whilst being very hands-on with their family. Having a mother who worked from home was very important to my own educational success and it’s important to me that I provide the same to my children. The other women doing this and making it a success, the world over, inspire me every day to keep going.


What is your favourite inspirational quote?

I loved the book ‘The Help’ by Kathleen Stockett. This quote really speaks to how I want to boost the confidence and self-worth of the young people that I work with, as well as my own children.


“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”




Website: www.lifemoreextraordinary.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lucycparsons

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifemoreextraordinary/

Snapchat: lucy.cparsons

Email: lucy@lifemoreextraordinary.com