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