Meet Ukema Moore | Boutique Owner & Army Veteran

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ukema Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ukema, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Tiffany Ausler (Fisk University Alumni and IT Professional) and I started Autré Soi Boutique, because at the time we were affiliate marketers for an online store and we couldn’t wrap our heads around not being able to answer customers questions as it relates to the merchandise that we were marketing (i.e., sizes, materials, variances, shipping concerns, returns, etc.). Since it was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were quarantined (and had a lot of times on our hands) we decided that we could start our own online boutique and better service our customers.

We dove headfirst into coming up with our name, log, and determining what our core demographic would be. We divided up the responsible to run Autré Soi based on our natural strengths and abilities, but unfortunately about 5 months into starting creative differences and life changes compelled us to end our partnership (however, our friendship remains intact and she’s one of my best supporters).

The split caused me to have to find a new “WHY”, a new reason to keep pushing forward, a new focus. One afternoon as I was trying to remember how to build a website (I’ve been out of practice over 10 years, thank God for WYSIWYG) my 11-year-old daughter, Hayden, sat down beside me and said to me, “Mommy, we got this! I can help you”. Right there, in that moment, I’d found my new WHY! Not only am I her mother, but I am also her first line role model. So, I could not let this business fail.

Together she assists me in picking out merchandise, social media campaigns, setting up for weekly Wear IT Wednesday Lives, packaging & shipping orders, operating Pop-Ups, most importantly she’s a walking billboard. The joy and pride that is in her eyes when she comes home from school to tell me how many people (students and teachers) that have asked her where she got this or that and she tells them from her mom’s boutique. Her excitement is what keeps me going. To be able to show her that even though I work a 9 to 5 that I am also able to start a business from scratch that has the potential to create a legacy for her and her brother.

When I received the invitation to be featured in Shoutout Atlanta, I was stupefied to say the least. Autré Soi Boutique has only been in business for less than a year, who would want to feature me? But, as I think over this interview questions I realize, that Autré Soi Boutique is an example of how a single mother of 2 (now engaged) can find the strength to balance a family, a career, plan a wedding, and start a business (all during a pandemic) that helps women to embrace their Autré Soi (Other Self). A business that helps women to understand that although expensive labels are nice to own, they do not define who we are as women. Just because we age and out bodies change with time, we are not defined by either. To start a business that allows my daughter to learn that no matter what she wears, as long as she feels pretty and confident (label or not) that’s all that matters.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what sets me apart from others is my passion to serve people where they are. I’ve always been able to make people happy and feel seen, even at the lowest points in their lives. I don’t judge people, simple because I don’t like to be judged. I’m always willing to lend a helping hand or donate some of my time to help or just provide a listening ear.

Seeing people smile makes me smile! You never know what someone else is going through. So, any chance you get to bring a smile to someone’s face, you should take that opportunity. You never know, you could save a life that day!

You want to see a woman smile – watch her dress herself!!! Instant confidence boost! Watch her go from mother/sister/friend, to CEO/employee/student, to wife/girlfriend, to bedroom vixen – every facet of her brings a different type of smile, a different type of confidence, a different Autré Soi!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Welcome to Atlanta (in my Jermaine Dupri voice) where there is PLENTY to get into! We would start the day off with brunch at Mojave Restaurant in Sandy Springs. Followed by a little cultured shopping down in Little Five Points. Then we would take a tour of the Beltline via Pedicabs ATL. And finish the night off with by making some genuine connections at The Social House on Auburn Ave.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I would like to thank God for giving me the strength and the energy to start a business on top of everything else that is going on in my life. Thank you to Tiffany Ausler, for having the initial vision for Autré Soi with me. Thank you to my daughter for being my right hand in running this little circus. Thank you to my family (Annie Moore (mom), Ernest Moore (dad), and Ollie Moore (sister) for watching the kids when I have to work late and/or do Pop-Up events. Thank you to my fiancé (Lamont Fitch) for supporting my business venture. Thank you to Black Girl Magic CEOz for holding me accountable. Thank you to Shoutout Atlanta for this feature. Last but not least, THANK YOU to all of my customers that have supported me along this journey. You all are another reason WHY I do this! Thank you all for EMBRACING YOUR AUTRÉ SOI!

Website: www.autresoiboutique.com

Instagram: @autresoiboutique

Facebook: @autresoiboutique

Other: Catch us weekly as not only feature new inventory, but also another Black Owned Business during our Wear IT Wednesday series on our Facebook page. Wednesdays at 8pm EST.

Image Credits
DayeTime Photography and AO Media Group