Meet Diamond Clay | Clothing Store Owner & Creator of The Minding Your Business Planner

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

Hi Diamond, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
My favorite quote is “It makes no sense for the flowerpot to be full if it isn’t going to water the plants” meaning giving is the sole purpose of receiving. I believe it is important to use what you have to reach back and help out those around you. I do so by volunteering in local food drives, supporting local causes, and donating clothes from my clothing store to group homes and shelters.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Diamond Boutique is a paradise dedicated to bringing convenience, affordability, and high quality fashion to today’s woman. Our utopia thrives on empowering and inspiring women to reach their goals, beginning with their closet.

Being a web based store allows clients access to inventory virtually anywhere at any time. Clients are able to shop without the worry of store hours, location, or issues faced with transportation (lack of transportation, distance, parking, etc.). Products sold include clothing and accessories ranging from basic tops, bottoms, graphic tees, denim, maxi dresses, sunglasses, and outerwear.

While in college I noted how expensive clothing in the Metro Detroit area was, and decided that I wanted to bring an affordable, high quality, option to students like myself. Prior to launching my business, I’d had issues with ordering clothing online. I grew tired of paying outlandish prices just to receive a low-quality item, with the notion of no returns, exchanges, or store credit. With me being in college on a fixed income, I felt each dollar I wasted. I also realized that many students like myself were away from home, lacked cars, or were not familiar with the area when going to college. Being online and mobile friendly put The Diamond Boutique at the palm of their hands (literally).

What sets us apart is our quality, affordability, and most importantly our speed. All orders placed before 3PM are fulfilled and shipped the same day. We also allow same day to pick up until 11PM for local customers. We accept all methods of payment including interest free pay in 4 options. Additionally, I am very strategic with the models selected for my brand. They look like real women, and provide realistic expectations of how each item should fit. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and I want my customers to realize that.

Owning a business and branding myself in an oversaturated market all while working fulltime and pursing an education was beyond difficult, but I did not let this deter me. To overcome these challenge, I first learned the importance of prioritizing my time. I used my calendar to block out time for studying, networking, and doing market research for my company. Secondly, to create a local buzz for my clothing store, I attended local pop up shops every weekend Friday – Sunday. Doing so allowed me to not only grow my customer base, but network with likeminded individuals as well. Lastly, I hired help! There is a subject matter expert for everything and it is okay if it isn’t you! To grow my business nationally, I hired experts to help me build an online presence through enhanced SEO and backlinks.

The biggest lesson I have learned was you get in what you put out and to stick to the course, no matter what! This sounds generic but it is true. When I became truly intentional with my time, I began to see the results I sought. By creating a plan and sticking to it throughout obstacles, I was able to quadruple my profit within 2 months.

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?
Detroit has plenty of hidden gems including art and food! I’d start with Dinner at Norma G’s for Caribbean Cuisine and head to The Lost River for Tiki Inspired Drinks. The next morning, we’d go to Mi.Mosa for a boozy brunch. Depending on the weather we’d go to the River Walk for a scenic view or just walk around downtown. Every now and then there is a trolly with music that will pick you up.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My bestfriends Tash, Tori, and Te all deserve shout outs. I was very discouraged when I opened my business and took heavy losses. They were there supporting me in every step of the way. In my eyes, support doesn’t directly translate to sales. Support is sharing posts, commenting, weighing in on business decisions, and being a shoulder to cry on. They not only promoted the events I had, they were there to help with set up and break down. Whenever I felt low, there were always there to pick me back up and affirm my goals and dreams. I’d also like to shout out my sisters Maine and Shy of the New Kids, LLC, Day in and day out they help me brainstorm ways to take my business to the next level, whether it being new marketing tactics, breaking into customer segments, or staying up to date with the most up to date trends.

Website: shopthediamond.com

Instagram: shopthediamond.co

Linkedin: thediamond

Twitter: shopthediamond

Facebook: shopthediamond

Other: https://linktr.ee/dopelifeofdiam