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

Hi Chelsea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Fashion has always been a huge part of my life thanks to my mother. I look at it as a way to express myself. Girls always compliment my outfits and have even suggested that I have my boutique. Little did they know, that idea was constantly on my mind but I didn’t know where to start and I was extremely nervous. One day I was upset at work and told myself “Chelsea just take the risk! What do you have to lose?” That night, I stayed up, watched many youtube videos, and applied for my LLC. Every night I would stay up researching because if I was going to it, I was going to do it right and put my best foot forward. I continue to research because I am still learning how to advertise and market my business. The research will never stop!

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.
Learning about running a business is not easy! It takes a lot of trial and error. What works for one boutique may or may not work for mine. A challenge that I’m facing right now is marketing. I’m constantly creating content to put on my Instagram page and Tik Tok hoping that it will bring traffic to my site. It can be frustrating but I will never give up because what God has in store for me will always be for me no matter the challenges I face.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I want to start off by saying that I love Atlanta! It’s so much to do and I’m never bored. If my best friend was visiting the area, I would take them to the Beltline so we can walk around and grab lunch during the day. I love the Beltline because everyone there looks so carefree. At night, I would take my friend to Pasha! I love Pasha because of the ambiance and their lamb chops. To end the night, we would go to Rose Bar to dance until our feet hurt.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to my mother who passed in 2016. My love for fashion began at a very young age. My mom loved to shop and would bring many shopping bags home. I remember going through her clothes, styling them, and having her take pictures of me. Our love for fashion is always something that she and I shared. She is remembered for her generous heart and her wonderful style!

Website: www.theechelseamarie.com

Instagram: @theechelseamarie

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