Meet Destiny Houston: Social Worker & Thrifter

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

Hi Destiny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Well, I was a Hurricane Katrina victim. With that being said at a young age, I lost everything. My mom was a single mother trying to do all she could for our siblings and me to have a better life than she had. My mom stayed in sales racks and consignment stores just so that we “didn’t look like what we were going through.” People use to joke around and call her the “Queen of Sales.” My knack for thrifting didn’t start until it was Prom Season in high school. I ended up with all three of my prom dresses for less than 20 dollars throughout the three years. I kept it up through college by just shopping thrift stores for parties and on-campus events. After college, I worked in my field as a Social Worker in a Correctional Facility. With that, thrifting became my therapy for my mental health, since my career was starting to weigh on me mentally, even though it was so deserving.

Over time people would come up to me and say, “How do you go in there?”, “I just don’t have time!” and “How do you find cute clothes?” From there, I wanted people to feel as confident I was in my gently “loved” clothes. With life-changing with a new job, new home, and just being in my mid-twenties, I was distracted to expanding my therapy…But then COVID-19 happened.

I know a lot of people think of COVID as only a negative event, but for me, it was the first time in my life I gave a lot of time to myself. I started really pushing forward to making this “therapy” a message to people. My big push was on June 13th. I was sitting on my coworker’s back porch with her wife, and her wife was explaining how Covid-19 really expanded her eBay business, due to online shopping being at an all-time high. I started to converse with her about my past idea of an online thrift store, and she did nothing but encourage me and really motivated me to just take the leap of faith. That same day, my boyfriend planted a seed of $50 to start my business. So that same day, I went to my local discount store and just started to explore for items. The next day out of faith, I launched Destiny’s Treasures on Instagram with the motto: You can be chic for cheap. Within a month, my family and friend blessed me with a logo, a mannequin, sales but most of all, the message to inspire “people to look chic for cheap.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a social worker at a nonprofit organization that assists individuals with criminal involvement successfully reenter back into society. The goal of the agency is to be a “point of contact” for these individuals by providing case management, workforce readiness, and supportive services.

Previously, after college, I worked in my field as a Social Worker in a Correctional Facility. This experience really educated me on the criminal justice system and how flawed it was. However, it motivated me to be a better advocate for this population. The biggest lesson I learned along the way of this journey was grace. All our mistakes in life serve a purpose of who we are.

In regards to my brand and my professional life, I want the world to know that individuality is the beauty of life. Do not let the influence of the world or your past talk you out of who you’re becoming.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Birmingham is a pretty neat city. The list of eateries goes on and on. We would first start our day off with a refreshing acai bowl from City Bowls. We would then go to a family-owned winery, “Cat-N-Bird Winery”, which not only has great wine but a great atmosphere. In regards to dinner, we can enjoy Firebirds or John City Diner. When it’s time to enjoy the nightlife, we could go to the Wine Loft, The Saferoom, or even just hang out at Railroad Park. If we are still hungry, we can visit the best food truck in town Granny’s Fish ‘N Grits, and enjoy a daiquiri at Birmingham Daiquiris.

Like I said the list goes on and on, but these are a few of my favorites.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I want to dedicate this shout out to my family (Mom, Trinity, Josiah, and Jonah). I wouldn’t be here or who I am without you all. I am beyond grateful for the unconditional love and support that you all give me daily. Thank you is truly an understatement.

Instagram: thrifting_with_des

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Destinys-Treasures-110495100720704