Meet Lawanda Givens | Boutique Owner

We had the good chance of connecting with Lawanda Givens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lawanda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting your own business would be that you are building generation wealth to leave behind for your family. Being a mom of four children, I know the importance of building a brand that could help impact their future. I also started this boutique to inspire women to love themselves and to help build self-confidence. We often give little pieces of ourselves to areas of our life and forget that we as women have self care needs also.

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?
I am the owner of L Michelle’s Boutique and we offer high-quality yet affordable fashion accessories for all occasions. We want the customer to experience excellent customer service from the beginning to the end of their buying process. I have years of experience in the retail industry ,wherein, I gained a lot of knowledge about the fashion industry.

In 2008, I found out that we were expecting our first child, so me and my husband decided that it would be better to make the sacrifice for me to become a stay at home mom. During this time, I came up with the idea to start a boutique, so I began researching different sources for grant money. To my surprise, I found it very difficult to find grant money for start-up businesses. Due to lack of capital, I was not able to launch my boutique.

In 2020, I found out that we were expecting our fourth child and knew that I needed to start building a business. I started researching everything I needed to do in order to start a business. I found vendors and ordered samples of products to test for quality. I also gifted family and friends products in exchange for their reviews. My husband and I built our website and got to work. I drew up ideas for my Logo, the colors I wanted to represent my brand, and the props I wanted to use for my product photos. It takes so much more to run a product-based business than meets the eye! I launched my business and really got to work. I advertised on Facebook, Instagram, and in person. I got lots of support from my family and friends.

I also have other family members and friends who are business owners whom have helped me tremendously in this journey. They have made this process a lot easier by giving advice and by promoting my brand. I created this brand to encourage all woman to love themselves and to be confidence in your own skin.

At L Michelle’s we offer accessories for women who are minimalist and more bolder pieces for those who like to be more glam, We have you covered for everyday wear and semi-formal events. We are hoping to add some new collections in the coming months.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize an amazing woman in my life and she is my mother, Naomi Barber. Growing up as a child, she has always encouraged me to do my best and to be a part of whatever I wanted to be a part of. She always took the time to make sure that me and my sister was always involved in activities that would enrich our lives. She has truly shown me the definition of a hardworking, selfless woman.

Website: Lmichellesboutique.com

Instagram: @Lmichellesboutique

Image Credits
Gene Givens