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

Hi Rita, how do you think about risk?
I believe that taking risks in my line of business, or any sort of business for that matter is crucial. Without taking risks, business owners will never be able to know the boundaries they are willing to cross in order to achieve a certain level of success. Starting a business in it of itself is taking a risk; there are so many factors with starting a business that leave entrepreneurs in the dark. From the day a business opens to the very end, the owners play a game of chance whether their marketing is persuasive enough, or whether they will gain clients in time to make a profit. I would not be where I am today if I would have stayed in my comfort zone and not taken a risk.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One aspect that sets me apart from others is the fact that all of my work is custom-made. My dresses are fitted and sculpted to the image that my clients have in their head. It is extremely invigorating being able to perfectly execute a client design, and them be fully satisfied. I am proud of the fact that I am able to be a part of such a significant journey in someone’s life, and I can make something that my clients will keep forever and perhaps pass onto their children. The reason I’m at where I am today is being able to network. Being such a small business I depend on word of mouth to gain potential customers. Starting my career was not easy at all, but the way I was able to overcome hardships was facing my fears head-on and going out into the world to advertise my business and show how far I’ve come. One crucial lesson I learned throughout my few years of making dresses is to make sure to budget. I want the world to know that I am not just here to make a dress; I intend to form a relationship with my clients and be able to support them throughout their journey. I want my brand to appeal to everyone, regardless of age, sex, and race. I want everyone to feel comfortable and cared for when he or she is working with me. I strive to evoke diversity with my brand, and I want to be able to work with everyone.

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?
For starters, I would show them around Downtown Atlanta, near Lenox, so they get a taste of the city. We’d probably be hungry after sightseeing, so I would go to the Victory Sandwich bar to eat some sandwiches and have some adult drinks. The Starlight drive-in movie theater is about 20 minutes from the sandwich bar and they usually play really good movies. The next day, feeling a little adventurous and to be one with nature, we would drive up to Tallulah Gorge falls and hike. The scenery is beautiful and it’s the perfect relax spot after a long day in the city. After that, we would go eat at a Mexican restaurant about 15 minutes away that has the best chips and queso, but also very affordable. When we get back home we would open a few bottles of wine and maybe watch a movie and catch up on all the little things we missed in each other’s lives. Of course we have to visit the legendary Coca-Cola factory and aquarium, maybe even go to the college football hall of fame. After a long week of activities, we would go to the spa and have a self-care day before she leaves.

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 wouldn’t be where I’m today without the love and support of my family and friends. Each of them supports and helps in different ways, from providing moral support to showing up and help model during the shows. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to give a special thank you to my family, my biggest supporters. Also, I want to say thank you to Michelle Thao from Michelle Thao beauty for doing the make up during the bridal shows and being a great photographer, as well as being one of my best models.

Website: hanacouture.com
Instagram: hana.couture
Twitter: @HanaCouture
Facebook: hanacouturebridal1

Image Credits
photography: Michelle Thao photography MUA: Michelle Thao Beauty

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