Meet Timiya Abrams | Boutique Owner

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

Hi Timiya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always dreamed of having my own boutique. Growing up I always knew I wanted to be in the fashion space, whether that be designing, styling or having my own store. I love the ability to be able to express yourself through your personal style. So my thought behind starting my own business was simply creating a space for my to do something that I am passionate about and on my own terms. I knew that I wanted to also create opportunities for others in the community that aspire to be in the fashion space as well. So when I was in high school I began to actively work on how I would make having my own boutique a reality for myself.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As mentioned before, I have always dreamed of being a boutique owner. I turned my dream into a reality by taking a leap of faith and following that with continuous bets on myself. What sets me apart from other online boutiques is for starters my drive and ambition to create an amazing experience for anyone who comes in contact with my brand. Another thing that sets me apart is my tunnel vision, I don’t follow the trends of what other boutiques are doing or offering I make it my business to provide a different inventory assortment to the best of my ability so that my customers (current and potential) can know for a fact when they shop with Aesthetik Collection it won’t be like every other boutique you can find. With my business what I’m most proud of is my continuous growth. Going from not having full clarity of my vision to establishing a brand identity and working towards maximizing my brand exposure makes me happy & I am excited to see where my business & myself will be a year from now and even five years from now. Although I’m still fairly in the beginning of my journey, I got this far by constantly showing up & finding solutions to any obstacles thrown my way by having the drive to not give up on my dream. Although being an entrepreneur gets tough in the trenches of doing the work I believe the beauty is in the journey and paving your way by not allowing things that are sent to discourage you or stop you in your tracks to push you to give up. Nothing along this journey was easy, I honestly feel like as you grow it gets harder and harder because there will be new obstacles you must face that you haven’t conquered before. It’s like new test, and you won’t always know the answers. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way are that simply put, YOU MUST DO THE WORK ! Also utilize your resources to the best of your ability and know that you have everything you need to get to the next level. Lastly networking is key, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You have to place yourself in rooms that will open up new doors of opportunity for you. The key to success is to maximize your exposure and to do so you have to build your network. Although Aesthetik Collection is coming up on our official 2 year anniversary, I have grand plans for where I am taking my business. Aesthetik is starting small but soon people will know my brand name globally.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Omg, there are so many things to do and places to go. I honestly would have to start with going to grab a bite to eat. I am a true foodie at heart so I would probably suggest going to Breakfast at Barneys or TOAST for brunch during the week. Some lunch spots I would suggest would be OSHA, or Jinya or even Roc South. Then some dinner suggestions would be Pasha’s, Poor Calvin’s, or Barcelona Wine Bar but honestly it all depends on the mood. Places to hang I would definitely suggest Ponce Rooftop, the Beltline, Politan Row, Puttshack or the Painted Duck/Pin. There are so many things that you could do in the city or on the perimeter I could give a full list I love being out and sight seeing and just doing new things that I haven’t experienced yet so I am always looking for something new and fun to experience.

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 am in my journey without the support of my mother, my family and friends. From the very beginning prior to starting my boutique my mother has supported me with resources to help me build my foundation and understand how to legally operate a business. My family has shown me support by being either a customer or offering to back me in anyway possible (although I never accept any assistance). Then lastly my friends have been there to support me by providing words of encouragement, emotional support, giving advice, attending events, or even assisting me with events, and also by being some of my most consistent customers. I would like to especially shoutout my mom and brother, Jasmine, Kamiya, Tika, Andre, Destiny, Azalea, Keshawn, and Alexus for always showing up for me & constantly pushing and motivating me to continue pursuing my dream.

Website: www.shopaesthetik.com

Instagram: AesthetikCollection

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopAesthetik

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLNcuN2_YPkhiTZAjDfTrA

Image Credits
@TheAlmty