Our grandparents may be telling us to settle down and hang on tight to that boring office job, but instead we’re still taking risks and dreaming big. Just on a smaller budget.

Tami Chicarielli is a 25-year-old entrepreneur who wasn’t happy with her daily 9 to 5 routine in the office. Tami has loved fashion ever since she was allowed to dress herself and knew there was a way to break into the industry. So while unemployment rates went up and stocks went down, Tami started her own business.

With a budget of nearly $0, Tami opened up a Personal Shopping & Stylist company called TchicStyle (www.tchicstyle.com) last September. Eager for more, Tami recently opened up The Chique Boutique (www.thechiqueboutique.com), an online jewelry boutique.

How did you get the idea of starting your own business?

My father is the ultimate entrepreneur. Seeing him throughout my childhood produce new ideas and concepts, combined with him constantly throwing ideas at me on what I can sell and how I can sell it really was my first motivation. I studied marketing both as an undergrad and grad student, so I have a strong understanding of how to run my own business. Plus, it has always been a dream of mine to own my own business. I want to be my own boss and set my own rules. If I want a vacation, I get a vacation!

Did this have anything to do with the current job market or recession?

Yes and no. It has been a long time goal of mine to have my own online retail store or to just work in the world of fashion. Unfortunately, I majored in business – not fashion – and I began my job search at the brink of the souring job market. Now, stuck in a job that has nothing to do with my likes or what I spent over $100,000 in education for, I find myself wanting more — to be just a little more fulfilled in life. I can’t afford to lose my current job, and I am afraid to quit because I’ll be jobless for a long time. I need something that can pay for all of my personal financial obligations and most importantly, I want to be happy. When I’m not happy, my work reflects it.

I tried to interview for buying and merchandising positions, but the truth is, I don’t have the educational background nor do I have the work experience. But how am I supposed to gain work experience if no one is willing to teach me? No one seems to know that answer, so I took matters into my own hands. Why not create and build my own experience? I am the business owner; I am the accountant; I am the buyer (take that!), the merchandiser, the marketing/advertising coordinator. I wear many different hats. Sometimes to get what you want, you just need to put a little more pep in your step and do it yourself.

Has it been difficult starting a new business in the recession?

Yes. When I started the personal shopping business in a recession – I don’t know what I was thinking! Who in their right mind would pay someone to shop for them, do closet audits, or pay me to buy “hard-to-find” items for them? I went for it anyway, and there are people out there! I had about twelve clients in a span of six months – very grateful clients that seemed to have needed my help. My problem was that I felt bad charging them through this hard economic time, but they knew what they were getting in to, so I had to quickly get over it. Starting a service doesn’t require much start up money- however starting an e-commerce site does. I am working now on a $0 marketing/advertising budget. I mean I have spent a couple dollars here and there buying materials, but other than that I am scared to dig into my savings for risk of losing it all and not being able to gain it back. I have done my research, however, with my particular target market and my prices are very affordable, which is appealing to the trendy woman who might be trying to save money, but still wants to look and feel fabulous.

What did you have to do to get started?

Well, it is always a good idea to start with some type of business and marketing plan – an outline of some sort to organize your ideas. However, that takes too long for me, so I kept it all stored in my head and just jumped right in. I started with finding a company that would provide me with an accommodating website. I didn’t want anything complicated or expensive. I found a site that had it all – however still limited – it fit within the minuscule budget I allowed myself. I picked my colors (after research) and template and started the copy of the page. Next, I found companies that sell to resellers/retailers, set up an account, and started creating my inventory. With that I was able to complete my website. I bought a domain name, by default, but I think it will be beneficial for me – and a very professional move on my part.

I then did the necessary free marketing procedures for retail businesses to launch what I created. I put myself on all of the search engines (free) and sent out a mass email to all of the female contacts I have accumulated over the years (also free). The website company I am using provides an email marketing campaign tool (not free), so once I purchase that I’ll start my PR work. I created a fan page on Facebook and a Twitter page for the store. I haven’t been avid on updating the both of those pages lately, but I’ll get back into it. I am currently waiting for business cards to arrive, and I’ll do some advertising with them. I also plan on sending out press releases to get the word out. I’m surviving right now by word of mouth. My friends and family tell their friends and so on and so on. A little viral marketing can go a long way. I also wear my inventory out to spark the interest of potential customers. It has definitely worked for me, however, so far I think I own more of the inventory myself than what I have sold to customers! Oh well, it’s a perk right?!

I have a few other ideas about how I can make this business thrive, including home parties and extending out to other product lines besides jewelry and accessories. Besides the marketing, I have all the necessary packing and shipping materials and information I need, because after all; I’m still a one man show. That’s all I needed to initially get started, but now that I’m up, I just have to maintain and wait.

What have been your greatest struggles so far?

Getting the word out. Not having hundreds or even thousands of dollars to advertise has been a hindrance. I need to work on getting a business loan perhaps.

Another problem has been keeping up with the inventory and pretty much running everything by myself while working full time. My time is very limited. But I’m hopeful this will all work itself out and soon my biggest struggle will be how to deal with the loads of orders coming in daily!

Do you have any regrets?

There are times I have doubts, but I just stop and kind of remind myself. You want this! Look how far you have come! Stop being a baby, (wo)man up and keep pushing. Patience is a virtue; make this as exciting as you can. Every order, even if its’ just a couple bucks, is so exciting and so real. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything.

Do you recommend others to start their own businesses?

Of course. If you have a passion for something and you’re good at it – go for it. What do you have to lose? Nothing really, maybe some time and a few bucks.  But, it is liberating and well worth it. If you need a little extra money too because you’re current job isn’t cutting it- it’s a great way to increase the cash flow. If you are laid off or you are a recent graduate and just can’t find anything – brainstorm. Find a way to make money and work on that, but I would recommend continuing the job hunt too. You always want a Plan B. Better safe than sorry. It’s cool to be a risk taker, but let’s not be stupid here.

What advice would you have for someone who wanted to open a business?

You have to have patience, passion and drive. Patience, to be honest, is very hard for me. I want to see results quickly! But that almost never happens, as I have learned. You need patience in launching it and in seeing sales, because in the beginning results trickle in at a very slow pace. Everything takes time and if you wait- it will come. You also need passion. Without passion there is no motivation or drive. If you love something you will excel and succeed. It won’t seem like a chore because sometimes doing things you dislike can really work against you rather than for you. For instance, I love fashion and I love accessories. Every day I work on my site and I love it. I love seeing the pieces to pick out for my inventory and I love designing the website. I love it; therefore it is fun. It makes starting a business that much easier. Lastly, you need drive; whether it comes from yourself or from an outside person. When you know someone is proud of what you’re doing, it gives you that much more incentive to keep going. If you keep that end goal in mind you can make it happen even if it means doing things you don’t want to in order to achieve it. Keeping driving yourself to success. Everyone deserves to be happy and enjoy what they do. The future is home-based businesses.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gusilu/ / CC BY 2.0

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