Life and Work with Madalyn Isaac

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madalyn Isaac.

Madalyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Where do I begin? Let’s see… I’ve been in love with fashion since I could walk. I can remember my mother dressing my brother and me in the BEST OF THE BEST Boutique wear in Houston as a child. My mom is my blueprint. She taught me to be respectful, be driven, work hard, keep God first and good things will chase me down. But the one lesson that stuck was DRESS YOUR BEST EVEN AT YOUR WORST! Take pride in how you look.

In 2004, I decided to take a leap of FAITH to follow my desire and start my own business. It didn’t go well because it wasn’t time. God planted the seed and it was up to me to water it. There is a time and season for everything, and my season hadn’t fully harvested. After overcoming an abusive and dysfunctional marriage of 5 years, battling with thyroid disease while trying to be a SUPER MOM to a child with autism; I decided this is my time. NO more excuses, no more overtime building someone else’s dream, no more stressful nights worrying about how I can be an asset to someone else’s brand. The time is NOW! In all honesty, I should be dead. I know that is harsh to say, but it’s the truth. My ex-husband was quite a character. I’ve been pushed through sheetrock, choked until I passed out and had a gun pulled on me. If I can overcome man, I can overcome anything. With God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

October of 2017, while sitting in my living room the thought of starting my fashion boutique arose in me like a raging sea; it was a wrap for me. Posh by Imani was created. It started with a thought, that transposed into a vision which soon became reality! Months before, I took my living room furniture and gave it all away. Not sold, but gave it away not knowing I was manifesting my destiny. My living room is now a temporary space for Posh by Imani. I transformed it into a boutique with clothing racks that my boyfriend created for me. I Thank him for supporting my vision, my dream. You can’t grow if your roots are dead – surround yourself with positive people who want to grow just as bad as you do.

Posh by Imani today is a women’s apparel boutique for all curves of all colors based online. Posh by Imani is named after my daughter, Katelyn “Imani.” Imani biblically means FAITH. This company is much bigger than me. The vision started with me wanting to be free to be me. It then spiraled into my daughter’s dream of being a model. See, I figured it was a win-win for us both. I can shop and meet my customer’s needs with the best threads in Texas and my daughter would be the face of our Brand.

My child was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. I was in denial for the longest, but I soon had to face facts that there was something special about my child. Not special in a sense of flawed, but special in a sense that she was created to STAND OUT. Ironically, she was diagnosed at 3 and has been posing for a camera ever since. Katelyn struggles with her idea to fit the criteria of being “Normal” every day. What is NORMAL?! It’s one thing to have a disability and not know you are different and it’s another to have a disability and know you don’t fit. I’ve tried to teach my child that you have a handicap, it does not have you. Use your flaws to your advantage and if at first, you don’t succeed, try again. There is nothing she can’t accomplish if she sets her mind on it. These are facts not nicely written quotes. Katelyn practiced and practiced until she made the Color guard team at her high school where she proudly performs with the band. She has won UIL competitions for the choir and she will be what God created her to be, a voice for the labeled.

Katelyn wants to be like Tyra Banks and hit the runway slaying in all her glory. As long as I have breath in my body, it is my goal to make that possible for her. As I research and continue to grow in my business and my craft, I’m learning that this dream, this vision, this company is a platform for that child that was placed in a “box” and told what they could and couldn’t be. I don’t do boxes nor do I do labels, and if the world tells me what I can’t do, I’ll show them 50 ways how I CAN. Life is short and we should all do what we LOVE no matter who has deemed us unfit or told us we can’t.

I aspire to build, grow, network, SHOW UP and SHOW OUT! I thrive on being the oddball and setting my own rules. Posh by Imani is and will always be a faith-based company built on dreams and aspirations to be trendsetters not mediocre. I consider myself a diamond in the rough, but once you get past the coal, I sparkle and I shine brighter than the stars in the sky.

Has it been a smooth road?
Oh gosh no, this has not been easy but it has been FUN. You have to love what you do because storms will come and if this is just a “thing” you do to keep financial gain, you will quit at the first sight of rain. I’ve had struggles with marketing and branding. There was no roadmap created for me, I came into this industry green to the facts. You live, you learn, you aim to be BETTER than yesterday. My advice to the woman behind me is to keep God near. Include HIM in all your plans for your business and he will order your steps.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Posh by Imani – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in getting to know my customers. They are the backbone of my organization because without them I would not be. Customer service is everything when you have a business that caters to people. I want each woman to know when she hits my store, my website, my presence that her views matter. Views as far as quality, pricing, sizing or just plain conversations about nipple covers. LOL, yes, nipple covers. I’ve had the oddest conversations about pasties with my ladies.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Knowledge is POWER! I am always thriving to be better. That means spending time at the library researching taxes, branding, social media marketing, attending seminars and masterclasses, etc. Subscribing to mentorship programs like SCORE.org where I can be a sponge and receptive to advancement. Though there is one particular lady that I follow on Instagram who has tugged at my spirit to be excellent, outstanding and consistent in what I do – Courtney Adeleye. Essentially, she took $500 and turned her company into a multi-million dollar BRAND. Her heart is HUGE and she believes in pouring into women to be the best they can be. She is creating a movement by helping other women entrepreneurs become true Bawses (Bosses)!

Pricing:

• everything we carry is of great quality and under $100.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.poshbyimani.com
• Phone: 832-494-8763
• Email: hello@poshbyimani.com
• Instagram: poshbyimani
• Facebook: poshbyimani
• Twitter: poshbyimani

Image Credit:
Jessica Alexander with JRA Photography @_jraphotography_

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