Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Lynch.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started in an intermediate accounting class at the University of Houston. I wasn’t exactly the ideal person you would expect to be an accountant. Conservatism wasn’t really my style and made it challenging to identify with my classmates. This was until I met this young lady in my class with a killer shoe game, whom later would be known as the co-founder of Bàus Noir (Hey Ashley!). We were definitely outcasts but shared a love for fashion. Fashion was more of an outlet for me.
I challenged every stereotype that based on the cognitive ability of an individual on their outside appearance. Yes, we can slay the fashion gawds and be intelligent! Just because I don’t fit into your “box”, doesn’t mean success isn’t obtainable for me. Our frustration with society “norms” and love for fashion meshed into a purpose to provide an online haven for women to express themselves with unique, trendsetting pieces from all over the world, and a lifestyle blog that focuses on finances, beauty and fashion. It was a lot of long nights planning, searching for unique designers, and learning the industry.
After a year of prep work, we launched Bàus Noir on April 1, 2016. We were super hype expecting this influx of sales in the first month and…. that just wasn’t the case. We remained super optimistic about it, and a couple months later Kylie Jenner was seen in one of the designer pieces we carried. This directed a lot of attention at Bàus, as there were very few retailers at the time that carried that specific designer. Later that year, celebrities such as Eva Pigford, Nicole Scherzinger, and Giuliana Rancic were spotted in designer pieces that were at Bàus.
We definitely embraced the attention but it also challenged us to exceed the expectations of our clients. Here we are in 2018 still going. Bàus Noir is definitely a work in progress with so many elements to offer the world. We are becoming the “go to” haven for fashion and lifestyle enthusiasts alike.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha, smooth where? This road has been very interesting, to say the least, but appreciated nonetheless. There is no set blueprint for when you start your business that guarantees success. You always hear the success stories, but it’s like okay what were the steps in between? Funding our vision was definitely a challenge. It required a lot of personal sacrifices, meticulous planning, and prayer (a whole lot of prayer!).
For like a year, I did not see a paycheck from my day job. It all went to funding the vision. We had to break our vision down into phases, and then projects. Analyze each project idea and the potential ROI before allocating any funds out. Sometimes the projects were successful, and sometimes they served as lessons.
Learning to embrace the “lessons” was a challenge in itself(especially the expensive lessons!). When things didn’t necessarily go how we intended, we had to learn to accept it and learn from it, versus dwelling.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Bàus Noir – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Bàus Noir is a luxury online retailer and fashion haven. We specialize in being the source for independent designers and international brands that aren’t saturated in the market. We provide a unique shopping experience that consists of bridging independent designers and established labels with fashion enthusiasts around the world.
The selection process of styles is one of the many things that sets us apart from other retailers. We have a curated selection of “sophistication meets edge” pieces, that are sure to turn heads and elevate your confidence level. In addition, we provide an intuitive lifestyle blog to keep our Bàus ladies informed and empowered.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Houston is a growing city that is becoming more diverse by the day. This provides a lot of opportunity for business owners and consumers to thrive. However, I REALLY love the food in Houston! It doesn’t matter what city or country I am in, the food here will always bring me back!
I would have to say my least favorite thing about Houston is we don’t have a big fashion industry presence here. The opportunities in that field are limited at the moment and result in a lot of designers, models, fashion photographers etc. moving to cities like New York and Los Angeles to further their careers/endeavors. Somebody call up Olivia Pope, we need to fix this!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bausnoir.com
- Phone: 713-396-5851
- Email: teambaus@bausnoir.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bausnoir
- Facebook: facebook.com/bausnoir
- Twitter: twitter.com/baus_noir
Image Credit:
Ty Williams, John Roy, Kearaha Bryant
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
