Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexia Young.
Hi Alexia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Back in 2020 when I had my daughter A’Laiya, a vision popped in my head that I just knew I had to bring to life. I always use to have dreams of me in this high end store as a kid and now I know why… that high end store is meant to be mine! A few months after having her I decided I was not going to sit around and postpone starting my own business due to the personal fear of people’s opinions or who would support me.
Haus De Reina is an online fashion boutique that was made in 2020 but established in 2022 with the hopes of bringing the hottest fashion to anyone’s front door. One of my top priorities are excellent customer service, exceptionally quick order processing, a vibe you can’t find anywhere else, and a brag-worthy outfit. What sets us apart from our competition besides our fire selections, would have to be the vibe and customer service we offer. You definitely cannot find it anywhere else.
The name of my store is actually named after my daughter… Reina is her middle name which also means Queen so the meaning of the name actually is “house of queens.” I wanted the name to have a strong meaning, be appealing to the eye, and named after her so I could leave her this legacy to take over and continue empowering everyday women to let their outfit speak FOR YOU!
Building a business up from the ground is way harder than what social media leads you to believe. If it was easy, we would ALL be millionaires. I created my brand with a passion to create a one of a kind shopping experience for all women, I had a strong desire to create a site where women of all shapes, ages, sizes, and budgets can find their dream outfit and slay effortlessly! Starting a business is not for weak. There have been tears shed, days I asked myself if I truly had what it took to build this dream. Creating content, growing my brand by networking, late nights and pushing early mornings just to see it flourish, skipping family outings or friends’ milestones just to work on my brand or meet a deadline that could change everything are just a few struggles on the tip of the iceberg. You will run into many trials along the way but it’s up to you to keep going and not give up. It’s easier said than done and that is why having a business is not for the weak. You have to want it as bad as people don’t want you to have it. You may go months or even years without getting the breakthrough that some business owners get overnight. It’s not an easy ride but it will be worth it in the end.
Over the last 2 years, I have been blessed with many opportunities from articles, too collaborations, even the opportunity to join a panel for FIU to speak to young business owners. I have received opportunities that people work years towards and may still have yet to obtain. Following your dreams & trusting God can take you from a vision to a flourishing business. I’m still in awe of how far I’ve come. My following has grown, I have reached states and gained new customers I wouldn’t have even thought I could reach. If you would have told me is high school I would one day run my own business and it would be in the clothing industry, I would have laughed. This has always been a BIG dream of mine but the fact I decided to no longer live in a dream and make it into a reality is nothing short of amazing to me! I have created a following of women on all my social media accounts who follow my journey and let me know on a daily how I inspire them to get out there and achieve whatever goal they have set! I’m the proof that dreams can be a reality! My brand has grown fast over the past year and sometimes I’m still in shock. It can sometimes become mentally draining trying to help others think for their business and still keeping up with my own, but overall I love what I do. My sole purpose is to help others win.
My story is far from over but instead just getting started. They say the people who go through the most trials always end up winners in the end, and I am here to say remember the name.
Follow my Instagram @hausdereina to follow my story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My thought process behind starting my own business was “how could I make a name for myself”. Of course, providing people with quality products but standing out, was the main thing on my mind. I have been through so much trial and error with business within the last 2 years. I love it here even when it’s not all peaches and cream. That’s how you grow and keep building. Everyone wants to do what you do until it’s really time to do what you do. You may see my wins online but it’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. This is not all wins, lots of losses involved. Years of experience. Lots of last minute changes, last minute decisions, and last minute moves. You gotta be able to execute and work well under pressure, meet deadlines, goals, and etc. It takes a lot to do what I do on the day to day, from making content, photoshoots, packaging orders, networking, finding new inventory or vendors, research, talking to customers, etc. It will never be a smooth road especially when starting out, it’s a learning process at first. I’m definitely not one of those “know it all’s” but I have learned a little about a lot. I don’t promise to make you a millionaire, because hell… I haven’t even made a million YET. However, I can teach you how to use the resources around you to get you there! Listening to the needs of other business owners and my own as a growing entrepreneur is what encouraged me to start learning more about the processes of starting/running a business. I literally invest in so much information just to give it back to other growing entrepreneurs. Building a business isn’t easy! I definitely didn’t get things right the first time through whether it be packaging, labeling, branding, scaling up, etc.
So many lessons cost me figuratively and literally. I try to look at everything as a learning experience though. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to keep it pushing no matter what. You will run into many trials along the way but it’s up to you to keep going and not give up. It’s easier said than done and that is why having a business is not for the weak. You have to want it as bad as people don’t want you to have it. You may go months or even years without getting the breakthrough that some business owners get overnight. It’s not an easy ride but it will be worth it in the end.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the owner of Haus De Reina women’s online boutique located in Tampa FL. We ship worldwide and offer local pick up options. The main focus of my brand beyond helping you look your best, I strive to make every purchase a positive experience for ALL customers. As a boutique owner, you have to have an eye for fashion. Style is something you either have or you don’t and the fact that so many people over the years have trusted me and/or came to me to give them the confidence they’re looking for, or help them feel better about themselves makes me so proud. I specialized in finding pieces that cater to someone’s individual style. What sets me apart? Haus De Reina is not your ordinary women’s boutique. My goal is to continue to find an abundance of fashionable merchandise that caters to almost everyone’s style – I’m known for my selections and comfy wear. I plan to do nothing but theme shoots with up coming inventory so you never know what you may see or what I may do next. I am most proud about how far I have came with NO help, NO handouts, NO shortcuts, and no one giving me free game. I literally have taught myself everything I know from photography, graphic design, all the way down to accounting. Everything about my brand has been done by me and only me.
I am where I am today because I refuse to give up. I know I can build a million-dollar brand.
Building a business is harder than what social media leads you to believe. You don’t start off with 4 or 5 figure months, you build up to it over time… baby steps consistently is the key. I have came so far in such little time and I refuse to stop when I have so much more to accomplish. It is only up from here! You have to fight through the 0 likes, the no sales weeks, and the no one sharing/supporting your content..believe me, they are watching and brighter days WILL come.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is a MUST in any business. You ever heard the saying, “Scared money don’t make no money!” well it’s true! Unless you win the lottery, some type of inheritance or settlement, there is no easy route to 6,7 and 8 figures. It’s treacherous! You’re going to lose lots of sleep. You’re going to cry and have meltdowns. You’re going to learn who your real friends are. You’re going to learn blood don’t make people family. You’re going to have people cast their fears on you. Tell you what you can’t or what you shouldn’t do. You’re going give up 1000 times and start over. You’re going take countless losses. You’re going to need to invest thousands to even see 6 figures. Let’s not talk about 7 figures. You’re going to change, grow, remove some folks and promote others to the next levels of your life. And then when you finally feel like you’ve made it, you realize it’s not over. You have to do it all over again; but this time with more experience, wisdom and discernment. Everybody can’t finish and everybody won’t be cheering you on. You have to do this for you and only you. Block all the noise out and keep pushing. You can’t afford to play small when you have BiG DREAMS. Small risk = small rewards. BIG RISK = BIG REWARDS. Being an entrepreneur, leader and business owner is not for the comfortable. If you are not ready to take risk and step outside your comfort zone, you will never create the lifestyle you want for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: hausdereina@gmail.com
- Website: www.hausdereina.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hausdereina/ | https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwithlexcii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HausDeReina
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hausdereina
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbreannephotography/
https://jenniferbreannephotography.mypixieset.com
https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbreannephotography
