Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Lane.
Hi Abby, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely. My story really begins when I was seven years old, sitting on my bedroom floor making jewelry with my first little “business” — a website, order forms, business cards, samples…the whole thing. I didn’t know it then, but that spark of entrepreneurship never left.
Fast-forward to college at Baylor University, where Chérie Lane truly came to life. I started it as a capstone project in my sorority house in March 2022, knowing that if I didn’t take the leap before “adult life” started, I might never do it. I used every resource Baylor offered — professors, mentors, business tools — and launched Chérie Lane as an online boutique with the goal of helping women feel beautiful, confident, and sparkly in every moment of their lives.
From there, things moved fast. Between word-of-mouth, community support, and a viral influencer video that brought over 1,000 people to my site in a single day, the business grew quickly. I built a warehouse, hired a team, and kept reinvesting in better systems, inventory, and customer experience.
In August 2024, I took the biggest leap — I left my corporate supply chain career to run Chérie Lane full-time. And just a year later, that leap led to opening our first flagship brick-and-mortar storefront in Richardson. It’s a space that truly reflects our brand: bright, classy, sparkly, and built for community.
Today, Chérie Lane is both an online destination and a local staple for women who love fashion with personality. We’ve grown because of our loyal customers, our community, and a deep belief that shopping shouldn’t just be transactional — it should make you feel something. And we’re just getting started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. I don’t think anyone who builds something from scratch gets a smooth road — and I certainly didn’t. My journey with Chérie Lane has been beautiful, but it has also been really hard at times, and very emotional.
In the beginning, I was a full-time college student trying to run a business out of a sorority house bedroom. I would go to class, study, and then spend every extra minute packaging orders, learning Shopify, teaching myself marketing, and figuring out how to source inventory. I had no team, no funding, and no idea what I didn’t know yet. Every small win felt huge, but every setback felt personal.
When the business started growing, especially after the influencer video that brought over a thousand people to my website in a single day, I had to grow up fast. Scaling a business as a young founder — while still trying to prove yourself — is hard. There were sleepless nights, financial fears, moments of burnout, and times I questioned if I was really capable of leading something bigger than myself.
Once I graduated and stepped into the “real world,” balancing a corporate job in supply chain while trying to keep up with a rapidly growing business stretched me incredibly thin. I was working late nights, early mornings, and pouring every dollar back into the business. Making the decision to leave my corporate career in August 2024 was terrifying — but I knew if I didn’t bet on myself then, I never would.
Then came the reality of growth: hiring people, managing personalities, building systems, being responsible for payroll, and leading a team while still figuring out who I was as a leader. There were moments where I felt misunderstood, moments where I felt attacked, and moments where I had to learn how to stand strong when others questioned my decisions. Being a young woman in business means people have opinions about your success, your age, your confidence, your boundaries — and you have to keep showing up anyway.
Opening the storefront brought its own set of mountains to climb. Contractors, budgets, delays, loans, unexpected expenses, and trying to make every detail perfect while also running the online store. There were days I cried out of frustration and days I cried out of gratitude. It stretched me emotionally, mentally, and financially — but I knew in my heart the storefront was the next chapter of Chérie Lane.
The hardest part, honestly, has been growing in public. When your brand grows, not everyone roots for you. I’ve faced negativity, harsh comments, and even slander — things that truly hurt. But those moments taught me resilience. They taught me that not everyone will support your dreams, but that doesn’t make them any less worth pursuing.
And through every struggle, the thing that’s carried me is the community — the women who shop with us, the relationships we’ve built, the team that believes in the vision, and the reminder that this is bigger than clothes. It’s about confidence. It’s about connection. It’s about creating a place where women feel special.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But every bump, every late night, every tear, and every challenge has shaped Chérie Lane into what it is today — and shaped me into a stronger, braver, more grounded version of myself. I wouldn’t trade any of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Chérie Lane. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Chérie Lane is so much more than a boutique — it’s a brand built on confidence, community, and that undeniable feeling you get when you put on something that makes you light up. We specialize in classy, chic, sparkly fashion for women who love to stand out and feel beautiful in every room they walk into. Whether it’s bold statement pieces from Queen of Sparkles, elevated everyday styles, or unique accessories you can’t find anywhere else, our mission is to help women feel seen, celebrated, and confident.
What we’re known for is the experience — both online and in-store. When you shop with us, it’s personal. We know your style, we remember what you love, we cheer for you, and we care about how you feel. Shopping at Chérie Lane isn’t just about buying clothes; it’s about being part of a community of strong, fabulous women who support each other and celebrate life’s moments—big and small.
Our new flagship storefront has become a destination in itself. From the white brick façade and bubble-gum pink doors to the gold accents, velvet seating, and sparkle-filled displays, every detail was intentionally designed to make women feel special the second they walk in. It’s a place where girlfriends meet, moms come with daughters, brides shop for celebrations, and women come when they want to feel inspired.
What sets us apart is our heart. We aren’t fast fashion. We aren’t a chain. We are a boutique built from the ground up by a young founder with a clear vision: to create a brand that feels luxurious, fun, welcoming, and full of personality. Our customers always say the same thing — “It just feels different here.” And that has always been the goal.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the culture we’ve created. Chérie Lane has become a safe space for women to be themselves, try new things, express their style, and feel beautiful at every stage of life. We style women for weddings, sorority events, workdays, vacations, holidays, game days — and we’ve become a go-to resource for women who want clothing that makes them feel confident and compliments who they are.
From an offering standpoint, we’ve expanded far beyond clothing. We host events, pop-ups, mahjong nights, sip-and-shops, charity partnerships, styling sessions, and we’re always inventing ways to bring our community together. We also carry exclusive brands, limited-quantity collections, and drops that you won’t find anywhere else in the area.
What I want readers to know is this: Chérie Lane is a brand with soul. It’s built on purpose, passion, and a genuine love for the women who shop with us. Whether you’re shopping online from across the country or stepping through our storefront doors in Richardson, you’re not just a customer — you’re part of our sparkle community. And our promise is to always provide quality, intentional service, unforgettable pieces, and an experience that makes you feel amazing from the moment you walk in.
We’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to continue growing with the community that has made this dream possible.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t defined by numbers, titles, or perfection — it’s defined by impact. It’s the feeling of knowing that what I’m building is genuinely making a difference in someone’s life. Success is when a woman steps out of a fitting room smiling because she feels confident again. It’s when a customer tells us she wore our dress to a special event and felt beautiful. It’s when women feel welcomed, seen, and supported when they walk into our store.
Success is also personal. It’s the courage to take risks, the resilience to keep going even when things are hard, and the growth that comes from learning tough lessons. It’s waking up every day and choosing to believe in your vision, even when other people don’t fully understand it.
At a deeper level, I define success by alignment. If my work aligns with my purpose, my values, and the person I want to become — that’s success. If I can look back and say, “I built something with integrity, heart, and excellence,” that matters more to me than anything else.
And finally, success is community. It’s the team I get to lead, the women who trust us with their most special moments, the connections we build, and the way this brand brings people together. I feel successful when Chérie Lane creates joy, confidence, and belonging — because that’s the legacy I want to build.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cherielane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherielane_/following/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherielaneboutique
Image Credits
Photo credits to Natalie Embry
