Today we’d like to introduce you to Seynabou Sow.
Hi Seynabou, 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?
As a young girl growing up in Senegal, West Africa, I was always fascinated with fashion. In second grade, when my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered confidently, a fashionista. I started my entrepreneurship in junior high school when I had the ability to catch the city bus to go to the wholesale area to buy toiletries for resale. My best friend’s mom named me “Femme d’affaire”, which is French for “business woman.” The name has stuck with me and inspired me to take my passion to another level.
After graduating high school, I had the opportunity to go to Morocco to buy fashionable clothing for resale. At that time, I was doing well with my new business, but my parents had different plans in mind for me. They wanted me to get a college degree, and I ended up being selected to further my education in the United States. Little did they know, on my second day in America, I started selling some of my goods from back home In the streets of New York. After one semester in school, I dropped out of college to start braiding hair because it was fast money compared to working at the mall and being a student. While earning an income from braiding hair, I continued to sell cosmetic products to my customers, which enabled me to open a DBA as Nabouza, which is my nickname for Seynabou or aka “Femme d’Affaire.” In 2019, I traveled to Dubai on a leisure girl’s trip. While walking in the streets of Dubai and seeing their beatiful fashion, suddenly a light bulb went off in my head. That was the moment I decided to go after my true passion, which was being a fashionista. With the help of my friend, I was able to purchase some merchandise there, and that was the beginning of NFA Boutique. In 2020, I decided to make my business an online boutique due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Thanks to networking, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to do three-day pop-up shop at the Galleria Mall selling my Crystal beads from Dubai as well as African clothes and jewelry. After leaving such a lasting impact, the shop owner offered me the opportunity to sign a renewable contract for my own space.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?It was definitely not a smooth road in the beginning. I was a student getting my bachelor’s degree at the University of Houston while being a full-time single mom of three children. Also, I had to balance my household, schoolwork, and my children’s different activities. Financially it was hard using my emergency funds to buy display stands and banners, but I knew I had to spend money to make money. Eventually, I made the decision to hire a marketer to help me promote the business and develop my brand. It was good in the beginning, but after a while she began to demand more money and I was unable to afford the additional expense. However, I knew that in order to have a successful business, I had to put in the hard work, time and effort, which is what ultimately helped me get my business to where it is today.
We’ve been impressed with NFA Boutique, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It is a worldwide fashion boutique with items from Senegal, Ghana, Dubai, South Africa, Benin, and Mali. We carry a variety of products, from fashionable clothing for both men and women, to include unique accessories and unrefined cosmetics. Our best sellers are the Crystal Waist beads from Senegal, which are handcrafted by the local women of Senegal. I am so grateful that my business is helping the women of Senegal to earn a salary, especially in a male-dominated country where jobs are scarce. I am proud of the fact that my business not only helps them make money, but also the fact that NFA Boutique is able to donate items to charities like the Cellal Africa Health for Women and Children. I want the readers to know that NFA Boutique will take the extra steps needed to provide a memoriable experience for our client’s sense of fashion. Also, we celebrate families. That is why we offer some unisex pattern fabric to exceed the expectation of our customers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was watching my mom sew clothes for my siblings and me. I was always amazed by the different fabrics and textures; also, the fact that she was able to make pants and skirts for us. I wish I was more attentive to her sewing with her gifted hands. Now that I am a fashionista, it would have been helpful to know the basics of sewing.
Contact Info:
- Email: nfaboutique7@gmail.com
- Website: www.nfaboutique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nabouzafemme/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/NFA-Boutique-101568274962301/?ti=as
