Ravel Boutique - Every Hat Has a Story - Arizona
Cheyanne Leizure. Photo by @jasonmyersphoto
Have you always lived in Phoenix? Can you tell us a little about your life growing up in the area?
I was born and raised here in Arizona. I actually grew up out on the west side of Arizona on 30 acres in Surprise. Grew up in a family of 7 kids with 2 amazing parents. I had an amazing life growing up here.
Did you grow up interested in fashion?
Growing up with 5 brothers I would say I started out as quiet the tomboy but as life went on I would say probably in High School is when I started to really like fashion. I don’t think I knew I had an eye for it though until becoming a stylist at a local boutique in college.
Who are some of your inspirations in the fashion world?
I absolutely love Diane Von Furstenberg her story is seriously one of the most amazing stories I have ever heard on how she got into the fashion world and created an amazing brand. I also love all of the bloggers that Instagram has blessed us with. It’s a really fun way to see new styles and new outfit ideas.
You mentioned that your father is an entrepreneur, and you majored in entrepreneurship at Grand Canyon University. Did you always want to start your own business?
Growing up I actually wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do in life. I did always really appreciate the entrepreneurial life and the hard work and dedication that goes into it. I actually didn’t start majoring in Entrepreneurship until my sophomore year. I wasn’t sure at the time what path I wanted to take.
Why did you decide to start a business as a senior in college, and what obstacles did you have to overcome to get started?
I really wanted to get something started before I graduated because I knew once I graduated I would be really busy with my job search and hunt that I would most likely forget about the dream of starting a boutique. It was tough at first learning how to evens tart a business. How to get all the proper paperwork and filing taxes. All of that was a big learning curve for me.
Where does the name ‘Ravel’ come from?
My mom actually came up with the name. To unravel something is to take it apart or to take clothing apart. The ravel is to put together. So that is where the name came from!
Why do your customers continue to come back and shop at Ravel?
I think they come back because we are on trend and also have a great price point. A lot of boutiques now a days are very high priced which is just not ideal for most people. I really try to keep my price range on the low end.
How has the recent COVID-19 pandemic affected your life both at home and with your business?
I have not had a ton of new orders coming through in this time. It has been really tough to acclimate to this new way of life. Trying to find ways like local drop offs and discounts to keep business going.
What’s next for Ravel Boutique? What goals have you set for your business and what are you doing today to work towards them?
Once this pandemic is over I want to see us in more pop up shops around Arizona. There are a lot of opportunities for us to grow in this state. We just have to keep pushing towards those opportunities.
What one piece of advice would you give a young woman who has aspirations of starting her own company?
Just do it! If you can do it then take the leap of faith. In the end even if you fail all that you learn from it will be worth it. Also, stay true to who you are in whatever industry you want to get in. Stay strong and always always go with your gut!
Who is the beneficiary you’ve selected for this project and why are they important to you & your story?
The non-profit that I chose is BrighterWay Dental Institute. This non-profit works in the heart of Phoenix to provide dental care to the homeless, veterans, working poor, underprivileged children and so much more. You can find their mission here: https://www.brighterwaydental.org/mission, and follow them on Facebook.