Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Day.
Hi Ashley, 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?
One Christmas, I got bored and saw my mom’s Christmas panda on the couch. I heard God tell me to draw it. And before I knew it, it came out better than I expected. I didn’t know I could draw. From then on, I became a self-taught drawer sketching everything including graffiti art. I was also watching a lot of Project Runway at the time and decided to try fashion sketching. That is where my absolute love of fashion started! I enrolled into Meredith College for Fashion Merchandising and Design. After I finished my studies in Dec 2015, the day I came home I started typing my business plan. I wasn’t necessarily sure how I wanted my business to be but I had a prayer and a vision and I knew that was enough. I took a year after working retail jobs to save money, researching how to start a business and buy supplies. I launched my business on my birthday May 11, 2017. It was a lot of trial and error in the beginning and figuring out what way God wanted me to run my business. I have definitely had extreme highs and lows and numerous times where I wasn’t making money and questioned myself. Through it all God taught me consistency and resiliency in my entrepreneurial journey no matter what my circumstances looked like. I am blessed to say now in 2021, my brand is now featured in locally black-owned stores throughout North Carolina.
Whenever you start a business, there are always going to be some unexpected challenges. In the beginning, one of the biggest struggles was balancing a full-time job along with operating my business. I stayed tired all the time but the thought of not having to work for someone else one day is what kept me motivated the most. Another challenge was staying true to what I envisioned Graffiti Panda to be. I got very discouraged at times in the beginning because I was a newbie entrepreneur just figuring things out as I went. But learning things as I went actually became a blessing in disguise for me the more I put myself out there with local popups and really just kept going no matter what came my way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Over the years in business, I’ve learned through experience what products resonate well with my target market and what doesn’t. With learning to stay true in my business with the products I provide, I make it my mission to research and curate quality hypoallergenic accessories that are fun, quirky and unique for women. My selection of earrings have definitely been a HUGE hit because not only are they super unique but I have become known for having pieces that you can’t find anywhere else. Along with being creative, I’ve always loved the process of having an idea in mind and being able to design it into reality. I knew I wanted to expand my accessories in my business. I realized that instead of purchasing bags wholesale that I needed to start using my design degree. I started watching numerous YouTube videos on how to make bags. I started in the second year of my business with handmade clutches. Which has progressed to makeup-travel bags, coin purses, crossbody’s, totes, wholesale bags for a store and custom design orders!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.graffitipanda.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graffiti_panda/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graffitipanda
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