For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, social media can be an absolute game-changer! All it takes is one viral post and a business can suddenly take off.
At Like A Voss Social Media, we’re highlighting local businesses and entrepreneurs who are killing the online game. This week’s spotlight is on Brooke Miller, owner of Runway Bridal!
Runway Bridal is the place to shop all things wedding attire! This boutique offers the latest in bridal trends for brides and their wedding parties. With stylists dedicated to making your wedding visions come to life, Runway offers you an experience to celebrate!
Our CEO Mandi interviewed Brooke about her secret to success in business and in life. We also got some awesome insights into what she thinks makes social media such an effective tool in business.
A Little Bit About Being a Female Entrepreneur
1: How long have you owned Runway Bridal?
9 years!
2: What made you decide to buy the shop and dedicate your life to helping brides?
To be honest I don’t have a very good answer to these questions other than I saw the business for sale and thought – I think I want to do that. So I did! I had no bridal experience prior to buying the boutique, but I did have a business admin and marketing background and knew I could learn the rest on the fly. I have been able to grow the business tremendously since then!
3: What do you love most about being a female entrepreneur?
Hmmmm. I don’t think about these types of things often! I am just doing my things and I don’t know any different. I bought my business when I was 24 and had a few years in the working world after college. So I really don’t know any different. I love that each day is different and can be a super exciting day of brides finding their perfect dress or shopping for the new dresses for the boutique, and some days it is cleaning the bathroom and crunching numbers for the budget (budgets aren’t my thing! Shopping is!) I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment, I am proud of myself for hustling to make it work and surpass goals. To provide a steady income for me and to be in control of my future to a certain degree. I can’t wait to show my nieces and other females or young mids that they can do what they want to, but you have to hustle! I also love the connections I have made with other entrepreneurs within and outside of my industry, we just get each other.
4: What is the hardest thing you have had to overcome as a female entrepreneur?
I can think of three things that come to mid-right away.
- Trying to get funding when you are a young entrepreneur with little savings. But I found a way.
- Having to close and move my store overnight when the building we were in had to be evacuated. This was on the anniversary of my first year in business I may add – and in our busy season. But I figured it out, and quickly – I was re-open in a new location in about 7 days.
- Right now – the uncertainty of how long my business is closed is really hard to deal with. I am trying my best to pivot my business model and offer as much as we can but it’s definitely tough. I cannot wait to be back in the store doing what I do. I am confident we will make it through and it will be a lesson for the future for sure.
5: What is one thing about working in the bridal industry that people would be surprised to learn?
I don’t try on wedding dresses! And…I purchase all of the dresses that are in my store. We don’t borrow samples, we purchase inventory! A lot of people think that we just get to borrow dresses from designers (which we do in certain circumstances for events like Trunk Shows or Spotlight events) but otherwise – they are all mine.
And Now Onto The Social Media Questions!
6: Do you have a favorite social media platform? Why?
Instagram, it’s pretty and easy! I like the versatility of the feed and the stories, and IGTV (I need to use this more often for my business).
7: What made you decide to start using social media as a way to promote your company?
I have always been on social media…Facebook came out when I was in College – does that make me an OG? And I have been addicted to it since. The old owners of the store used it but not to its fullest capacity and I decided to use it to my advantage. I will say – it used to be much easier to catch people’s attention on social media 9 years ago than it is now!
8: How has social media impacted your business? Would you say that it’s an effective marketing tool?
Definitely. I think it is a great way to connect with people, show them your business but also who you are, create a sense of community and showcase your products and for the most part its free! We have been able to connect with people all over the country and even outside of Canada.
9: What advice would you give to other businesses and entrepreneurs who want to use social media as a way to connect with customers?
It doesn’t have to be perfect! I think (myself included) we sometimes get hung up on making sure everything we post is super curated and every story we do is perfection, when really sometimes done is better than perfect and by having a blooper or two in your stories shows that you are human and people connect with that. For those who are new to social media – don’t do it all – pick one or two platforms and do it well.
A Little More About Brooke
For Brooke, helping brides is the most rewarding job she has ever had. She is so grateful that women trust her to help them with such an important piece of their wedding day. She loves helping Brides work through their style to find their perfect gown and continuing to build a relationship through the wedding planning as well as after when Brides share their wedding day stories and photos with her. For the past 9 years, Brooke has made it her priority to make Runway Bridal one of the most sought after stores in the Quinte Area for Brides and their closest friends and family to visit.
Connect With Brooke
Know Any Voss Babes?
Do you know a female entrepreneur who loves social media as much as we do? Contact us today – we’d love to tell her story!
