Startup Story: Helping Women Stroll in Style

Since she was a junior in high school, entrepreneur Angele Lovejoy says she’s always been obsessed with shoes. Back then, she dreamt that one day, she’d be her own boss by selling female footwear. Today, that dream is now a reality.

Lovejoy, a client of 1-800Accountant, proudly serves as the CEO of LoveAngels Shoes, LLC in Miami, Florida. She officially registered the home-based, online small business in November 2014.

LoveAngels Shoes is a web based retailer that offers a nice selection of stylish high heels and sandals for women. Currently, Lovejoy resells footwear manufactured by other companies. However, she intends to start her own brand and design, and she hopes to add clothing like tank tops, t-shirts, and shorts to her selection in the near future.

“I have always been obsessed with shoes and heels,” Lovejoy explains. “People should do what they love, so I figured it was a perfect time for starting a business of my own.”

While she maintains a day job doing medical coding, the entrepreneur hopes to one day focus 100% of her career on the small business. In her view, learning from one’s mistakes is such an important facet of being a successful small business owner.

“I learned by my own mistake,” she admits. “I purchased shoes I saw people buying from others. I realized that I needed to stay true to what I like and then share my own passions with others. This is the best way for me to prosper. I would feel like a fraudster if I sold shoes that I wouldn’t wear myself. I want to put my own style into this business.”

Enjoyment to Self-Employment

Many entrepreneurs find the learning curve of starting a business to be quite daunting. However, Lovejoy has embraced the whole experience of doing something new in her life.

“I enjoy everything about this, especially the learning. It’s a lot of trial-and-error, but learning how to do things is something I’ve always enjoyed. It’s also fun to share my personal shoe styles with the world.”

Competing in the Footwear Industry

Lovejoy knows there are lots of retailers out there offering all types of footwear for women. The good news for her is that she takes a unique approach to what she sells.

“Most of my competitors just want to please others,” she says. “I want to share my shoe styles with the women who like them. I keep an open mind about fashion trends and what’s hot as well. Finally, I consider myself a bit of a humanitarian as I donate shoes to underprivileged teenagers. I chose the name LoveAngels Shoes as a way to spread love to others.”

The demographic she is targeting encompasses women between the ages of 18 and 45. As for the clothing she plans to sell, it will likely appeal to a younger crowd – probably females from 16 to those in their early 30s.

Small Business Marketing Methods

To get the word out about LoveAngels Shoes, Lovejoy utilizes her website and social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. She is designing an ad for the women’s magazine Bold as well.

Tips for Entrepreneurs

Thanks to her entrepreneurial experiences in starting a business on her own, Lovejoy offers some advice for aspiring small business owners.

“Be true to yourself and what you believe in. Always remember that anything is tangible if you work hard enough. In the beginning, there are more difficult days. It can be very frustrating at times. You just have to keep pushing.”

1-800Accountant Client Review

Lovejoy is a very satisfied client of 1-800Accountant and praises the nationwide accounting firm for its support.

“1-800Accountant has been very helpful with my business taxes and helping to structure my LLC properly,” she says. “I appreciate all of the guidance I’ve received.”

Photo credit: The photograph included in this blog post was provided by Love Angels Shoes, LLC and is used with permission.