We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Kramer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking?
Starting a business at 24 years old was the biggest risk I had ever taken. Opening my own store has been a lifelong dream and I have always been extremely passionate about clothing and fashion. I stepped out of my comfort zone by resigning from my corporate job with no idea what the future of owning a business really meant. I invested a lot of time, money, and energy into the launch of Approval, my online women’s clothing boutique. It has been a humbling, but extremely rewarding journey. I have no regrets and am so happy I took this risk!

My mission is to provide the newest trends and easy to style outfitting to help girls feel confident and empowered in their outfit without needing anyone’s approval. This is where the name Approval comes from. When starting my business, I was worried about other people’s opinions. That’s when I realized, I don’t need anyone else’s approval but my own. Because ultimately, only I can control my own success and happiness. This is the same message I want to send to my customers through my mission and my clothing. Taking a risk in fashion could be the first step in taking bigger risks in your life, and I hope my clothing can give people that kind of confidence.

What should our readers know about your business?
Something I’ve learned that is extremely important for an online business is that you are the face of the brand and customers want to get to know that person on a deeper level through social media. This has been a big learning experience for me, as I am still working on showing my personality through social media platforms for Approval. My most liked posts on social media are usually behind the scenes videos doing things like photoshoots, setting up for markets, talking about new trends, packaging orders, or unboxing inventory. My customers also like to see styling videos of myself in the clothing or showing different ways to wear specific items.

A few months into launching my website, I decided to branch out from just online and social media sales, which has helped me grow my business. Last Spring, I was fortunate to become a vendor at the West Palm Beach Antique and Flea Market. I absolutely love getting to interact with customers in person and it has really helped me grow my social media following as well. This market runs from October through April so I am really looking forward to starting that back up again in a few months. I am always looking for new opportunities and events where I am able to sell my product in person. My goal in the next five years or so is to open a brick and mortar store.

A question I often get from people that want to learn more about my business is, “how do you get your inventory?” With an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and my business license, I have access to wholesale platforms online and am also able to attend trade shows. I prefer buying inventory in person at trade shows because I am able to see the items, feel the quality of the fabric, and try things on if needed. This helps me curate the perfect assortments for my customers. Trade shows take place in large convention centers in Atlanta, Nashville, New York, Las Vegas, and Dallas and happen every few months, typically prior to each season.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am located in Jupiter and I love going to the beach and being active. If I had one day to show a friend around, we would start the morning early with either a walk or bike ride around town. Then, we would head to Papa Kwan’s for an acai bowl to-go and bring it to Juno beach. We’d spend the day soaking up the sun and cooling off in the ocean. After our time at the beach, I would take them to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse because it’s an amazing view from the top. Then, we would go to dinner at Guanabanas because it has such a fun vacation vibe and live music. Lastly, we would end the day with a sunset tiki cruise and enjoy being on the water.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first person that always comes to mind when it comes to dedicating my success is my mom. She has always been my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Growing up she always made sure to tell me how proud she was of me. She also really helped guide me towards the right career path. Prior to college, I knew I wanted to go into the fashion industry but didn’t know how to get there. She was the person who encouraged me to major in business and minor in fashion so that I would have a background in both. Having a marketing background in addition to fashion has really helped me in my career. Without my mom guiding and encouraging me, I wouldn’t have known to take that path. When I went to her with the idea to open my own boutique, I had some self doubts at first. But she told me “if anyone can do it, it’s you, you’re Ashley. You can do anything!” She always has my back.

Website: www.shopapproval.com

Instagram: @shopapproval

Linkedin: Ashley Kramer, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-kramer-ab4b49127/

Other: TikTok: @shopapproval

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.