Founded in 2020, MEGGLAM BOUTIQUE is my dream come true. As an African American woman from Benin (West Africa), I wanted to express and share my love for fashion and my culture through my designs. In the initial phase, I had studied the market and saw that African Fashion is still underdeveloped overseas. I then decided to create and order most of my products from Africa, where artisans make them (Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Kenia, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast) and sell them in the US. By doing so, I’m giving back to the community, creating jobs, and at the same time, assuring authentic and quality products for my customers.
My designs can be worn by everyone and for any occasion. I want this brand and its dynamic, hard work, and success to inspire the younger generation to always fight with determination and consistency for their dreams. I hold myself accountable to the highest standards by meeting our customers’ needs precisely and completely whenever they patronize us. I started with my savings from opening my website, doing pop-up shows, to opening my small kiosk in Lindale Mall located in Cedar Rapids. Now, I need help to grow my inventory and move to a bigger space so my customers can have a better overall shopping experience.
Business Description
We’re Megglam Boutique, and we’re a local clothing and accessories store in Cedar Rapids, IA. We started this brand in 2020 by opening a website – megglam.com. We believe in gorgeous handmade pieces, offering African wear, jewelry, clothing, and accessories for women, men, and children. We started this business with a love of fashion and an American dream to help the local community be introduced to our culture. We’re looking forward to growing our business to continue serving community members in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas.
What is the Purpose of This Loan?
Kiva funds will be used to hire and secure a new (and vital!) staff member that will help me with customer service and other administrative tasks. We are hoping to offer a wider range of sizes and a broader spectrum of offerings (jewelry, shoes, etc) – so part of this loan will also be used to increase our inventory and rent a new space in order to showcase this growing collection. Last but not least, this loan will also help us build out a dressing room for our customers. We look forward to seeing this business continue to grow here in Iowa and becoming more widely known as a place to buy beautiful African clothing!