Sonji Monroe owns and operates the upscale women's clothing retail outlet Speaking Pieces Boutique in Atlanta Metro. She is celebrating 8 years in business in 2020. For Sonji and her team, styling is about building from the inside out. Confidence and self assurance are top priorities for her styling sessions. She encourages all of her clients to feel good about both their style and existence. Sonji enjoys styling women...from the inside out. Check out the recent Q&A where she shares what motivates her passion.
A One-On-One with Sonji Monroe of Speaking Pieces Boutique
1) You've been in business for 8 years. What do you consider to be your biggest achievement?
One of my biggest accomplishments over the past eight years has been my ability to maintain long term customers as well as gain many new customers who become repeat customers.
2) What motivates you?
I am most motivated by being in a position to continue to grow this boutique into more than just a place to shop. I plan on expanding it into a place where women can come get inspired and connect with other women who love to support each other while shopping with us.
3) Who inspires your work?
My grandmother was a high end department store seamstress and fashionista who tailored and made clothes for many people including myself. I inherited her taste for fashion and decided at a very young age that I would one day open a clothing boutique. As of today, my customers are my biggest inspiration because they often share stories of when they wore a certain Speaking Piece to an event and got so many compliments and people wanting to know where they got the outfit from.
4) You're a stylist, business professional, wife and mother. How do you balance it all?
Balancing my life as I wear many hats these days has forced me to plan ahead as much as possible. However, I have learned to not over extend myself and become less effective in any of my duties.
5) What has been your biggest challenge as a business woman?
One of my biggest challenges is constantly having to find ways to get and keep customers coming through my doors with so much competition from huge online boutiques as well as local boutiques.
6) What's some of your favorite styles?
My most favorite styles are cute and trendy clothing that fit very comfortably.
7) What's a common fashion mistake women often make?
I see that a lot of women often pre-occupy themselves with the size listed on the label of the clothes and not what actually is the perfect fit for them. A lot of brands use different size charts and therefore some clothes will fit either smaller or larger according to the brand. Therefore, many will select a size that they normally wear instead of going either up or down a size for a proper fit.
8) What's the most important item in a woman's wardrobe?
I think that one of the most important items in a woman’s wardrobe is a properly sized bra and underwear because that usually makes the clothes look smoother on the body.
9) How has fashion changed over the last 8 years?
I have noticed that over the past 8 years that women don’t allow their age to determine what they should or shouldn’t wear. Many women are selecting clothes that they simply like or feel good wearing regardless if the style is typical for a younger or older person.
10) How has COVID-19 impacted your business model?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to be more creative with the way that we do business. We have added live sales on our social media outlets as well as added curbside pickup. This has enabled us to be able to continue to do business even when we were forced to be closed.
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*For more information on Speaking Pieces Boutique of Atlanta Metro, please connect on Facebook and Instagram at @SpeakingPieces.