Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Suter.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As long-time friends, Courtney + I toyed with the idea of doing business together + floated several concepts throughout our decade of friendship. As the years passed + we matured, we began to notice we were finding it increasingly difficult to find chic + affordable clothing that fits well or wouldn’t put a dent in our wallets! We were frustrated with stores that only seemed interested in catering to young women or those that felt mature women should dress a certain way (aka not cute or sexy). When we could find cute + eclectic clothes that fit + made us feel sexy (+ tasteful), they were at prices that weren’t sustainable for our budgets (or our marriages!). So we decided to take matters into our own hands + launched LiLi + KoKo Boutique in March of 2021 to offer quality, on-trend styles that are affordable for women at any life stage. In January of this year, we began exclusively online and opened our first brick-and-mortar location within Hampton Station in the West End area of Greenville, SC, where my husband Todd + I call home.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many businesses starting, we have hit some bumps along the way. I lost my mom in 2020, right before the world went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was restless + needed a change, which led to Todd + me moving to Greenville in November of that year. While celebrating the new year together in Asheville, NC, with our hubbies Todd + Chris, Courtney + I decided to launch LiLi + KoKo. Still on the high of our decision + setting the wheels in motion – I lost my dad in February of 2021. To say I was reeling was an understatement. Courtney helped keep me grounded, + having our business venture to work on helping with the healing process. Courtney + I had a shared dream of owning a business + now, more than ever; we realize we shouldn’t wait to pursue that dream.
However, the world was still in various stages of lockdown, so we knew the best way to get started was with an online presence. We witnessed many small businesses struggle to transition to digital when the lockdown occurred, so let’s start the other way around + go digital first, then expand to brick-and-mortar later once the chaos of the pandemic settled down. We should have realized how difficult it would be to get noticed + build our brand on the ever-increasing clutter of the interweb. As someone not savvy (or comfortable) with social media, figuring out how many times a day to post, what to post, and putting myself out there personally took a lot of work. We quickly learned it was a) a lot more work than we realized + b) not my strong suit – Lol! We went in with certain expectations regarding how we would split up the responsibilities + had to shift gears as our strengths + weaknesses came to light. We also had to learn to be patient with one another as we navigated the realities of running a business remotely + miles apart.
It was also a learning experience of how to gauge what would sell + how much to buy. I can think of one season when we under-bought + had to scramble to get more merchandise in, only to buy more the following season + learn we over-bought + have to get creative with our sales to move the merchandise. The recurring supply chain issues of COVID also make it interesting to try to time when goods will arrive + be available. This past winter, we had several items not arrive until after the holidays, which meant we missed our prime selling season, especially as it warms up sooner here in the south, which meant our runway to move the goods was shortened. Every day is an adventure, + we view every bump + roadblock as an opportunity for us to learn + grow.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What’s special about our collaboration is that Courtney + I have very different body types + styles, but we share the same love for fashion. I (LiLi) lean more towards classy + conservative, while Courtney (KoKo) is flirty + glam. We use our different styles to collaborate on choosing the mix of clothing + accessories we carry in our boutique, which means there is something for everyone. When shopping at LiLi + KoKo, you can commonly hear our customers make comments like: “Finally, a local boutique I can afford!” or “I gave up on finding cute clothes once I hit 50; thank you for carrying clothing that makes me feel pretty again” + “I never thought both my daughter + I would be able to find something at the same boutique.” One of the favorite parts of our jobs is when a customer our age comes out of the dressing room with a smile on her face + a spark in her eyes + says, “I can’t wait to wear this for my husband.”
Besides offering quality clothing + accessories that are accessible, easy to mix + match + allow our customers to look + feel their best, we also want LiLi + KoKo to be a chic + comfortable space for women to gather with their friends while providing them the opportunity to empower themselves + their community. This is why we are excited to announce we are in the process of transforming LiLi + KoKo Boutique into LiLi + KoKo Boutique + Bubbles! We will move into a larger location within Greenville + expanding the lines + services we offer!
We will install a champagne + wine bar within our new space, serving wine + local beers, along with small bites + desserts. We will also partner with local + upstate companies to offer various events centered around lifestyle, entertainment, + women empowerment. We also plan to expand the product lines we sell. For example, in April, we launched our Artist Corner to showcase local women makers, such as Bougie Bands by Jill, JazzCrafted, Lauren Ashlee Creations, Meli J’s Boutique + The Home Base. The response to our Artist Corner has been overwhelming, + customers have asked us to bring more women-owned businesses into our space. We also want to offer more gifts + home accessories. It’s an exciting time for LiLi + KoKo!
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
We have found several different networking opportunities we enjoy that have helped us build our contacts + business. As everyone is different regarding the type of events that make you comfortable + what you may be looking to get out of it – our best advice is to attend a few different events in your area to find which ones work for you. I tried one local networking event to discover it was just an excuse for people (primarily men) to get together to drink + smoke cigars. I was looking for something other than the vibe I was going for as I was looking for an event that would help me meet local contacts + be able to learn from them, which is why one of our favorites is the Flywheel Café + Founders Forum events as we not only get to network with other local business people but also to hear how other entrepreneurs got started + how they overcome challenges. Your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also provides a wealth of resources, including mentors, learning programs, + access to key contacts such as lenders that cater to small businesses. Our relationship with the SC SBDC has been instrumental in our ability to expand our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liliandkoko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopliliandkoko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lili%20%2B%20koko%20boutique
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lili-koko-boutique-bubbles/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShopLiliandKoko
- Other: @shopliliandkoko is our handle across social media
