Show Notes:
In this episode of the Beyond Beauty Podcast, founder Kate Whitney shares her entrepreneurial journey behind Boulevard, a luxury consignment boutique based in San Diego. Kate discusses her transition from entertainment to fashion and the importance of personal style. She offers insights on building confidence through clothing, curating meaningful wardrobes, and embracing individuality over trends. The episode highlights Kate’s plans for Boulevard’s future, her commitment to sustainability, and her belief in trusting intuition and timing in both business and life.
About Kate:
Kate opened Boulevard in October of 2020. She had recently moved from Los Angeles with $2500 to her name and covid hit. Her former self-employment as a writer and stage actress had now been shut down and she needed to pivot her life.
Her first store was 900 square feet and with the help of one consignor, she began to build her brand. 10 months later, she was on the main shopping avenue in La Jolla with a 4000 square foot, 2-story store.
Now Boulevard is branched into 3 stores, including a separate women’s and men’s boutique in Rancho Santa Fe.
Kate believes fashion is meant to help us feel certain ways in our life. Life can be a series of chapters and clothing can actually help us along the way. She finds the culture is an automatic structure, wanting to force everyone to look a certain way by ‘wearing this’ or ‘wearing that, but Boulevard offers a new way.
“Everyone is uniquely made so why wouldn’t we wear what is unique to us.” This is the branding of Boulevard - that YOU are the trend, YOU create your style and Kate, along with her stores, hopes to invite and encourage women and men to have the confidence and inspiration to BE who they were born to be.
Time Stamps:
Podcast Introduction & Episode Overview (00:00:23)
The host, Anne Laughlin, introduces the Beyond Beauty Podcast, Kate Whitney, and the episode’s focus on style, authenticity, and entrepreneurship.
The Resale Market & Store Opportunity (00:04:58)
Kate’s experience with brick-and-mortar resale, a pivotal store visit, and the unexpected offer to buy a consignment shop.
Entrepreneurial Risk and Timing (00:06:48)
Kate explains negotiating to buy the store, trusting timing, and the role of faith in her entrepreneurial journey.
Everything Leads to Boulevard (00:10:25)
Kate reflects on how her past experiences and failures led her to create Boulevard.
The Power of Listening and Decision-Making (00:15:01)
Kate talks about developing the “listening muscle” for better decision-making and trusting intuition in business.
Personal Style vs. Trends (00:17:29)
Exploration of personal style, cultural pressures, and the loss of individuality in the age of online shopping.
Helping Customers Find Authentic Style (00:18:54)
Kate explains how Boulevard helps customers rediscover confidence and authentic self-expression through clothing.
Clothing, Confidence, and Self-Worth (00:20:11)
Discussion on how clothing choices reflect deeper narratives of self-worth and the importance of honoring individuality.
Energetic Impact of Authentic Style (00:22:30)
Kate discusses how authentic style inspires others and the energetic effect of being true to oneself.
Honoring Life’s Phases Through Style (00:24:26)
Kate shares how clothing choices can honor different life phases, emotions, and transitions.
Confidence to Stand Out (00:31:11)
Kate and Anne discuss the confidence required to stand out and honor personal choices despite external criticism.
Essentials for Personal Style (00:37:56)
Kate shares her philosophy on wardrobe essentials: own pieces you absolutely love and that make you feel your best.
Where to Find Boulevard (00:43:29)
Kate provides information on how to find Boulevard’s locations and connect via social media and website.
This podcast is produced by Dillie: a content innovation partner leveraging AI to bring beauty and personal care brands into the future of marketing.
https://dillie.com/
