Founder of Online Boutique, Jensen Elizabeth

Writer, Graphics: Savannah T. / Chapter Submitted Photos

“I want to influence women to let go of the fear of judgment from others. Wear what you want and be proud of it. Just wear it. Who cares what they think,” says Jensen L., founder of online boutique Jensen Elizabeth.

As a Recent FSU Alumni majoring in Retail Entrepreneurship and a sister of Delta Gamma, Jensen started her online boutique while she was in college and is currently focusing this venture full-time. We sat down with her to learn more about the inspiration behind Jensen Elizabeth and how she manages her business.

Tell me a little bit about yourself! What are your hobbies, what did you major in, what do you plan to do post-college, etc

I recently just graduated from Florida State with a Bachelors in Retail Entrepreneurship. I had always planned to be a personal stylist after I graduated. I lived in Nashville last summer and worked for a stylist by the name of Tiffany Gifford. Working for her was the most amazing experience and that’s when I truly learned I loved styling people. I got to work with a handful of celebrities, including Miranda Lambert, Gabby Barrett, Tenille Townes, & many more. I had a plan to move to LA and work for another stylist along with running my store but then COVID-19 happened. In the future when everything hopefully goes back to normal, I still plan on doing so but in the meantime, I am fully focused on Jensen Elizabeth.

I read on your website that you started your own jewelry line at age 14, can you tell me a little bit more about that experience and how that started your interest in retail?

I was a freshman in high school. Bourbon and Boweties just recently became big, and her Bangle Bracelets were the new “it” item. I was really fascinated by them and decided to try and make them myself just for fun. I had a family dinner at my house one night and everyone was so wowed by the bracelets and offered to buy them.I think I ended up selling almost all of the bracelets I had made. This sparked my interest and I decided to make an Etsy shop, Miss Jensen’s Boutique. This quickly became a full-time job after school. I was selling products to different countries and doing pop-up shops 1-2 times a week at different locations. I also expanded into all sorts of jewelry including different styles of bracelets, rings, & necklaces. I continued Miss Jensen’s Boutique through my senior year and decided it would be too much for me to do on my own in college. But ever since then, I had dreamt of opening a clothing store because that is what I have always been passionate about. 

Describe your retail experience.

The only retail experience I’ve really ever had was working at Fab’rik in Tallahassee. I worked there for almost two years as a stylist and also ran all of their social media, coordinated all of the photoshoots, as well and took and edited all of the pictures! I learned so much about how to run a business and a clothing store and that’s what really pushed me to fulfill my dream.

When did you decide to create your own boutique? How did you feel?

I had been thinking seriously about it for almost two years and decided one day I just wanted to go for it. I called my parents up and told them and they were all for it and helped me every step of the way, and still do. When I first decided to launch it I was so nervous but everyone was extremely supportive of it and excited with me. It was something I had been thinking about creating for so long and I wanted it to be perfect and it was extremely stressful. I worked for months to get it to where I felt it was perfect and ready to be launched. The week leading up to launch day I was so nervous and so busy getting everything finalized. January 31st, 2020 I launched and I had sales within minutes and I will never forget that day and how supportive all my friends and family were. 

How did your sisters in Delta Gamma support your business and you?

I had my first pop-up shop at DG during dad’s weekend brunch and it was such a success! My parents were there to help me and I told them I had a goal of $1,000 and they thought I was crazy but I almost tripled it that day thanks to my sisters! And to this day they are always supporting me and tagging me in pictures they take!

What was the biggest challenge of creating your own boutique? What was the biggest reward?

There is so much time, money, and effort that goes into opening a business, and I didn’t know exactly how much. Luckily I had my parents help and I would’ve never been able to do it without them because I knew nothing about finances and the legal side of the business. Getting all the legal paperwork was probably definitely the most boring part but creating a website takes the cake for being the biggest challenge. I watched hours of YouTube videos on how to build a website and never knew it could be that difficult. I am also a one-woman show and I do everything myself from picking out the items, doing inventory, taking the pictures for the website and social media, modeling the clothes, designing and running the website, packing and shipping the orders, the list goes on but I wouldn’t trade it for anything because I love what I do!

What is your favorite thing about running your boutique?

My favorite part about owning a store is the reward. Seeing people wear my clothes makes me actually jump up and down. It is so rewarding to see other people loving my pieces just as much as I do. My goal is to one day be walking the streets and seeing strangers wearing Jensen Elizabeth, that would be the biggest reward because I would know that I made it and I made my dream a reality. Another rewarding factor is when people tell me things that directly reflect my mission and goal of the company and little things like that keep me motivated because it lets me know I’m doing my job at fulfilling my mission. 

What is the style and/or the vibe of your boutique?

My main goal and style for the boutique were to carry unique yet timeless items that made a statement. My personal style I would say is edgy/timeless/chic and that definitely reflects in the products I purchase for the store. My mission is that women shouldn’t feel like they have to limit themselves to please others. I want women to be confident in what they are wearing and don’t be afraid to wear whatever you want. My personal and brand motto is ‘just wear it’. In my mind I think who cares what they think, I like to be that girl who looks different and stands out from the rest.

What kind of items do you sell?

My main focus is clothing but I wanted to make sure that when customers are shopping on my site they are able to pick out an outfit head to toe. I carry a little bit of everything from clothes, shoes, jewelry, belts, sunglasses, to purses!

Where do you see Jensen Elizabeth in the future?

I want to run Jensen Elizabeth as a full-time job and open up a warehouse space where I can do everything all in one space with plenty of space. My vision is to have a warehouse/office space with an attached space that I can set up as a retail store and have people come in and shop. And maybe eventually have a few storefronts over the country. I have a new idea every day when it comes to the future of Jensen Elizabeth, but my main goal is to be a well-known store that I run as a full-time career. Right now I buy wholesale and a goal of mine is to have Jensen Elizabeth 100% designed by me and made in the United States.

To check out Jensen’s boutique, visit jensenelizabeth.com and check them out of Instagram at @shopjensenelizabeth