We are excited to share our second favorite local black businesses here in Grand Rapids. As always, we believe in empowering and providing support for businesses in our community.

Our second highlight is Grand Rapids’ own, Basic Bee Boutique. Basic Bee Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique located in the new SoDiv area - the new community brand for the South Division Commercial Corridor between Fulton Street and Wealthy Street in downtown Grand Rapids. Basic Bee Boutique is black and women owned, and coming up on its one year anniversary.

I sat down and chatted with founder and CEO, Renise Warners, on how she started in the retail industry, what drives her as a businesswoman, how she pushed through opening her business during a pandemic, and the impact she hopes to make in the downtown Grand Rapids community:

 

First, I want to thank you so much for your willingness to share your journey as a black businesswoman in the retail and fashion industry. I have personally purchased items from your store, and I absolutely love them!!

Thank you!! I am glad that you liked them, and happy to share my path as a business woman.

Okay, let’s get into it!! How did you first become involved in your industry?

A friend of mine asked me to work with her part time at Victoria’s Secret, and that was my first experience with retail. I would return to my hometown store in Muskegon during summer break while I was in school, and after graduating from university, I transferred my position to NYC.

NYC?! That had to be exciting!

Yes, it was! I loved it! I was then recruited to work part time at Hollister Co. and was asked to join the management training program. I joined when I returned back home to Michigan, and became a manager at my local Hollister. During the five years working for Hollister, I got the amazing opportunity to assist other stores in my district and establish the first Hollister in the Netherlands.

After Hollister, I continued to work in mall retail, having opportunities opening the Garage store in Woodland mall and also assisting with recruiting for other Michigan locations. I wanted to transition to locally owned businesses for a better work/life balance. After Garage, I worked for Duffield Lane, and Scout and Molly’s, helping to open their locations in Gaslight Village and Breton Village, respectively.

What?! First NYC, then the Netherlands, then opening and assisting in managing openings of stores around the state? That’s quite the experience! So, how did you go from there to starting your own business?

Well, while working with local businesses, I realized that I was being hired because of my experience and leadership in opening stores and establishing operational standards.  It finally hit me, I knew how to open and run a retail store…I just needed to learn more about the business side of things.  I took my time with Duffield Lane and Scout and Molly’s as my chance to learn as much as I could to fill in the gaps and start something of my own.

I love the strategic thinking around all of this. Traveling near and literally internationally speaks volumes of your professional skill set! So tell me more about that. Tell me about that. Essentially you started Basic Bee.

Yes, so I learned a ton in the time with Duffield Lane and Scout and Molly’s. I was able to learn more about how the buying for the merchandise works behind the scenes. I traveled to Chicago often and met and networked with brands. I really learned how to open and maintain stores, establish relationships with brands for merchandising, and really established a muscle building infrastructure for a brand new retail business.

I had all of the tools I needed to start my business. During the pandemic, I was able to secure a location for the store, purchase equipment for the store, and open up in November!

Talk about pushing through, girl!! Wow! So, tell me more about the Basic Bee brand and mission?

Basic Bee embodies an international style. I’ve lived in various places, and I wanted to combine those experiences into one boutique. I would say the mission is to bring unique fashion to West Michigan, things that you may find in boutiques in larger cities, but that can be styled to fit into our vibes in GR.

Love that, and I definitely see and feel that when I walk into your store. What impact do you want your business to make, given it's a black woman owned and operated boutique?

I want others to be inspired to build something for themselves. I worked a long time before being at a place where I felt ready to go out on my own, but I knew that I could do it. I want other women and people of color to feel that they can do it too, whatever they want for themselves, can be achieved.

I’ve met so many wonderful people since starting my business who have told me that they want to start a business but do not feel supported or have access to the right resources. I’m all about sharing resources, so if I know someone or something that could help, I want to share it.

Right! There’s room at the table for everyone!! So you’re coming up on your one year anniversary. What has been the most rewarding and most difficult thing about running a business?

Meeting new customers who are excited about my brand. When starting out, you hope that there will be an audience for you, that people will be interested in what you are doing. When someone comes into my store and says that it's their style, or when they come out of the fitting room wanting to buy everything they tried on...that's the best. It’s the validation that I’m doing something right.

The most difficult part of running a business is doing everything on my own.  Being a small business owner means you wear all the hats and have to juggle a lot of things. I’m the buyer, the manager, the marketing intern, customer service, etc. Not to say that my friends and family aren’t helpful or supportive, but there are some things when starting off you have to take care of yourself to establish the standard and the brand.

Self care is the best care. Seems like during those exhausting moments, you have those amazing customers raving about your amazing items.

Okay, so, we mentioned your one year anniversary….What's next? 

Yes!! Basic Bee Turns one year old in November. So we’ll have a birthday party on November 13th. There will be music, snacks and great deals to celebrate our first year of business!

I’ll definitely be there!! Thanks so much Renise for taking the time to drop SO many gems. Can’t wait to see what’s to come for Basic Bee Boutique in your second year!!

You can find the amazing Basic Bee Boutique at:

Basic Bee

325 South  Division Ave.

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm

You can also find Basic Bee Boutique at the Downtown Sip and Shop this Sunday, October 3rd from 10am-3pm. Check out Basic Bee Boutique (@basicbeeboutique) for more details!!