With a deep love for fashion, Denisha Randle was frustrated with the lack of high-quality, stylish and comfortable leisurewear options available for women. Unwilling to sacrifice style for comfort, Denisha launched Charlie Rae – a luxury leisurewear brand designed for professional women seeking stylish yet comfortable attire for any occasion.
A new entrepreneur in a competitive market
Denisha as a new apparel entrepreneurs in a competitive market. She had strong brand concept and passion for her product, but she needed a plan with actionable steps. VSEDC’s South LA SBA Women’s Business Center (WBC) and LA County Economic Mobility Inititaive Academy (EMI) gave her a structured support system to connect with other founders, receive step-by-step business education, as well as free business and technical assistance to help her move forward with a business plan.
Peer-to-peer learning created a supportive community
Denisha received a business education through the EMI program. Through the WBC she received one-on-one advising, which was valuable for direction to specific questions. The WBC also generated a trusted community to share wins, troubleshoot challenges and gain real-world feedback from peers on the same journey. The experience generated confidence and accountability and fueled her to implement new growth strategies.
“As a solo founder you often feel like you’re on an island. The WBC gave me a team and a network. One-on-one advising provided clear directions how to move forward, and the WBC’s Accountability Club connected me to a community of peers on the same journey. That combination of expert guidance and genuine care was invaluable and encouraged me to keep going.”
Growth and a new hire
Denisha launched a new digital marketing strategy and financial model she learned in the EMI program, which led to a 20% increase in top-line revenue in six month. This growth also had a direct community impact, as the increased revenue and operational stability allowed Denisha to hire her first part-time employee, creating a new local job.
