Meet Makayla Juniel | Entrepreneur & Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Makayla Juniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Makayla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind my business has been an interesting one. It started out with my love for fashion and a desire to sell clothing. It developed with me wanting to be fashionable but not being willing to let go of my cheapskate nature, my nana calls it thrifty. I believe you can be fashionable and not break the bank. I also have an intense passion for traveling which brought my business to its current purpose. A women’s travel and clothing boutique; Twice the Charm offers limited quantities for client exclusivity. We cater to sizes XS-3X and have Afterpay available. We strive to be an affordable go to fashion and travel hub for the on the go woman.

What should our readers know about your business?
Twice the Charm Boutique was started back in 2017 while I was in college. I was inspired being surrounded by business owners. They were not clocking in and out when the company told them to, and following the rules the company set even if they didn’t agree to them. They also had untapped income, I appreciated that hustle, and I wanted to be able to combine my love for fashion with that drive of becoming a business owner and obtaining financial freedom. My sister came to me with the idea of owning a clothing boutique together because we had seen the come up of fast fashion retailers online, and we knew we could do that too; plus it fit the niche I dreamed of entering perfectly. The name of Twice the Charm was born, because two doses of us Juniel sisters was twice as charming as one. Shortly after, my sister decided to branch off and start her amazing skincare line. It started to become too much for her to juggle both, so she told me she was out. I had to make a decision, did I want to drop this amazing business idea I was excited about or make it into something of my own. I decided to run with it. Admittedly, it was much harder chasing this venture as a broke college student. I started off with my free EIN, and purchasing some items off of generic discounted wholesaling apps. I told all my friends and strangers about it all of the time, I am sure they were sick of hearing about it but I held so much excitement for my business I wanted them to know. The business did not have much luck in the beginning, not many friends or strangers purchased from me, even though I got the all too familiar, “…your stuff is so cute, I’m going to definitely get something from you!” I sat on inventory for months before I gave up. I wasn’t talking about my business as much, I wasn’t as excited, I didn’t know if I still wanted a boutique. I wanted to own a business but had no idea the work it took to start one. Fast forward to my third year in college I decided to try again with my business. I had a decent job, and I joined a modeling organization on campus. I attended my first pop-up shops and pushed my items, and saw a decent amount of sales. Still a small number, but proof that if I continue to work hard past my limits my boutique could be great. I still did not know exactly the direction I wanted to go in, in terms of my target market but I had solidified that no matter what I would make this work. At the beginning of covid I returned home from school, there was a prominent death in my family and school became too overwhelming. With all my time spent in the house, I decided this was the perfect time to start refining my boutique. Who do I want to serve? What is my aesthetic? What is the unboxing experience I want for my customers? I began planning my first Summer/Spring 2022 Line, which I launched successfully. TTC is still a work in progress everyday, but good days or bad I am glad to have it with me. It’s like a younger sibling, they might annoy you some days, but no matter what they hold a special place in your heart. Customers can expect small seasonal line launches, and ALL travel necessities handled (camping, flying, cruising, etc.)

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friend visited the area we would start by going out of our way to the Red Rocks Amphitheater for beautiful sightseeing, fresh air, and hiking. The next day I would treat her to brunch at my very favorite Black-Owned Brunch spot, Four Friends Kitchen; she can get a taste of good flavorful food with amazing service. After brunch we would visit Meow Wolf, an amazing interactive art museum that is 1 of 5 (rumor is they are building another one in Houston, Texas soon.) The next morning we would take the train from the Peña Station to Union Station and explore the various coffee shops and bakeries, all while snapping cute pics in the scenic downtown area. Next we would walk and explore the various stores lining the streets until we run into the 16th Mall, and of course check shopping off of our to-do list. I’m a huge foodie so the following day I would have no choice but to show my friend my favorite eateries (all are Minority-Owned.) Neveria Un Limon nestled in Green Valley Ranch has the juiciest and most delicious quesadillas you could ever dream of. Genna Rae’s Wings & More has delicious Mac & Cheese and their Lemon Pepper Wet Wings are out of this world. Right at the corner of Colfax and Chambers is a parking lot full of food trucks with an array of various fresh and tantalizing foods to choose from. We would end our day with creamy and velvety ice cream from MyKings Ice Cream located on Colorado Blvd. After our food coma, I’m sure we’ll use the next day to exercise those calories away; which is exactly what we will do on a 2.6 mile walk around Sloan’s Lake. We will end our day with a massage and facial over at the Gaylord at the Rockies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success thus far, and what I am confident I will gain in the future, I dedicate to my family. They encourage me, show me tough love when needed, give me a shoulder to cry on, keep me humble and grounded. When I’m excited about diving into a new venture they are always there to listen with open and excited ears. They are the reason I grind and push myself so hard. I would not be here today if it were not for them.

Website: Ttcboutique.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/_twicethecharm

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCc9_iA6C7DrgwhC7dNG6e0w

Image Credits
Photo NationX