Meet Ashley Boden | Boutique Owner

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

Hi Ashley, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
As a first time entrepreneur, these have been my biggest lessons: Perfectionism is your enemy. Building a business is such an organic process versus a linear road. Embrace the ups and the downs and learn from the journey. Things will not always go the way you planned and I have had to learn to embrace this wholeheartedly. What others think about you/your brand, is none of your business. Being an entrepreneur means putting your heart and soul on the line. If you worry about what others think, it can be paralyzing. Part of the journey is truly being authentic to yourself and ignoring the noise around you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
tiger & hunny carries clothing inspired by vintage trends, real bodies, and the latest in women’s fashion. The brand pairs relaxed and easy style with a comfortable fit and vintage flair. Each style is carefully selected to create a curated collection of quality and gorgeous pieces while also keeping every body type in mind. We carry thrifted/vintage clothing, local jewelry vendors, and a small collection of new pieces as well. tiger & hunny is online only, however pop-up shops are a large part of what we do too! I built out a 91′ Ford van that transports the inventory to other local businesses and festivals, We create a pop-up shopping experience unique to each location and event. This is probably my favorite aspect of the business because it’s a time to meet new people and introduce the brand in a different way every time. After working in the fashion and retail industry for over 10 years, starting a business naturally seemed like the next step. I had seen a gap in the boutique industry surrounding inclusive sizing and vintage and thrifted fashion. I was also yearning for creativity and self-expression in my career. The path to get where I am today has been anything but easy! I experienced hardships in my personal life that impacted my business a lot in the first year and into 2020. It’s been a wild ride to say the least! For me, overcoming the challenges that took place the last two years has been about getting creative and using self reflection to really understand what the business needs versus what I think it needs. Taking the time to understand the numbers, and reflect on certain business strategies that I’ve implemented along the way has been key to moving forward. Sometimes things aren’t really as they seem, especially when you’re so close to the business and it’s a huge piece of your life. Because of this, a big lesson that I have learned is taking the the necessary time to dissect business decisions and their outcomes. This also means reflecting on the business with a third party, who is less emotionally involved to really see what’s working, and what isn’t.

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?
The week would include a lot of time spent outdoors as well as visiting a lot of local eateries and shops. Some of my favorite things to do in Fort Collins: Kayaking and sun bathing at Horsetooth lake Hiking in Lory State Park Hiking in Poudre Canyon Lunch or a show at The Mishawaka Eat or grab a drink in downtown Fort Collins, some favs are: – Snooze – Slyce Pizza – Trailhead – Steakout – Avagadro’s Number – Damn Good Tacos Breweries, because it’s Fort Collins – Rally King – Prost – The Forge – Odell – Maxline – Zwei – New Belgium Shopping in downtown Fort Collins – Nature’s Own – Curiosities – Blue Harvest – Thamel Import Gift Shop – Ragstop – Wagz

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A shoutout definitely deserves to be given to my Aunt and Uncle, Brian and Lisa Glenn. They have made their dreams a reality by putting in the work every day. I’d also like to shoutout my Dad, Thomas Boden. He has owned his own business and supported our family since I was a kid. Without these examples of success and their words of support and encouragement, I’m not sure I’d have chosen an entrepreneurial path. This was something I always admired growing up and continue to look up these people every day.

Website: www.tigerandhunny.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigerandhunny/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tigerandhunny