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

Hi Emma, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I began selling items from my personal closet that I no longer wanted to wear just on Instagram as a way to make some money while I was in between jobs. Then, suddenly, that began to take off! So I thought, ‘Why not start thrifting clothing in all different sizes and reselling them?’ and here I am! I was driven by my passion for sustainability and and my want for the end of the fast fashion takeover.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others and something that I’m proud of is the fact that I’m a fully sustainable and ethical company that sources pieces that may otherwise end up in a landfill. I also have a knack for building relationships with my customers and creating a more personal shopping experience, which allows me to have primarily repeat customers that purchase from me!

Getting to where I am today was certainly not easy. I started my business in high school as a “side hustle”, but as it started to grow I took it more and more seriously. I had many of my successes, and also hardships, through the Instagram app. The Instagram algorithm is a constant battle for small business owners and makes it extremely hard to grow our platforms. I’ve had to pivot more times than I can count due to changes in the algorithm, as well as when the Covid-19 pandemic first began. Surprisingly to me, the pandemic exponentially grew my business as many people were online shopping because they was literally nothing else to do! Another challenge I’ve faced (mainly at in person “pop-up” events) is trying to get people to understand that ‘Secondhand’ doesn’t mean ‘Someone’s grandma’s clothes’, and that actually an overwhelming amount of the items I source are brand new from high-end brands! Some people get it, some people don’t; that’s something I’ve had to realize while building my brand. I’m thankful to say that running Rag Land Clothing Co. is my full-time job, however having a small business be your only source of income is scary as times. While there’s no way I’d want to work a regular 9-5, the idea of a constant, stable income is certainly appealing to any small business owner, as we rely on customers purchasing from us in order to pay our bills.

Throughout the three years that I’ve had my business, I’ve learned so much! Like how to build relationships with my customers, how to source items that will sell, how to pivot my brand to fit the wants of my customers…I could go on and on! This business truly has been one big learning experience for me, and I’m still learning!

If I could tell the world anything, it’d be that by supporting me you’d be supporting a one-woman owned and run sustainable small business, and that there’s so many cool and unique things in the thrift stores, you just have to be willing to dig!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love the city of Charlotte! There’s always something to do and so many little spots that a lot of people may not know about. If this were a little weekend trip, first we’d have to go to Optimist Hall for dinner, there is truly something for anybody in there so if you’re a picky eater (like me) you’ll still have plenty of options! Then, I’d take them by Around the World Cafe for the best rolled ice cream in CLT! For breakfast the next day we’d go to Easy Like Sunday for some delicious french toast and eggs benedict and then shop around the Park Road Shopping Center before heading to Amelie’s for lunch. There you’ll find the best breakfast sandwich you’ve ever eaten, as well as some delicious pastries! After that, we’d walk around the Mint Museum for some incredible artwork and exhibits. That evening we’d head to Camp North End to visit the Van Gogh exhibit, shop around, and get some dinner. The next day we’d grab a quick bite at Bossy Beulahs for a delicious chicken sandwich before heading to the Whitewater Center to go ice skating and zip-lining. Then, before taking them back to the airport, we’d go to Blaze Pizza for my personal favorite pizza in the city!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother has been such a huge support system for me throughout my small business journey over these past three years. She’s done so much from helping me find inventory to brainstorming new ideas for my business. She’s also just provided me with an immense amount of love and support, even when I felt no one else was there, and has always stood by any decision I made. I truly don’t know where I’d be without her!

Website: raglandclothingco.com

Instagram: instagram.com/raglandclothingco

Twitter: twitter.com/akaEmmaaa

Other: https://msha.ke/raglandclothingco/

Image Credits
Photo with car photographed by Lunazon All others are my own

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.