Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Newsome.
Hi Pauline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For a long time (many years), I’ve always said that I wanted to be a boss or CEO of a major company. I always visioned myself to be like the lady from the movie called The Devil Wears Prada. Only not selfish and evil. Ha. I’ve always had a passion to want a business of my own or to help in running a minor business. After working since the age of 15, working fast food, retail, warehouse work and etc… 2020 came along and I was blessed with an opportunity to put my thoughts to work. I come from a broken family being raised by my hard-working mother. I struggled throughout my childhood because I always felt like the oddball in my family. I was a middle child for a long time and felt the attention I got was different… Then I became a big sister to lots of little siblings and my life as a child was pretty much stripped from me and I had to grow up fast to help out with the younger ones. I started struggling in school and took an interest in boys. I lost my focus and cared for school and ended up dropping out in the 10th grade. By 18, I had my first son and soon after had two more children. I struggled as a young mother. My mother had moved to California and I was pretty much left to figure it all out. My relationship became abusive after seven years and three children. I took a major step forward and left.
Shortly after, I met my now husband and got pregnant with my 4th child. I became homeless. I had nowhere to go and had to turn to a homeless shelter with my three little ones and pregnant. It was the hardest thing in the world, no vehicle, limited help. It was tough. But I appreciate it now. Had my daughter and moved in with my husband who was still my bf at the time. After one month, he was arrested. We got married while he was in jail and I did six years with him while he did his time. I worked, got assistance, and got an apartment that I kept the whole six years. My husband was released and I got pregnant again with my 5th child. Things began to change shortly after his release. He adapted back as normal and began hanging out with old friends. Our relationship began to shift. I lost my job trying to keep up with my husband and unable to stay focused, got behind on bills, and lost my apartment. We became homeless. At times we slept in our Ford flex or cheap hotels that we could afford so that our children were comfortable. I worked two jobs until I had enough and got us a new home. Things only got worse and I took my children to Oregon with my mother. And I came back to TN. In the small amount of time that my children were not with me, my six years old at the time went missing, and my oldest three children’s father went to Oregon and took my children right from school. I am still fighting that til this day. Fast forward to 2020, I became homeless again and Covid hit. I had it. I was pregnant with my 6th child and thought I was going to die. I was bedridden for 17 days before being rushed to the hospital. Was almost put on dialysis.
After six days in the hospital (felt like a lifetime), my husband was incarcerated again and I had to wake up and stop trying to please everyone else. I realized I kept losing and it was because I wasn’t doing anything to make myself happy. I had so many ideas wrote down on inventions and business ideas. When I got my taxes and stimulus, I got a condo and invested in myself without asking anyone what their thoughts were. I ordered everything I needed to start a lipgloss business and got fully focused for once in a long time. I started up social media and my passion sparked within me. I worked and worked everyday was SassyNiQue. I had my 6th child all alone during covid. I had so many eye-opening experiences. So that’s a brief summary. I’m still working on making SassyNiQue BoutiQue major. I’ve branched off and now do more than just sell lipgloss. I have a website now. Honestly, I don’t get orders like I want but I know that as long as I stay focused, passionate, and determined I can get to where I’m going. I struggle a lot in my everyday personal life with so much going on but I’m not going to allow any interruptions to distract me from what I’m trying to accomplish. In all of this, I feel like it’s a life lesson to be learned and definitely a story and lessons to share with my children so hopefully, they won’t make the same mistakes and hopefully, they will all be entrepreneurs themselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. There has been a lot of distractions. People who don’t really support me or my vision. I’ve been laughed at or about and asked about my “little” business. I’ve had close friends and family belittle me and not even make a single purchase. My views and following is not where I want it to be and my orders are not many but I always expected it to be difficult or have struggles especially because people who are not like-minded are not quick to understand or even appreciate your mindset. So I expected it to be a little rough… Because honestly, life itself isn’t easy so when you add to it, yea it can get a little harder.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
So I’m excited to tell you about my business. So SassyNiQue is a made up name where I blended my vision of both sassy and unique. I have a lot of feminine products that are super girly and the fashion part of SassyNiQue is bold and sassy. I have a lot of cosmetic and beauty products such as lipgloss, eyeshadow, lotion, body butter, false lashes and more. I have a men’s selection as well but right now, I only have men’s oil for the fellas. As far as fashion, I sell bright-colored fedoras, fancy sunglasses, and unique purses. I think what sets me apart is that I like to blend my handmade products in my inventory which to me makes my brand more authentic and not just a boutique that offers retail you can buy from somewhere else. So even if it’s just the bangles or keychains they are something you can only get from SassyNiQue BoutiQue because it’s something I physically made myself. I’m most proud brand-wise that I’ve had more sales on my handmade items than the other products I sell. That’s always refreshing and something I get excited about every time. I want readers to know that my brand is my baby and just like I nurture my children and raise them, I will do the same with my business and I can’t wait to see what it blossoms into. I offer cosmetics, jewelry, keychains, lotion, tasers, fedoras, and so much more. I have Instagram and Facebook so customers can conveniently place orders through DM and skip SHIPPING fees. Those orders are CASHAPP and PAYPAL only. I offer help on getting started on lipgloss businesses just from my own personal experience and also offer starter kits.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Being successful matters most to me because I feel like I have failed a lot of areas in my life and I feel like I haven’t accomplished majors things I’ve tried so hard on and with my business it’s all mine. It’s all in my hands and bad opinions don’t matter, bad thoughts or inputs don’t matter, the ones who don’t support doesn’t matter. All that matters is the joy and the feeling it gives me knowing that even if I don’t make it a major thing, I’ve made it what it is. And I’ve sold more than one product so therefore, so far… I’ve succeeded. Also, the personal things that I can pass along to my children matter most as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: Sassyniqueboutique@gmail.com
- Website: www.sassyniqueboutique.com
