Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharise Crumley.
Hi Sharise, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m from Detroit, Michigan and a proud HBCU graduate of Howard University. By day, I work full time in marketing for GTB as Senior Project Manager on several pieces of Ford business. Outside of my career, I started Postcards From Everywhere, a travel and experience planning company about 3 years ago. In 2020, COVID surfaced and I knew I needed to pivot. Travel was literally at the bottom of everyone’s essentials lists. I thought to myself, what can I do to expand my brand and also provide a quality product that people can believe in? During the last 2 years especially, so much of our life has been lived online. We scroll through posts and pictures not just once a day but multiple times a day to see what other people we know and don’t know are doing. Comparing ourselves to them. The things they do or don’t do, the things they wear. The products they use. Why not shift our mindsets and push ourselves to live life beyond the screen? Live in the moment. Be dope in real life. Dope Too LLC, athleisure clothing line was birthed during the pandemic but it’s here to stay. I want to spread the message that we don’t have to do what those on social media are portraying themselves as doing to be dope. All you have to do is be you.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing worth keeping is ever going to be easy all the time. The transition was relatively smooth but what has been most difficult is being a team of one. As an entrepreneur who also has a career, time is one of my most valuable assets. When starting a new eCommerce business, you wear several hats. I am the designer, the art director, the admin, the shipper, the publicist, the social media consultant, the accountant, the writer, the face, the photo editor, the customer relations manager and so much more. Sometimes I struggle to justify the cost of certain expenses. Should I buy this, should I invest in this tool? Should I just pay a designer for x, y, z? As entrepreneurs, we go back and forth 100 times before a decision is made. And even then, we aren’t always sure, we just know we have to pull the trigger because…time is money. On the flip side, the advantage is that in my business, I’m my own boss and no two days look the same. I don’t answer to anyone but myself and I constantly make the mental note that I have to give myself grace. I’m one person and I’m working to build an empire.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dope Too LLC is not just meant to be a brand, it’s a lifestyle. I consider my product luxury leisurewear and I want people to feel good when they wear my designs. I’ve worked to expand the line from our Signature Dope In Real Life hoodie to include T-shirts, Dad hats, beanies, and multiple crew necks all since February. It’s rare that you’ll catch me “outside” not wearing an item from my line. I am my biggest advocate and supporter and what I love most is that it always sparks a conversation. Often time’s I’ll get the question: “What does it mean to be dope in real life?” So, I designed the definition crew to explain just that. The crew reads: Dope In Real Life – Authentically you. Often copied, never duplicated. A person of undisputed origin; genuine. They vibe to the beat of their own drum. They refuse to live vicariously, they just live. Be dope.
I think what makes my brand stand out from others is that it’s not just clothing. It’s a state of mind. When you’re wearing Dope Too LLC, you exude a certain confidence that is recognizable to everyone you approach.
Marianne Williamson wrote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” What I’m most proud of is that I have developed a small community with my line. I have friends who reach out to me every week letting me know how many compliments they receive every time they wear my brand – How people have started to recognize it when they are seen out in the airport or at the store. Dope Too LLC allows people to let their light shine out loud. I can’t begin to explain the feeling of joy that brings. My goal in life was never to be famous, it was to make a difference. I think I’m on my way to doing just that.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
DO IT! Starting a business always involves a potential for risk. Typically, I consider myself more calculated than risky because I’m a planner. My friends will tell you; I have a plan and a backup plan at all times. It’s literally my job to be a problem solver. In entrepreneurship, I have definitely encountered a certain level of risk but that’s what makes this journey so fun. I dove in head-first investing thousands in Dope Too LLC in hopes that my message would resonate with my target audience. While my reach is not yet as extensive as I’d like it to be, my network has more than showed up to support. The reward has far outweighed the risk for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dope-too.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: @ReeseTravelsToo and @ShopDopeTooLLC
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dope+Too/@45.5980213,-127.2696389,2z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8824b7f75e3e432f:0x5663102fbf6d2914?hl=en-US&source=lmns
