Encouraging women to love themselves in sexy lingerie
Tarryn Abrahams is the founder of online lingerie store Boudoir Box
Tell me about the work you do.
I am in the business of making people feel good and look amazing, and encouraging them to do it for themselves every now and then. Our subscribers receive a pamper box containing handmade designer lingerie and locally made beauty products once a month.
You started Boudoir Box after being retrenched. What did you learn in the corporate world that has made you a better entrepreneur?
What has made me a better entrepreneur is understanding where my limits are, so as to never promise more than I can deliver.
In corporate, we are often worried about being unable to meet impossible deadlines because we often take on more than we can manage in an effort to please our supervisors. I learnt to manage my time and boundaries, which I believe is the key to navigating entrepreneurship. I learnt the importance of enhancing the customer’s experience and providing quality service by making sure clients get what they needed as seamlessly as possible. This was integral to me in establishing a start-up.
Why lingerie?
It’s a fun and sexy way to be comfortable and affirm your body. It’s an additional way to practise self-care and self-love. So, with that in mind, I thought: “Why not make this accessible for women on a subscription basis?”
What do you think makes you good at your job?
I am overtly and utterly ambitious; this is a recent realisation that dawned on me when I started this business journey last year. I am not afraid to take leaps into the unknown, and, in all honesty, the biggest hindrance to getting the job done is trying to start it.
What challenges lie ahead for you in the next five years?
That South Africans are late adopters of advanced technology, let alone service delivery, and how the two are essential to building an impressive client offering and service.
I believe that due to the quality customer service and service delivery, people place their trust in international brands and service.
With service delivery being my passion, I am hoping that at Boudoir Box we can deliver impeccable service that will diminish the stigma that businesses do not care for their customers. Hopefully this will allow customers to have more faith in South African businesses, especially start-ups.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
An archaeologist. I love history and ex- ploring things that were a mystery.
It’s a fun and sexy way to be comfortable and affirm your body
What advice do you have for someone considering starting an online business?
I cannot stress enough the importance of research. First, you need to understand your clients better than they understand themselves. Second, know and understand your limitations, and take an interest in understanding basic finance, especially budgeting.