Cori Thackery wants every woman to feel as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. Setting out to dress everybody with confidence-boosting apparel, Cori launched Sweetlees Boutique with just $700 in a business savings account.
Quickly, the former teacher and new mother saw her hard work pay off. In just two years, Cori expanded from her home office to operating her own warehouse and brick-and-mortar store in downtown Mason, Michigan. “When I sit back and actually reflect on where we are now versus where I started with just a couple hundred dollars, it's really exciting,” Cori said.
Offering sizes small through 3X, Cori takes pride in helping her customers – many of them new mothers – find apparel they feel great in. “Being pretty is so much more than what you look like on the outside. It's how you feel on the inside that gives you confidence throughout your day,” she said. Cori’s hand-selected tops, jeans and outerwear are meant to go from day to night, whether you’re working at the office, playing with your children or enjoying an evening out with your girlfriends. Her pieces are made of functional fabrics that can be thrown in the washing machine, sold at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.
Being a small business owner has brought Cori a new appreciation for her relationship with her community. Some of her most loyal customers drop by the store every week, which has allowed Sweetlees to become a community of its own. Though her business is still growing, Cori’s also been able to donate to local causes. “The future of small business is what keeps our country going. Being a small business owner myself, I realize how much of an impact I could have on my community,” Cori said.
Entrepreneurship has also given Cori the confidence to take on new challenges. “This store was a dream in my head three years ago. Now, being an entrepreneur means that I can do anything I set my mind to,” she said. “I recently ran my first half marathon, and the whole time during my training I was telling myself, ‘You own a business, you can get through this last mile.’”
Find flattering, comfortable and on-trend tops, denim, jewelry, shoes and more by shopping Sweetlees Boutique on eBay.
Sweetlees Boutique is a participant in Retail Revival, a partnership between eBay and the city of Lansing, Michigan to support small business owners who want to bring their products to the global marketplace.