#046 - Today we are talking to Lori Watkins, the Founder and CEO of The Lord’s Helper Boutique.  Lori did not grow up a religious person - she found it as an adult.  Impressed with her fellow worshipers’ fashion, Lori researched how she could secure similar garments for herself.  She was shocked when she learned the price.  After discovering how much worshipers were being overcharged, she decided to do something about it - she became the curator of stylish church fashion at a reasonable price.

“And I was really disappointed at what the cost of clothing really is and how consumers, especially in the Black community, well, I'm not gonna just say the Black community, but the urban areas in Oakland and surrounding areas - how we don't get none of the savings.  So my thought was, I hate to see people going to worship and spending all this money on things they don't have to and they are just going to worship.  So I said, hmm…. this just didn't feel right.”

She started an annual fashion show, Dressing to Worship the King, and hundreds flocked to it.  She got support from local musical artists, pastors and sponsorships from local businesses.  Then the pandemic hit and the immediate shutdown to in-person events crushed her business.

"Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, that was the biggest setback ever. I didn't get one sale, everything shut down. So did my business.  We shut down in 2020 and I think that was the biggest scare for everyone.  I remember I was fearful myself - 2020 went by, but then 21 came and there were no more conventions to go to."

Lori was able to get a deal to bring her first fashion show back in ‘21 - outdoors at Preservation Park.  She is so grateful to all the support she receives from volunteer help and customers.  She is especially grateful to the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.

“one of the things the African American Chamber of Commerce does is they connect you and networking with groups that help you.  That's amazing in itself.  That you can connect with sources that will help your business, that will guide you to the next right thing.”

Be Sure to listen until the end to hear Lori talk about how she assembled her team.