Style Haven™ the mobile truck covering all of your fashion needs!
Stylist, Entrepreneur and Fashion Guru
With over twenty years in the fashion industry, Corin Wright is a style enthusiast that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to both her clients and fashion professionals alike. She epitomizes the saying started from the ground up as she has worked continuously to turn her passion into a successful career in the fashion industry. Corin is the founder of Style Haven™, an oasis of fashion carrying everything from vintage clothing, Indie Designers, gifts and accessories. Style Haven™ also serves as a full services boutique offering services such as onset tailoring, personal styling, closet editing!
Style Haven™ first launched as an online business, then a brick & mortar, and now is a mobile truck that brings the Style Haven™ experience to consumers and fashionistas nationwide! Corin is also a BERNINA Ambassador, often contributing to their blog weallsew.com.
Corin’s work has been featured on the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, 2019 VMA's, The Today Show, Dance Moms, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Club Monaco, Fashion Rocks and Americas Got Talent. She has also worked with celebs such as Future and Keke Palmer to name a few. When she is not working on her brand, Corin freelances as a tailor and dresser for theater, television, print and live performances.
We caught up with Corin Wright to discuss her business, her journey as an entrepreneur and so much more!
“Whatever you are launching, you need to love it! You need to stand by your brand and its mission 100%.”
What was the hardest thing for you getting started?
The hardest thing for me getting started was definitely money! I opened the Style Haven™ physical store with a credit card. Everything was a learning experience that I will forever cherish and grow from. I will encourage anyone looking to jump into a business with limited funds, please educate yourself. Business is more than making and selling products.
Describe your day as a business owner.
My day varies depending on what I have booked for the day. If I am on set tailoring my day starts around 7/8 am. I work on set fitting and sewing for the clients photo shoots, red carpets, fashion campaign. A normal set day will end around 5/6 pm. If it is my day to work in the theater as a dresser I race across town to whichever theater I am working in & prepare for the show by doing my presets. An average Broadway show last about 2 hrs. I then head home back to NJ. I handle Style Haven boutique business throughout the day. My days aren't always filled from 7 am-11 pm. The days that I am not on set or in the theater I work out of my studio shipping out orders, updating the website, creating, taking photos ect.
How is your business impacting people/the community for the better?
My business is an experience. I believe shopping is therapeutic. The smiles and positive reactions on my clients face when they find a fashion item of their liking. There’s nothing like what I am doing with the Style Haven™ truck. I want all of my clients to feel unique and beautiful! I also have a program where people can host a party we call it Book the Truck. We bring the truck to their house, office... They invite their friends, family to shop. At the end of the event, I donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity that the host chose.
What do you think about Makerhoods?
Makerhoods is amazing! I absolutely love it because it gives upcoming entrepreneurs exposure. Makerhoods is also genuine when it comes to business help. The First $100k Bootcamp has been so helpful thus far for my business! Makerhoods also gets the importance of surrounding makers with other like-minded makers. The community aspect is really what sold me. I'm a Rising Tide Community Business Academy graduate. One of the main reasons I joined this program was to meet people when I first moved to NJ.
What are your plans for 2020?
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 the Style Haven™ fashion truck won't be on the road. With most physical shopping locations closed, customers are now turning digital to shop. As a result, I’m looking to grow my online presence as well as my team. I recently hired a Social Media manager, she helps create posts & manages my accounts. This has been so helpful!
What advice would you tell any self-starting entrepreneur?
Never stop learning! I’m twenty years in and I’m still taking classes. The industry is always changing and evolving. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help. It’s impossible to know everything, you will struggle in some aspects of business… expect it to happen! Lastly, invest in yourself and your brand.
Anthony Smith, Community Outreach Coordinator
After graduating college and returning back to my hometown of Newark, NJ I became a member of the Newark Makerhoods team. This transformative experience put me in touch with many local entrepreneurs who are all in different business stages, ranging from established to upstart. Newark is a thriving city for talented creators. I'm here to share their stories and launch their business to the everyday public’s eye.