For The Love of Fashion!
By Ruth Augustin '15
Published on Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Jelena Lovric '09 always knew that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. She mentioned, “I have always had a love for the fashion industry. I chose Lynn University because it offered both a business and fashion curriculum for me which prepared me to be able to open up my business. My courses included a fashion design class as well as fashion show production which is something I do often and has been so beneficial to me in my everyday life as a retail business owner.”
In 2009 Jelena graduated with her bachelors in Business Administration. Immediately after this she decided to enroll in the MBA International Business program. During her time as a student she briefly managed a retail store in South Miami. She said, “That’s when I realized my love for the business and how I wanted to open my own retail store one day.” As Jelena worked towards her education the opportunities and events provided her with growth and independence.
Jelena became the owner of Loverich Boutique in 2014. The name of the store was actually inspired from her last name, Lovric. She decided to spell her name out differently, so that it would have a more engaging look. “We just changed the letters around, because of my Eastern European background LoveRich is actually how you pronounce my last name.” She said.
Before she opened her retail store, Jelena did a lot of research. She had to consider the location, the concept of the store and the overall tone of what the store would stand for. She said, “I wanted to create a very modern chic boutique for the woman who wants to be trendy and fashion forward but yet with sophistication and style. We want to offer a selection of a little bit of everything to satisfy all of our clients.” To start, she begin by designing her own collection of clothes that were manufactured in Miami. She soon realized that she was struggling to focus on both aspects. Jelena decided to take time off from designing and instead she focused on opening up the store and making sure that it was running properly. Currently her store is based in Delray Beach, Florida. She mentioned that because Delray Beach is a very transient town, it becomes difficult to gain a steady client base. Though her retail store is small they try to advertise through store events and social media. These types of advertisements and events help to maintain a steady base of clients.
Today, most of the clothes at the LoveRich Boutique are designed by Lovers and Friends, For Love and Lemons, Black Orchid Denim, Chaser, Generation Love and many more.To secure these designer that are carried in her store, Jelena traveled to trade show markets to secure these contacts. When she is not working to make connections, she is manages the day-to-day operations. She said, ““I oversee all the daily ins and outs of the business. This includes all the buying for the store including all the inventory, as well as office management, payroll and overseeing all the employees.”
Jelena’s past and current experiences have helped shape her ability to work in retail. She mentioned, “I most certainly think that managing other retails stores and working in the retail world has shaped and molded me to be able to operate and run my own store. Learning how to manage a store has given me the skill set that I needed to be successfully doing it on my own.” Her passion has opened up a world of possibilities that only continue to grow.
Every single day Jelena is motivated by the world and knowledge of fashion that it has to offer. “I always love seeing new trends, discovering new designers, it drives me to want to provide my clients with the most exciting new pieces for them to choose from.” She said.
Check out the LoveRich Boutique online at http://www.loverichboutique.com/ Next Day Delivery is available for all orders made before 12PM! Don’t miss out!
