Photos Courtesy of Ashlie Tillman
Ashlie Tillman is the owner of Jade Butterfly Boutique and a Nonahood resident. Read her interview below!
Nonahood News: What is your job?
Ashlie Tillman: I’m the owner of Jade Butterfly Boutique, which is an online clothing store that caters to women sizes small through 3xl. I’m also a stay-at-home mom.
NHN: What does your day-to-day schedule look like?
AT: I get up, get my kids ready for school. I have the luxury of not having to be anywhere, so I try to get a workout in during the day or in my mornings. Then, I answer questions, pull and process orders, lots of shipments, scout inventory, enter inventory, play dress-up. I also spend time photographing inventory, creating social media posts, website updates, all on top of trying to make sure my house isn’t chaotic. It’s just me working on my business. I’m hoping to get to the point where I can hire some people, but we have kept it small for now.
NHN: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
AT: Right now, social media. Growing your following and making sure you’re posting to all the appropriate places, and following the changes … I can’t keep up. I also have an active VIP Facebook group. I get stuck in there, and then I’m like, wait a second, I haven’t posted on Instagram all week! It’s completely social selling, so I’m making sure I have a presence everywhere. The other challenge right now is inventory because shipping cargoes are taking forever to get here. You’re always behind because you’re expecting a product at a certain time, and it doesn’t come in.
NHN: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
AT: In my VIP group, my girls talk freely, and I get emails and pictures from them about how great an outfit made them feel. People say it’s just clothes, but clothes can change the way you feel. Hearing feedback from customers and friends, that’s my highlight.
NHN: What got you interested in doing your current job in this area?
AT: I had been in retail for 20 years. When we moved here, I was pregnant, so I decided not to go back to work because retail is hard. Some time passed, and I was antsy to start doing something again. I missed aspects of retail life but not going into retail. I had been repping for a brand, and I thought, “I can do this on my own. This is a good way to get back into that and do something I’m passionate about.”
NHN: Do you have any interesting hobbies, collections or interests?
AT: Clothing and watching runway shows. My husband and I love music, too. If you saw his office, the walls have CDs, which we don’t listen to, but we love going to concerts and discovering new music.
NHN: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
AT: I would love to grow to the point that I could open a store here in Lake Nona. I’m hoping to be able to open my dream store and bring unique clothing to women here.
NHN: What brought you to Lake Nona, and when did you move here?
AT: We moved here in 2013. My husband works for the corporate side of 7-Eleven. He was in a position and got a call that it was being eliminated. At the time, I was six months pregnant. He called me and said, “Do you want to go to Boston or Florida? I have to leave this weekend.” I chose Florida because I don’t think I could deal with Boston winters. I was doing research on where we would want to live, and Water Mark Apartments kept popping up. They were building them when we moved out here. So I hopped on a plane, and I was here for three days. We drove out here and the second we hit Lake Nona Boulevard with all the beautiful trees, I was like, “This is it. This is where we’re going to live.” We picked our house that day. We rented a house at VillageWalk and just bought a townhome where we still live to this day.
NHN: Where are you from originally?
AT: I grew up in Broken Arrow, which is a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
NHN: What is your favorite part about Lake Nona?
AT: I love the growth that has happened. I love that they’re bringing in things you can’t just find anywhere else. I love the outdoor aspect of it.
NHN: What would you say to anyone who is considering a move to Lake Nona?
AT: Make sure you work with somebody that knows the area. They know what’s up and coming, and they’ll put you in the right area based on your needs. Also, be patient.
