The plans, as a result, came to a halt, she said. Nevertheless, Lee continued to launch her first website in April 2018 to sell a couple of boutique items from inside her dining room.
By May 2018, Lee’s 15-year career in health care marketing came to an abrupt end when the hospital she worked for unexpectedly closed. Lee continued to sell clothes from her online shop and eventually started selling items from her friend’s lash studio.
After opening her first shop in Kemah, Lee said she found a new location in Houston in March 2019. By November 2022, Lee moved once more to the place where Moxie District 31 resides today.
“The atmosphere that I wanted when people come in is ... I want them to feel welcome and invited and loved, like they're part of the family, and they just feel like shopping is easy,” Lee said.
The big picture
From dresses and jumpsuits to wedges and sneakers, Moxie District 31 offers an assortment of items for women—especially in denim, Lee said.
Known as the “Jean Queens,” Lee said customers often come in in hopes of finding a new pair of jeans, whether it’s denim straight leg, wide leg, relaxed fit, bootcut, crop or flare.
“We have a whole wall full of jeans, lots of different styles, lots of different sizes,” Lee said. “Generally speaking, we can look at you and be like, ‘Okay, I know about what size you'd be. Talk to me about what your style is, and then we can help you pick out some jeans.’”
Lee said she also strives to seek new vendors every chance she can, especially local vendors. Currently, Lee offers local jewelry, as well as candles and body scents, she said.
What else?
Lee’s new location is next door to her old one. She said the success she had at the former location, next to a Kroger and nail salon, prompted her to stay close.
“When we first moved in, within my first two weeks, we had made more than what I made in December the last year in Kemah,” Lee said. “I was like, ‘I think that we'll stay here a little bit longer.’”
Now, Lee said she has been able to reach her target audience, as well as organize her store better, as her current location is bigger than her former location next door.
Looking ahead
Lee will remain in her current store, and continues to look for more current trends through vendors and supporting women-owned businesses.
Lee advises people that might be in the same boat as her in 2017 to research and understand the “highs and lows” of running a small business.
“Do all the research that you can before you blast it out,” Lee said. “Any small business like this, you're gonna have good days, you're gonna have bad days, you're gonna have in-between days. So do as much research as you can, because the more that you do, the more power that you have.”
Learn more
- 1934 El Dorado Blvd., Houston
- www.moxiedistrict31.com
