Business Owner Shaquille Goines
Business owner Shaquille Goines:
鈥榁U taught me to ask questions and to reach out for help鈥�
Shaquille Goines鈥� love for fashion developed early in life. Growing up, he paid special attention not only to how his clothes and shoes looked but to what others wore as well.
In 2018, two years after graduating from 日韩中文字幕福利片 with a degree in sports management, Goines turned his passion into a career when he opened in Evansville.
Goines said his time on the Vincennes campus prepared him well for the challenges of owning and operating a small business.
鈥淚 met a lot of different people as a student at VU. My time at VU gave me the opportunity to build relationships and to network with many people who have helped me grow a successful business,鈥� Goines said. 鈥淢y experiences on campus also taught me not to be scared to ask questions and to reach out for help.鈥�
He also learned to see change as an opportunity for growth and how to adapt to new challenges.
鈥淚 noticed that fashion trends change quickly,鈥� Goines said. 鈥淭hat helped me adapt to changes in the market when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year.鈥�
The pandemic, and the recession it triggered, brought a wide range of new challenges to businesses. But it also offered opportunities for businesses that could adjust, and Goines said he saw the chance to deliver a new but essential product: Masks.
PLE Fashion is an online and brick-and-mortar retail outlet, but Goines arranged with companies and other stories in Evansville to provide masks on a wholesale level.
Goines also met customers鈥� desire for fashion wear by offering a range of customized masks.
鈥淭he past year has been strong for the business because we were able to adapt to what was going on,鈥� he said. 鈥淒uring the pandemic, I managed to grow my business, which has allowed me to help give back to my community.鈥�
In fact, Goines said he鈥檚 so encouraged by his experiences as a small business owner that he hopes eventually to expand with stores in other cities and states. That鈥檚 for the future. For now, Goines is focused on meeting his customers鈥� ever-changing needs.
Asked about what advice he would give someone who is thinking about launching their own business, Goines said: 鈥淏e willing to start from the bottom and work your way up.鈥�
For Shaquille Goines, the upward trajectory of starting and growing a business remains a rewarding journey.