Business Spotlight: Erica Brewer Owner of Belle Allure Minkz & Boutique

Erica Brewer, CEO

emooremtc@gmail.com

1736 Central Ave. in Dubuque.

BelleAllure.com

Facebook.com/bellealluremink

Describe your work:

I am the owner of a women’s boutique. I sell fashionable and affordable clothes for women of all sizes and ethnicites, including purses, lashes, shoes etc. I am also a certified lash technician and provide beautiful lashes to my clients.

What inspired you to begin this journey?

It started when I was a teenager. I would splatter paint all over my friends’ and my own clothing and shoes so that we would not look like everyone else. As I got older, I told myself I would one day own a business that I could make women feel beautiful. I started my journey by completing my G.E.D. I received my braiding and weaving license and lash license. I went on to graduate from Northeast Iowa Community College with a degree in business management and business science May of 2020. What started as selling lashes and applying them for customers, turned into selling fashion purses and fur slides to match. The ladies wanted more. I did a test run, and before my eyes, I had started a small boutique in a extra dining room in my house. I saw a need in my community. I moved into a brick and mortar store. Since then I went on to win the best Black business award and being named as the president of the BIPOC Business Alliance in 2021. My huge reward came when I won the Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award from America’s Small Business Development Center. I had the pleasure of visiting my state capital to receive this award from the governor who informed me that I was the first Black woman in Iowa to ever receive such an award. I couldn’t have done any of it without my community and the leaders who believed in me. I am at the location of my dreams now and will be celebrating three years of business this coming November. I will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate this milestone. I prayed and let God do the rest!

What is your motto or guiding principle in life?

Having faith and the mindset to crush your goals and the perseverance to chase your dreams no matter what will change your life and inspire others watching you to do the same . . . It’s not where we come from; It’s where you’re headed!

What advice would you give to Black youth who want to work in your field?

You have to have the passion in you, not on you! Always be teachable. This industry and generation are forever changing. Do this with selflessness and confidence. Always show love and be willing to help others in the same field. Remember, it’s you versus you! We all want to leave something behind, so think about what you want your legacy to be!

How can the Black community better support you?

By the continued support and love shown. Often Black communities are in competition with one another, so we have to make sure that we are sticking together for a better cause!