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Conversations with the Inspiring Karlyn Dillemuth and Ashleigh Wheeler

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Karlyn Dillemuth and Ashleigh Wheeler.

Après Collections is 100% female-owned and operated, and is based out of Denver, Colorado. We provide a personal stylist to answer questions and put together outfits for each individual customer in addition to providing them with amazing clothes! Not only are we making people of all body shapes, backgrounds, and lifestyles feel confident in outfits selected to flatter what they love about their bodies, we are also making a difference in the community. Après partners with local animal shelters to include adoptable pups in the photoshoots for our dog bandanas, and we donate a portion of our profits to those shelters in need! We also try to keep it as sustainable as possible – we use compostable mailers, and for each order of mailers, a tree is planted.

Karlyn is the creative, fashion-forward Owner/Stylist who makes sure every customer leaves feeling great about themselves and their purchase. She attended fashion school at Arizona State University, and she is the honest BFF everyone needs around when picking out a new outfit. Karlyn has a beautiful fur baby, Aspen, who is the love of her life. She has experience in retail purchasing for stores, and also running her own store prior to Après.

Ashleigh is the logistics-oriented Owner with a soft spot for animals. She is currently an attorney for an environmental non-profit and went to undergrad for Business Management. Ashleigh owned her own bakery before realizing she wasn’t a morning person and ended up going to law school (what, like it’s hard?). Ashleigh has two dogs and two cats, all rescues and all sass.

TLDR: Après is owned and run by two boss babes in Denver, CO who provide personal styling advice and kickass clothes. Make a purchase, plant a tree, help a pup.

Our brand is based on being real with our customers – we’re going to warn you if this is dry clean only, or if the pockets are fake. We are going to let you know which top is the best to wear when you’re bloated or hungover and you have to make a Target run. We love Mean Girls references, coffee, happy hour, and empowering people to release their inner badass.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For the most part, it’s been smooth. The harder you work, the luckier you are, right? We can both agree that our biggest struggle has been learning all the tech/software it takes to run an online business. Looking at you, Google Analytics. Send help!

Advice: if you are planning on having a business partner, make sure you know them inside and out. What are their interests? What is their 5, 10, 20-year plan? How much time will they invest in your business? As evidenced by us, it’s completely possible to own a business with your best friend and love it. You just have to know what each person’s strengths are. Also, don’t be afraid to start. It’s never going to be the perfect time, just go chase your dreams with your cute self already!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Après Collections story. Tell us more about the business.
We are known for bringing all-vegan-all-the-time clothing options to customers at a reasonable price point. We aren’t marking up because the product has “vegan” or “sustainable” on the label.

We are most proud of our work on behalf of homeless pets. A portion of the profit from each purchase made at Après goes to a local animal shelter/ rescue organization in need. Our customers vote for a new shelter each quarter. 2020 Q1 profits will be donated to Lifeline Puppy Rescue, who keeps every single puppy they rescue until they find their forever home.

Our full-circle customer service sets us apart. We have a stylist that you can contact any time to help you build an outfit with items already in your closet that you’ll feel great in. Après doesn’t just want to sell you something – we want you to love what you get and feel confident wearing it!

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Women are particularly well positioned for entrepreneurial endeavors. Best case scenario, you are seen and appreciated for your level headed, savvy, and creative approach to whatever business arena you choose to enter. Worst case, you are underestimated, and you still kick ass because you are determined, smart, and resilient. Not to mention, women statistically give back more to their community than men, so a woman-owned small business will lift the community up with it as it grows. Sounds good to us.

Pricing:

  • Use VOYAGE15 for 15% off your next Après order

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Image Credit:
Photos 1, 4, 5, and 6 taken by Nicole Marcelli

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