The Chequered Lily Apothecary: March Makeup Madness

Oh my! We have ANOTHER treat for you ladies. This week we feature
"The Chequered Lily Apothecary" owned and operated by Kimberly Bouchu.

                         Her etsy shop is like a candy store for makeup novices, enthusiasts, and gurus. 

What's even more exciting is that her store is going through a complete makeover. 

Currently all of her products are located here at the Moonrise Studio boutique but 

beginning this month she will have all of her delicious eyeshadow's moved into their 

new home for a Grand Opening.

Not only does she create these amazing eyeshadow's but she also sells super 
sassy jewelry there as well. Finally, for all of you gorgeous girls with a sweet tooth,
Kim is also a purveyor of YUMMY cupcakes!

So I wanted to pick Kim's brain about her company "The Chequered Lily Apothecary".
If you haven't seen today's video, you may watch it here. If you have then please read the rest of
our interview below:




When did you begin your business?


I started selling jewelry and vintage on etsy in 2009 as a hobby. I opened my desserts catering business, The 13th Cupcake in April 2010, but it was also more of a hobby and I was looking for a more steady income. Last spring, some friends of mine started making mineral makeup and asked if I'd like to give it a try. I started formulating eye shadows with them one night a week and helped them start a small company. It was a creative endeavor and just a lot of fun. Unfortunately, life got in the way for them and the company never took off. I wanted to help them out; since we had all put so much time and effort into this project, not to mention the hundreds of dollars we'd spent, I offered to purchase the company in its entirety from them so they could unburden themselves and recoup their expenses. This was the beginning of The Checkered Lily Apothecary, which I began selling through my existing Etsy store, MoonriseStudio just a few months ago. 



What inspired you to go into business for yourself?


Initially, it was need. I had quit a job because it was a terrible job that paid practically nothing, but I didn't have anything lined up to go into. There were few jobs available in my field and none without a terrible commute, so I decided to start my own specialty catering business. I was much more fortunate with The Chequered Lily because the opportunity presented itself so clearly, it was an easy decision because it was a way of helping out my friends and a way for me to generate a steadier income than my catering company provided.



How do you get the word out about your business?


I advertise on the Etsy forums all the time. I am open to reviews and giveaways with bloggers and youtubers, and I have created fanpages for my businesses on facebook where I advertise new listings and post news on upcoming releases. This year I'm going to start utilizing one of Etsy's new features, coupon codes, in conjunction with my facebook fanpages. I also plan to purchase ad space on Craft Cult and/or Statsy. Still, my absolute best advertising comes from my customers just wearing my products and talking about them to friends and family. 



If you could give a piece of advice to a young aspiring female entrepreneur, what would that be?


Jump in with both feet and do it! ^_^ Learn as much as you can and don't be afraid to ask questions when it comes to setting up a business. There are so many resources on and off the web for people just starting out, take advantage of the information available. Also, never lower your standards. This is the best advice that I received when I was in school and it has served me well over the last few years through this terrible economy. Never lower your standards, always be your best, and stay true to yourself and your product, your customers will appreciate the effort. 




Thanks to Kim of "The Chequered Lily Apothecary" for her wonderful responses.
Please be sure to visit and fan them on their Facebook Fan Page, where they can keep you informed of product updates and store sales.