Photography by Danny Fulgencio
Carley Seale always dreamed of owning her own retail store. While attending the University of Oklahoma, she was able to work at a store called Harold’s where the owner Harold Powell was her mentor. He urged Seale to get a degree in accounting so she could learn the business side of her profession. After working in accounting, she knew that she still yearned to own her own business. “I went into accounting and was miserable,” Seale says. “I did not like being told where to be and what to do. I learned that I was an entrepreneur and couldn’t work for other people.” Seale now owns Favor the Kind, a lifestyle boutique that has expanded from East Dallas to Houston and Crested Butte, Colorado. Seale also opened up Roam Fine Goods in Preston Royal Center. She works with her husband, Johnny. Her favorite spot in the neighborhood is White Rock Stables, where she keeps her horse.
On Starting Out
“I went into medical sales and that’s where I learned a lot about sales, relationships and customer service. I was working like a dog and my heart wasn’t in it. So, I gave up that career, which was crazy because it was such a hard field to get into. We rented this tattoo parlor that had gone under on Bonita Avenue. It was a shack, but I didn’t want to get any investors. I didn’t want to borrow a bunch of money because I had no idea if it was going to work. I just wanted to give it a shot. We started off stretching out what we had and just built it from there.”
On COVID-19
“I felt equipped to navigate it to the best of my abilities and all the experience of the past 13 years. I had the skills, leadership, communication systems and everything ready to handle COVID. We laid off 75% of our team, and it left nine employees plus Johnny and me. We just had everyone hunker down and we’ve pivoted, tossed and turned and shaped shifted. We keep going back to work every day.”
On Pivoting
“The first thing that I did was assess what we had that had value in the moment, what was relevant and then we ignored everything else. Our brand is about generating joy and kindness. If we can sink into our mission and just do that, I’ll be satisfied because that’s what we’re here for. We started as a gift store and we looked at our surroundings and what products we had, and it makes your stomach hurt to think we are canceling orders. We created care packages that were relevant to the situation. We made one that you would give to your friends that got laid off, something for an essential worker. We had one that was all about the F word because there’s nothing else to say. We call them boxes of joy, and we sold out in a day.”
On Misconceptions
“We have such a broad mix of products; we have $500 dresses next to $40 dresses. If you’re going to walk through the store, you’re going to pick up the $500 dress because it’s gorgeous, and if my team hasn’t engaged fast enough, you might leave there thinking that store isn’t for you. You have to spend a little time in there and engage with the sales staff to know there’s a spot for you. That’s my biggest challenge as an owner, teaching my staff that you have to engage and ask people what they’re there for because we’re really able to serve so many different needs.”
On Hiring
“I look for two things. One is servant heartedness. Retail is about serving customers and it’s not about your own outfit or that you love fashion; it’s about catering and serving. The second quality is that we are a small business and you have to wear many hats. Be able to prioritize.”
On Passion
“My family. I have two boys and six pets. My husband, Johnny, works with me and we run the business together. I’m definitely the one that is the main decision maker, but I think it’s rare for couples to be able to run a business, be married, have a family and be successful. I feel pretty lucky that we do it and do it well.”
On Gifts
“After my mom passed away, my mother-in-law had a necklace made for me. It has words from my mom’s homily on it, just little reminders about my mom’s gifts, strengths and legacy. It was extremely thoughtful, and it was something I cherish.”
