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Charlotte startup Fashivly finds success in personal styling on TikTok During the peak of the pandemic, Ashlyn Greer quit her video production job to figure out how she could make her entrepreneurial goal a reality. "It was kind of a now-or-never time," she said. Greer spent about six months compiling several business plans and ideas but nothing stuck. Then, in the fall of 2020, a friend sent her a text. "She said: 'Hey, I've been living in sweatpants for six months. I don't feel like a human anymore. I've lost a part of myself and confidence by not getting dressed every day,'" Greer recalled her saying. The friend asked Greer, who has about a decade of fashion industry experience, for a personal styling session. Greer searched the internet for fashion trends and sent digital outfit ideas to her friend based on her typical style. Her friend shared the personal looks on social media, which allured interest from several observers looking for the same service. That's when Greer knew what entrepreneurial path she wanted to take. In 2021, she founded Fashivly, a Charlotte-based virtual styling service — or what she calls "the future of online shopping." The platform uses a questionnaire to assemble an outfit and links to shop product recommendations based on a customer's style taste. Fashivly's team curates custom apparel options to fit all budgets, lifestyles and body types. "So instead of just pieces, we're putting together head-to-toe, accessorized looks," Greer said. Customers can choose to receive two styled looks for $39, five for $99 or 10 for $149. They would then select a delivery date for their personalized digital guide, which includes direct links to shop the suggested looks. Fashivly has taken off since its launch three years ago. The startup has seen year-over-year growth in revenue of 100% to 200%. Greer said that was primarily organic growth that came through its social-media strategy. In 2021, Fashivly created a TikTok presence that now has more than 131,000 followers. The page is used to provide personal styling tips. That account is largely credited for the startup's client growth, Greer said. About 18% of Fashivly's customers are international. Fashivly in May closed on a $500,000 pre-seed funding round and, that same month, won a $50,000 investment from the Seed the South Capital Summit event. The startup was also among seven North Carolina companies to each receive a $50,000 NC IDEA grant this year. It is currently focused on enhancing its online platform. Greer said plans include using artificial intelligence to grow the existing skills of its stylists. Its next seed round, set to kick off later this month, will go toward those efforts. https://lnkd.in/e8Qb3Fir