Today we’d like to introduce you to Christabell Nunez.
Hi Christabell, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My business, Sis Stop Shop, began unknowingly years before I thought of starting this. In 2008, I was diagnosed with pituitary tumor, I was 19 at the time. A pituitary tumor is a benign tumor that sits in the brain on the pituitary gland that affects your hormones. The easiest way to describe what it does to one’s body tricks it into thinking it is pregnant. Needless to say, this came with gaining weight. To be completely transparent, I went from weighing 104 lbs. to 220 lbs. in 6 months. I went from finding cute fashionable clothing I loved anywhere I shopped to rummaging thru very few racks of clothing in selective stores that had a size 20 or XXL. There is that overly charged plus-size store Torrid that I would visit once a year to buy a $80, even those styles were questionable at the time. I thought why is everything for my then current size so cheaply made, overly expensive, outdated, matronly, boxy, and is just plain ugly.
Fast forward to today, I have learned to love my body, the way it looks, and what it does for me, which I have documented via social media and my podcast What The Bell. But it was in 2020 where I looked to express my creativeness further and began with my online DTG (direct to garment) tee shop. I began to create different graphics, with my most popular one being “Come & Take Abbott” the governor of Texas. After a few months, I did some market research in Dallas, attending a market where all different designers display their clothing collections. It was then that I was in a sense taken back to 2008, the plus size community was not being represented in a fashionable sense and I decided to do something about it.
I began to research and seek out designers/vendors that could accommodate people like myself, who love fashion and aren’t the standard XS-L sizes. I am taking the boutique, Sis Stop Shop to a full on fun experience, not just with quality and affordable clothing for all sizes up to 5X (looking to expand sizing further), but to make sure that bodies of all sizes have a positive shopping experience, and feel confident in the clothing they are buying.
Many women I know have told me stories of their personal experiences of shopping; they can’t find their size if they do it doesn’t fit because the Large fits like a Small would, or that they have spent times in store dressing rooms crying because of their body. Which I can personally say, I have too especially when I was wedding dress shopping. It was a depressive moment to say the least. Since I have personally have gone through this, I can use my experiences and the stories from others to create a safe space for shopping.
My goal is to have a mobile boutique to bring this show on the road to spread the fun and body positivity movement, then one day have a brick and mortar store with decent parking. For now, you can find me online, hosting collection events or at pop up shops all over Austin.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“If something comes easy, something isn’t right” my grandfather always tells me. My life has been faced with adversities; meeting my sister at 26, married and divorced by 26, have two brain surgeries and living with a pituitary tumor currently, h contracting COVID in Dec 2019 and sadly in May of 2020 losing my twins at seven weeks. One of my main struggles throughout this journey has been my mental health as a person and a business. While I was creating my business, Sis Stop Shop, in the early months I struggled with losing my twins. I went through intensive outpatient group therapy at Rock Springs Hospital in Georgetown and obtaining my current therapist who is the perfect therapist, Sara Balkanli at Austin Family Counseling.
One I had gotten my personal life in somewhat of an order then I faced the “what if I fail?” “where do I start?” and the biggest thing “how can I fund this?” Self-doubt, the fear of the unknowing, and being scared of failure. I know so many small business owners I’ve talked to have all had this same thought and still do. While I take the time to logically think on all these what if’s, the biggest obstacle I’m facing is funding. Financial institutions don’t just hand out loans so I had to get resourceful. Money from my tee shop was put into my soon-to-be boutique and extra money I have on the side from my day-job helps fund certain supplies and orders to stock the growing boutique.
As funding will always come and go as an issue, it is now making sure I am reaching the girls/women/theys/thems who need this kind of shopping experience and body positivity to help generate a positive body image for themselves.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sis Stop Shop?
Sis Stop Shop is a boutique catering to mid-size/plus size bodies that is fashionable, affordable, quality made, and size inclusive from xs-5X (currently looking to expand.)
I am known for not shying away from bright bold colors patterns and being comfortable with being different and happy with what I put on my body. I am often asked where can I shop like you, and I can never find anything like what you wear for my body and so I decided to make it my mission to help those of all sizes, but especially those bodies that struggle like myself.
What sets Sis Stop Shop apart from others is that we are colorful, we are sized inclusive, affordable and quality. I ensure that the articles I select to be a part of this boutique are quality checked before I even think about offering in my shop and carefully curated based off what clients would like.
I do polls on social media surveys via our e-mail newsletters to get the opinions of those following myself, the boutique and podcast.
I am proud of this brand being size inclusive! It is so hard to find a brand that is just that.
In the grand master plan, dream if you will, I will be excited to offer in-house alterations at no extra cost to all purchases. As for right now, I do offer styling services both within my boutique and with other retailers.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I would love to have my storefront set up and a mobile boutique so I can have a main base here in Austin and continue my love of travel and fashion by bringing this brand to many more people that need this kind of experience. Having employees, and paying great wages, with amazing benefits, and offering local upcoming designers a space to display and sell their clothing.
Pricing:
- Clothing Prices Range $8-$60
- Personal Stylist Pricing $20/hr
Contact Info:
- Email: sisstopshop@gmail.com
- Website: www.sisstop.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sisstop.shop
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sisstopshop
