Featured Business - Jowhar Tarhan

Please welcome our next Featured Business "Zarif Soulye" with Owner Jowhari Tarhan
What was it that sparked your interest in starting your own business, what products or services does your business provide, and how long have you been in business?

I've always had entrepreneurial interests, but what confirmed this endeavor for me was my interest in women’s footwear along with my professional background in the apparel industry made learning the business easy. I'm stylish by my innate ability to create ensembles, sooo purchasing fashion forward footwear made everything like second nature. Which was also the same experience I had w/ designing and developing my own shoe line, I just researched and figured it all out. I started the business as HI Steppn' Footwear in 2006, I remember talking w/ my good friend Denyse McCowan, and she was like “do it! Do it! Do it! And with much praying and planning and praying it was done! We had many champagne sip shoe parties, male hosted parties which created great conversation pieces…not only about the footwear but the experience, It took a little over a year off to learn more about footwear and the fashion world. Met someone fell in love ten had to regain reality. Lol Now I’m back as Zarif Soulye with fashion forward footwear for women.

How did you come up with the name of your business?

Zarif Soulye is me!!! During my "reconstruction" I wanted this business name to reflect who I AM. I prayed and researched different spellings and phonetics of words but in the midst of the night he whispered Zarif Soulye . I remember sitting in the bed and waking up my fiancé saying “it’s Zarif Soulye " let me research I'll be right back. (I get tears every time I tell this story) So, Zarif is Arabic, my middle name, means elegant and Soulye is Creole for footwear or shoe. Zarif Soulye is self explanatory, loll. Elegant footwear (for the fashion forward woman) :-) Amazing how God makes things happen, right?

What sets you apart from the rest?

In addition to the exclusive inventory I carry and in addition to the personal designs that will be featured in the inventory as well, Zarif Soulye 's environment sets us apart from the rest. We are not just a shoe boutique but arts collaborative nestled in the west Oakland arts district. Zarif Soulye is apart of a shared creative canvass with GZPHOTOZ.com. We are 1900 sq ft environment where fashion and photography meet. My fiance', Curtis Jermany of GZPHOTOZ.com Photography and I have GZ| SOULYE Studios |Showroom|Gallery, so with me there's the working relationship of us (loll) awesome inventory, champagne sip shoe parties, personal shopping experiences, male hosted shoe sizing appointments and one of the only BLACK owned photography only ART galleries in the bay area. We have modern decor in a relaxed fashion forward environment!

We also give back, we always carry a PINK shoe in our inventory for Breast Cancer awareness. Proceeds from the sale of the featured shoe are given to charities for breast cancer awareness. In the month of October, we do it big! From champagne sip shoe parties to art shows! Curtis and I both Zarif Soulye and GZPhotoZ.com give back! I’m passionate about all that I do, “ I like to…. strut for a purpose”

What would you say are the most important factors of running a successful business?

There are so many important factors to speak on! Marketing, business management and functionality. Marketing is sooo important, with the right concept you're able to reach an audience or clientele that will be supportive. Business management is broad but all aspects are equally important, from customer service to having a product that is reliable and worth its rate to having a great business plan and structure. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning by not understanding how imperative business management is in retrospect to the longevity of my endeavors. Now...By golly I think I’ve got it :-)

What Company or businesses do you admire the most?

Louis Vuitton! Because they have long time clientele, even when you think....wow i haven’t seen a LV in a while, BAM! They out and hot! And everyone has one and everyone else wants one. That’s where I want to be in the business.

I've put a lot of research and hard work into living my dream and creating my brand and participating in the dream of my fiancé. I'm grateful for the support I have friends, family, my dude and fashion forward women who consider the Zarif Soulye Showroom as their footwear “go-to" loll. I love it when I get a call or txt that says, "WHATS NEW!" and I respond with what’s new and who is this? Loll. I love supporting artist and designers alike, People tell me when I make it big I'll carry everyone with me... I can't wait until it's my turn! :-) But seriously fashion is art and art is fashion and it’s all LIFE'S expression. Stay encouraged!

Zarif Soulye
2615 Magnolia St Suite D
Oakland Ca 94607
510-606-2353
zarifsoulye@yahoo.com

www.gzsoulye.com
www.facebook.com/zarifsoulye
www.facebook.com/gzsoulye


Please support Zarif Soulye.

Thank you
Jewelry Fetish
SP, JW, TE

February is American Healthy Heart Month. Most if not all of us know someone who has suffered from heart related issues. However, sadly many of us do not take note of this and make the necessary changes in our lives to prevent this preventable disease from affecting our lives, if not taking it. Did you know that one in every three deaths is from heart disease or stroke? That totals 2,200 deaths a day. A staggering number for a disease that is preventable. Did you know women are number one on the list? Start working now to not become a statistic.

There are somethings that you can do to help your family as well as yourself to become more heart healthy. First of all, exercise each day, increase your cardio by taking the steps, parking your car further from the door, or just jumping jacks if you can. Just do something. We have become a nation that loves TV, electronics, eating, and relaxation. Use your TV to play exercise videos also most WiFi devices have apps that relate to increased exercise. Use them to your benefit. Secondly, change your eating habits. We are the super-size generation. Opt for healthier options when we have to eat out and eat healthy portions. You can always save the rest for later. Cook more meals at home, not only will this help your heart but also will draw your family closer. Also remember, low sodium and less cholesterol help even more. Last, know what is healthy for your heart. Make sure to keep up with all of your routine doctor visits. Ask him questions as to what you can do to add to the new routine you are starting to keep your heart healthy. I am sure he will have even more suggestions.

The designers of Jewelry Fetish are going to post jewelry throughout the rest of this month of February using the color red. This is to help make us all more conscious of what we do each day in helping to prevent heart disease not only in ourselves but also our families. We will be donating a portion of all purchases this month to the American Heart Association.

JW~SP~TE