In this episode of The, Lord Have Merci Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most powerful yet overlooked strategies in content marketing: Repurposing your Content. If you’re tired of constantly creating from scratch, this is your permission to work smarter, not harder.

You’ll learn:

• ​Why repurposing content saves time and expands your reach
• ​How to transform one blog post, podcast, or testimonial into multiple pieces of content
• ​Real-world examples of how brands turn one idea into an entire week of visibility
• ​How to identify your best-performing content and breathe new life into it

Whether you’re a solepreneur, influencer, or small business owner- this episode will help you maximize your message, stay consistent, and show up across platforms without the burnout.

Pro Tip: Your best content is probably already sitting in your archive-you just need to repackage it with strategy.

📢 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream your shows. And don’t forget to follow, review, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs it!

#RecessionProofBranding #ContentMarketing #ContentRepurposing #WorkSmarterNotHarder #LordHaveMerciPodcast

In this episode of the Lord, Have Merci Podcast, we’re kicking off the Recession Proof Branding Series with a powerful message. Branding isn’t a luxury-it’s a lifeline. When the economy tightens, many businesses cut back on branding and marketing, thinking it’s an unnecessary expense. But the truth is, businesses that stay visible, adaptable, and engaged during downturns are the ones that not only survive but thrive when the economy rebounds.

We’ll break down:

• ​Why branding is more critical than ever in uncertain times
• ​The difference between cutting costs vs. cutting visibility
• ​How to reposition your brand to attract loyal customers even in a recession
• ​ Budget-friendly strategies to maintain brand awareness without overspending

If you’re ready to keep your brand strong, profitable, and relevant-no matter what the economy looks like-this episode is a must listen!

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs! Let’s recession proof your brand together. #BrandStrategy

Dubbed "The Forever Fashionista," Shauntae Benton is a Fashion Boutique Owner, Content Creator, Blogger, Educator, and Entrepreneur in The Fashion Business and now a Fashion Podcaster!   

Welcome to Lord, Have Merci Podcast.   

During this episode, we will be chatting with Dyson Styles (Dallas Porcelain Press King), a celebrity hairstylist and lifestyle influencer, joining me to discuss success and failures in the beauty business.  Please tune in to learn more about the hair industry, Styles' journey in the hair business, how he met and styled Beyonce's hair, and how he incorporates his personal style. He even reveals his new home interior lifestyle brand and what's next!   Follow and listen where ever you enjoy your podcast.   

Make sure to like, comment, subscribe, and SHARE this content!  

FOLLOW THE GUEST: 

Dyson Styles Instagram: www.instagram.com/dysonstyles/ 

Dyson Styles Facebook: www.facebook.com/dyson.styles 

Dyson Styles YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCx4d1c8H3EPx7nqKqGX4JLA

Dyson Styles Website: www.dysonstyles.com/  

FOLLOW THE HOST: 

Shauntae Benton Instagram: www.instagram.com/theforeverfashionista/

House of Merci Boutique Instagram: www.instagram.com/houseofmerci/ 

House of Merci Boutique Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHouseOfMerci/ 

House of Merci Website: www.houseofmerci.com/

In Season 1 Episode 3 of Lord, Have Merci, our host Shauntae the Forever Fashionista is recognizing some amazing black owned businesses for black history month and beyond.

Hello and welcome to our third episode of Lord, Have Merci. This episode is centered around Black excellence and Black creatives. With Black history coming to an end, I wanted to make sure that I'm giving these amazing designers and creatives their flowers, not just for this month, but going forward. I'm your host, Shauntae the Forever fashionista. Let's get into it.

Designers are like hairstylists to me. Once you find one that complements you, you stick with that one, and they become your go to and or  your first choice. My go to designer is Megan Renee. I was first introduced to Megan Renee on making the cut of fashion competition to find the next global fashion brand. I was drawn to her ability to create feminine pieces for strong women. The boldness of her fabric choices along with the cut and fit of the style was impeccable. So naturally, I was drawn to her as a person and started to follow her work. I was so impressed, I became a customer who has purchased at least two or more styles from her collections. Her style gives versatility, flair, color, and touches of femininity. So I'm a fan for real, and I wanted to make sure I gave her flowers and praise on creating a brand that is relatable and fashionable for the everyday woman.

Megan Renee is a brand that was created in 2016 or 2017. The brand was birthed after Megan felt undervalued and unappreciated. While working as a designer for several private label brands. She also saw the amount of waste in the industry that fast fashion companies produced. That pain and lack of contentment pushed her into her passion. Her first collections were created from sustainable deadstock fabric, and the brand prides itself on holding little to no inventory. All prints are originally designed by Megan and are digitally printed which uses a fraction of the ink and water used in traditional fabric printing. Megan draws her inspiration from her travels and from the strength and beauty of women. The Megan Renee brand signatures Bold Prints and wearable staples. This designer is and will continue to make waves in this thing called the fashion industry. You can find some of your favorite celebrities such as Issa Rae, Michelle Williams, MC Lyte and others wearing Megan Renee, support this beautiful and talented woman by following her on Instagram@_MeganRenee_ or @shop_MeganRenee you can also check out her collection on her website shopmeganrenee.com

When creating an outfit, footwear is usually at the top of my list. Footwear is usually my statement piece to my outfit choice. So when I think of luxur,  comfortability, and making a statement, I think of Angus Bethel shoes. My first pair of shoes I purchased was the Pat sandal also referred to as a heel. The level of detail on this heel is insane. This heel is made of soft velvet and soft leather with an oversized tie up ankle bow. So the styling options with this particular shoe are endless.

Angus Bethel was created by Justice and Lesley; a husband and wife duo. To think that a bet sparked this beautiful creation of luxury shoes is beyond me. But with their level of detail to design and quality, they have been able to create shoes that scream style and luxury. Their shoes are exclusive and handcrafted from the best Italian Leather. Angus Bethel shoes are literally the definition of walk it like I talk it. This Black owned and veteran owned company has really set the bar in creating luxury. Their footwear is timeless and one of a kind.

This episode helps those who are stuck in a style rut. Are you always saying you have nothing to wear? This episode will help you find your fashion inspiration with style tips.

Transcript:

Hello and welcome to our second episode of Lord, Have Merci. If you didn't know, this podcast is for all my Fashionistas. It's also for those in the fashion and beauty industry. And for those wanting the latest fashion trends for the year 2022 and beyond. I'm your host shauntae Benton, the Forever Fashionista

Today's episode we will talk about finding our fashion inspiration. Being in this industry, you come across women who find themselves stuck in a style rut. What's that famous saying? I have nothing to wear, even though you have a full closet of clothes. Now for some, that may be actually true. You think your pieces are boring, outdated, or just unflattering. Normally, we would just simply buy new pieces without a new perspective to our style guide. So to help change your style perspective, here are some tips.

The first tip is social media. Social media is so valuable. It's a valuable resource for all things, especially fashion. Social media allows you to follow those who inspire you, whether that be a blogger, an influencer, or even a celebrity. It also allows you to go places without actually being there. Fresh ideas can also come from certain apps off social media such as Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Using these social media apps, is a great way to get inspiration and is also a great way to create a style mood board.

My second style tip is finding your aesthetic and or vibe. What aesthetic do you relate to? Where do you feel your best? An example of an aesthetic could be African inspired colors. It could also be something tropical. A vibe is a feeling or a mood. I love r&b music or neo soul. The vibe of the melodies put me in a state of comfort. So comfort to me is loungewear or something sad and something to where I can feel comfortable but yet still very pretty. Think of how you want to feel. Find an aesthetic or vibe that takes you to a place of confidence and relatability.

My third style tip would be to pick a designer or runway show. Runway shows are a great resource for inspiration. With today's technology, you're able to watch a run way show in your home. You can also find any runway show from the last 15 to 20 years on vogue.com. Pick a designer or runway show that fits your lifestyle and a wardrobe. Keep in mind that most runway pieces are not everyday wear. Find those styles that can be ready to wear.

My last and final style tip would be to invest in a personal stylist. There are a few ways to go about this. You can either ask for recommendations from a friend, or you could do a Google search, Instagram search or Yelp search. Pick your top three styles and look at their online presence. Read their about page, look at their profile and their blogs. If you want to move forward, ask them to set up a consultation to meet with you or to book an appointment.

Remember, personal styling is a very personal and individualized experience. Before you pay a personal stylist, make sure you preview their work through their content that they post. It's also important to read through their reviews. Keep in mind their style does not mean your style. Make sure your style is is a good listener. And also make sure your style is has great resources.

This episode is an introduction to the forever fashionista Shauntae and her Why of starting a fashion brand House of Merci.

Transcription:

Hello hello hello and welcome to our very first episode of Lord, Have Merci. This podcast is for all my Fashionistas. It's also for those already in the Fashion/Beauty industry, as well as updating you with the latest fashion trends for the year 2022. I'm your host, Shauntae Benton, the Forever Fashionista, and I'm so excited that you're here.

So for today's episode we're going to talk about who am I. Who is Shauntae Benton and what is House of Merci?

So who am I? Who is Shantae? Normally, I would give you all these amazing words and add fluff to it. But really, I am a creator. That's it. I love to create things. I love beauty. I love things that are unique and different. I love creating pieces that make women feel amazing and beautiful. That's who I am. That's who and what drives me the most, is creating beautiful things to make people happy.

Along with being a creator, I'm also very emotional. I am a cancer. So I love things that make me feel things that are happy things, that are sad things, that are beautiful things, that are ugly. I love to feel. I put my emotion into my work, into my art, into my thought process. Anything that has any type of emotion does something to me, which I think is a great thing because you always know how I feel. You'll see it in my face and you'll see it in the pieces that I create.

Last but definitely not least, I'm a wife and a mother to some amazing human beings. They allow me the freedom and the space to be creative. They also allow me the grace when I'm going through those difficult times in this business, as well as uplifting me and bringing me joy. So for that I'm very thankful.

So now to the good stuff like what is House and Merci? And where did you get the name Merci from? Well, House of Merci is a styling company that consists of a lux, feminine boutique, styling, blogging, and now podcasting. I wanted House of Merci to be a one stop shop for all women coming to House of Merci for fashion tips and coming to us to buy that fly outfit. Either way, I wanted to make sure I covered everything for your fashion needs. The word Merci actually is an homage to my supporters and to my customers. It's thanks, thankful house of things. You are allowing me to live my dream in this fashion business. And without you, it wouldn't be, I wouldn't be able to exist. So it's me saying thank you. Thank you for supporting me. So House of Merci is the name that I came up with. And to be honest, House of Merci actually was an idea 10 years ago. At the time I was graduating college, I had just got married, I was entering into the corporate world. And so fear actually kept me from pursuing House of Merci 10 years ago. But four years ago, it came right back to me and I knew that it was meant to be because it was something that kept nagging at me to go ahead and pursue. And so I pulled, you know, the lever down and said I'm doing it and House of Merci was created four years ago. And so for me, it's a place for women to come to feel amazing, right? I want them to smile. I want them to have confidence in their sense of style, no matter what it is. All women are beautiful and House of Merci is a place for them to go to fill that. And so that is why House of Merci was created.