W(O)W: Courtney Benton x MILL + GRAY
Courtney Benton is the woman behind MILL + GRAY a desert inspired boutique that offers a curated collection of modern eclectic styles of clothing, accessories, and home goods. She started her business about a year ago and began with online shopping and pop-up shops around Lake Charles, LA. The M+G storefront proudly opened its doors on July 18, 2020.
Courtney was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA! She shares that while growing up she would’ve considered herself a tomboy, and ironically, now she is a boutique owner and loves every second of it! Her passion for clothes and styling started around the beginning of her college career at McNeese University in 2012. She entered college as a nursing major and later realized she wanted to open a women’s clothing boutique.
Throughout nursing school Courtney battled internally with what she wanted and what others wanted for her. With one semester left in nursing school she changed her major and made the decision to pursue her dream of owning her own store. She graduated with a general studies degree and after switching her major she began working at a local boutique. During this time her goal was to learn more and become equipped with the knowledge needed to open up her own boutique. Working at that local boutique prepared her and taught her everything she knows and she still uses that knowledge to this day.
She acknowledges that she still has so much to learn, but she is forever grateful for that job and the people she met during that time. She is where she is today because of the knowledge gained and relationships made at that job. Courtney reflects with a grateful heart on the dream she had 7 years ago that has now become a reality! Even after being impacted by the recent hurricane that put a pause on her dream, she is grateful and excited to see what God has in store for her next.
We ask our #WOW to describe themselves in three words, Courtney’s husband beautiful summed her up for us in three words:
He shared that she is shy, but this hasn’t stoped her from starting a business. She is hardworking and will often figure things out on her own, building her business from the ground up is just one example. Lastly, she is creative and this is evident through her unique ideas.
“I truly believe and know that God has a purpose for each of us. I am learning that you have to let everything go, literally hold onto everything with a loose grip, hold on tight to God and follow Him in order to find the purpose that He has for you. Then, you will truly find your purpose!”
If Courtney is not working she’s probably still working at M+G because that’s how much she loves her business! Her goal is to find a way to honor and glorify God through the business and she is constantly thinking about what she can do through M+G to bring something different to Lake Charles. She has many ideas she cannot wait to begin pursuing. Although there have been many recent obstacles, such as the hurricane and COVID, she stands on the knowledge that God’s timing is perfect and she is being patient in the waiting for what is to come next.
Although the hurricane brought challenges and unforeseen circumstances, Courtney shares how she brings her challenges and trials to Jesus. She turns to him because, “He knows what’s best, and he is the only way to get through every challenge and obstacle that comes.” Her storefront took a hit from the hurricane, but she is looking forward to restoring the boutique as soon as possible. Courtney can’t wait to reopen and reunite with her customers.
Just start!!! Courtney encourages all the female entrepreneurs in the house to #juststart. She didn’t think she would have her own business for another five years or so. One of her friends asked her, “What’s stopping you from having your own business?” At that point she realized that she was the one stopping herself from starting her own business and she was getting in the way of her dream. she would use excuses like, “I’m not financially ready yet” or “I don’t have the money to start,” but truthfully, she was afraid. She feared the opinions of others, judgement and rejection. People who couldn’t understand where she was headed ended up being unintentionally unsupportive, but Courtney came to realize amongst the noise her voice was the only one that mattered. So, in spite of her fear and what others said, she decided to just start!
Before opening her business to the public she assumed that she would appreciate the shopping and styling aspect of owning her own clothing boutique the most. However, after starting her pop-up shops and opening the storefront, she realized it was the sisterhood she enjoyed the most.
The building of community and relationships has been a heart warming and humbling experience for Courtney. She has come to realize that it’s the small things that make the biggest impact on her and the M+G community. For Courtney, M+G is more than a boutique, it is every loving and kind customer, every smile, kind word and compliment, it’s all the intentional feedback and reactions she witnesses first hand when people walk through the door and into her world of M+G.
As an entrepreneur and creative, Courtney enjoys the anticipation when waiting to see the response to something she’s created and she’s encouraged when these responses are filled with love and positivity. She used to never see herself as a creative, but God has shown her that everything she does is from Him. She shares how her creativity is fueled by her relationship with God and her connection to Him.
Watching women supporting women and connecting with one another is a pillar for Courtney. Similar to the sisterhood she mentioned, relationships that are built between customers and small businesses are, awesome, special and rewarding! On of her main goals for her business is to create a community of women supporting one another to eliminate competition because it’s a beautiful thing to have women come together and cheer each other on (#facts).
Opening the storefront for Mill +Gray is one of Courtney’s proudest accomplishments. For her, “it’s a dream come true” and she gives all the credit to the One and only God. Looking ahead she has an abundance of dreams and goals. First and foremost, she wants to glorify God. Second, she wants to create a community built on women led support, relationships and sisterhood. Her list of goals deserve their own blog, and all of them apply to these overarching focuses on God and people. It is quite simple, the intentions of MILL +GRAY, “All in all, we just really want to create a space where women can come together and cheer each other on. We hope to inspire women to express themselves in ways that allow them to create their own personal style.”
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