Celebrating Black History Month & International Women's Day

with SHERRI McMULLEN

“Black History Month means highlighting the achievements and work of the black community. So many have paved the way for myself, and for others, so that we’re able to do the work we do today. As a black woman and a black business owner - it’s my responsibility to mentor younger generations, and use my platform to help spotlight young designed, and designers of color, in the hopes that they also can navigate this industry successfully and with longevity.”

There's no better day to introduce our very special Client than on Leap Day - where she took a leap of faith in herself, transcended so many boundaries, and who's impact on the community has gone beyond selling beautiful high-end clothing. She's an unstoppable force who we admire greatly.

We're thrilled to spotlight Sherri McMullen for Black History Month and International Women's Day (March 8). As a mother and business owner of 2 shops, she somehow manages to get her xCLIMB in. And boy, have we seen the work pay off - those abs though!

What were your dreams and aspirations as a child?

A mathematician at one point, an accountant at another point. One thing stayed the same — I always loved business and fashion. I was always interested in business, even as a young child. I had a small business selling

candy that I would buy in bulk and sell at a nice margin. I took a case of candy, sold each bar individually, and doubled my money. That was the start of my entrepreneurial spirit. Little did I know I was planting those seeds to become a business owner. I studied business in school, and decided to pursue my love for fashion and work as a buyer in the corporate world for several years before starting my own business.

Tell us more about McMullen - what was the inspiration behind starting it, and what your visions are for the future?

I decided to pursue a career in the fashion industry because I wanted to understand the behind-the-scenes process and how product got into luxury retail stores. I was living in Oakland at the time, working in corporate retail and knew I wanted to open my own store. I had a business plan and started to envision my business and life in Oakland for the long haul. Oakland didn’t have any luxury retail shops since I Magnin closed in the 90’s and I knew it would be the perfect place. I took the experience I had of building in-store concept shops from my buying days at Neiman Marcus and Pottery Barn Kids. I had always envisioned a beautiful boutique that would become a shopping destination in Oakland.

Using my own money and a $50,000 investment from friends and family, I opened my original location on Piedmont Avenue in 2007, one block from X˙CORE. I made sure to focus on emerging and established designers that aligned with the woman that I knew wanted conscious, fashion-forward and timeless pieces. We were able to surpass through the 2008 financial crash that sunk other newly opened businesses, and grow. After success on Piedmont Avenue we then moved to Grand Avenue three years later. With our ever growing relationship to our client base that feels much like family and friends, I knew we had to expand into the next phase of McMullen and here we are at this new location.

Most recently, we opened our second location in Palo Alto in September 2019.

When we opened, the McMullen woman was a woman coming into her own and finding pieces that fit her lifestyle. That woman was interested in discovering new brands. My McMullen woman today knows her style, knows what she likes and what looks good on her but trusts us to put it together for her.

Our next expansion and focus is our e-commerce business, because we want to service women all over the world, and bring this community to a digital space.

What I have created for McMullen, I’m extremely proud of because I created a place for women to explore, share and feel confident when they walk in and leave the store. We have built relationships with these women that I know will last a lifetime. They are more than clients, they are friends and family. It’s a respectful place, it’s a place where women can feel safe to express themselves and it’s a place where women can share stories, ideas and connect with other women.

Where are you from originally? How long have you lived in Oakland?

Oklahoma, I have lived in Oakland for over 16 years. I chose to move to Oakland because there is a strong sense of community here, and I knew I wanted to raise a family in a place with diversity and a strong support system.

Why X-CORE?

Self-care is so important, I take the time to exercise because it is a form of mediation for me. Over the years, I’ve learned that time is precious, along with staying fit. I’ve been an athlete my entire life. I was a marathon runner, and I’ve done pretty much every type of exercise — but nothing has transformed my body more than X˙CORE. It’s the perfect workout for me, because as a busy mom and business owner, I can always fit 30 minutes of X˙CORE into my day