I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Stephanie of an awesome new online marketplace called Fortique!! What is Fortique you ask? Well in their own words – “For·tique \fȯr-ˈtēk\ (n) – an online marketplace for local talent and creative services”.  It is like Etsy  for services with a touch of Angie’s List because a little known detail about Stephanie and Fortique is that she meets with each of the people she hosts on her site!!!

When I signed up for Fortique, I was able to sit down with Stephanie so that she could get to know me as a Photographer and Stylist and also so I could get to know her for my blog and it was a pleasure.  We met on a pleasant sunny day outside of a Starbucks off Dupont.  She has a wonderful idea and business that I am looking forward to seeing take off even more!! One things she found surprising was how many creative and talented people there are in DC (although I think she suspected when she thought about launching this business!!).

In these tough times, a lot of people are stepping outside of their day jobs to supplement their incomes and Stephanie is there with a tool that can increase success. While side businesses can be lucrative, they can also be a lot of work.  Fortique is made up predominantly of entrepreneurial people with day jobs they don’t have the time to really make a side business shine.  Advertising, marketing, work examples, portfolios, it all can take time and be exhausting but Fortique makes the life easier for those .  It is often easier to brag about someone else than it is to brag about and sell yourself and that is what Fortique does.  For Fortique is that no job is too big or too small.  It can find you the just right fit for the job you have.

So how did Stephanie dream up this much needed marketplace?  It began when she was planning her sister’s birthday and she wanted to do some cute DIYs for the event but didn’t really have the time to complete them.  She needed someone to come and help her set up and plan but she didn’t want to take on the cost of a full blown event planner but how do you connect or find someone small scale and local that would take on the task? From that Fortique was born.

So how can you use Fortique?  Currently they are offering the following services:

• Photography
• Personal Styling
• Event Planning
• Interior Design

As the site continues to grow and expand so will the services offered.  Our afternoon ended with discussions of where things can go from here.  I won’t spoil what’s to come, you’ll just have to join and see but I will say, the possibilities are endless!!