We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara LaValley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I already had my own business: Body by Tara for personal training, diet coaching and private pole/dance instruction, but I wanted to offer clients and new customers websites where they could trust the products, supplements and CBD I carry on Bodybytara.com

I also created Adulttoycloset.com for pole clothing, lingerie, heels, costumes, accessories and novelties. Everything in both of my online stores are carefully tested and selected over other brands, so the customer knows it’s a quality product.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a lifelong dancer, trained in ballet, jazz, Broadway, Burlesque and Pole. I have performed in countless live shows, TV/films and music videos over the years as well as choreographed many jobs. My “regular job” while I was in between performing was working as a personal trainer and diet coach in the fitness industry. I have written articles for many magazines about diet, training and supplements, as well as modeled for many magazines and covers over the years.

While I still offer limited spots for private training and diet clients, I am focused on choreography, creating & directing my own burlesque show and teaching pole in studios and privately.
I have taken my knowledge of those industries: fitness, nutrition, vitamins/supplements, recovery products, pole, apparel and accessories to create my online retail websites so I could offer the best products for those industries even if I wasn’t available for one on one sessions.
From the diet and training plan to get you in shape, with the supplements and CBD for recovery, or buying a pole for home use, to offering private lessons, with the best grip aid, sexy outfits and heels, it’s all available for the complete package. Of course, each customer can pick and choose what they are interested in and I am always available to coach and guide a new client through what is suggested based on their needs and goals.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite spots in LA that I would suggest would be driving down PCH, watching the surfers and visiting some restaurants down by the ocean near Malibu like Gladstone’s for sunset, rollerblading/biking along the Santa Monica-Venice bike path, driving along Mulholland drive through the hills, taking a hike at Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park, grabbing a plant based burger at Monty’s Goodburger (my favorite), walking through Hollywood Forever cemetery, which is the coolest cemetery I’ve ever seen (especially when live events/bands are back), shopping on Melrose, rooftop movies at the Mondrian, dinner at Yamashiro where you can dine at the top of the Hollywood hills looking out over the entire city. If nightlife was open, I would take them to Bar Sinister on a Saturday and of course trying a pole class with me 😉

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
During the pandemic, getting creative about a plan B if things didn’t open back up, was the only way I could get excited about building something new from the ground up as an e-commerce business. I want to thank Shopify for all of the workshops, calls and tech support as I was designing and launching my new and improved websites. I also received continued support from my family, encouraging me to keep pushing towards my e-commerce dreams.

Website: https://adulttoycloset.com and https://Bodybytara.com

Instagram: @taralavalley

Twitter: @taralavalley

Facebook: @adulttoycloset

Youtube: @taralavalley

Other: All of my websites are: Adulttoycloset.com Bodybytara.com Taralavalley.com Contact me at: taralavalley@gmail.com

Image Credits
Don Q photography Ian Spanier Photography Cleos Rock N Pole

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