December 6, 2023 • 27 mins
Imagine being 16, fuelled with a burning passion for fashion and a dream that seems larger than life. Meet Wesley Euthes, owner of the successful Primp Boutique, who transformed her love for fashion into a successful business.
Her journey wasn't always a smooth ride, from her first job at Land's End to studying fashion in college and dealing with the harsh realities of post-graduation life. However, her tenacity led her to not only start her own venture but also revolutionize the retail experience with Primp, a boutique that blends affordability with the high-end experience.
Wesley's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and a must-listen for those with an entrepreneurial spirit.
But this episode isn't just about fashion and business success. It's about the crucial role of community and local businesses in building and fostering relationships. Using Primp as a prime example, we navigate how small businesses can create meaningful connections with their customers and support other local entities.
Tune in for an episode that's as much about fashion and business as it is about community and hope.
Learn more at https://www.tonkatalk.com where we share more about our Lake Minnetonka community, including upcoming events and our take on local experiences.
Connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TonkaTalk/
If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions of a future guests creating community and connection, email natalie@tonkatalk.com
We appreciate your support in sharing Tonka Talk Community and Connection with someone you think could benefit from our content.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have you ever wondered what it would take to
create your own business orsomething in fashion, maybe even
a boutique?
Today, my guest is WesleyEuthis, and she is the owner of
PrintBoutique, and we're goingto dive in and talk about the
struggles that she's run into,but also what really lit that
fire for her that kept her goingand to go to the point of being
(00:22):
just this 16 year old dreamingabout doing something in fashion
, to today having seven stores.
I'm Natalie Webster and this isTonka Talk, where we talk about
community and connection.
Welcome, wesley.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now you have what I feel is a very interesting story
because you are a femalebusiness owner but you really
had a passion.
I've done a little readingabout you From a young age of
having already in your mind kindof what you wanted to do being
in fashion.
Can you talk a little bit about?
Well, first off, I'm gettingahead of myself because I'm
(00:59):
super excited.
Wesley owns seven print storesPrintBoutique, which if you're
not familiar you need to checkit out and this is today.
So today here she said she ownsthese.
She just opened her seventhlocation in Minneapolis.
But I want to hear I wasreading about again you as a 16
(01:19):
year old wanting to get intofashion and your first job.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, yeah, I always, as a young child, loved fashion
, loved getting dressed up andchanging my outfit, you know, 10
times a day, and so I lovedplaying with Barbies.
I think my mom would agree thatI played with Barbies all the
time, loved dressing her andreally that's how I learned to
(01:44):
sew, was making her clothes andloved getting really creative
with that, and so I knew Iwanted to go to college for
something related to fashion.
I've also always been verycreative and artistic and so I
chose fashion design and Ididn't at the time really know
what I would do with that.
(02:05):
I think again my parents areprobably like okay, where are we
going with this?
But I, I did work at Land's End, actually as a 16 year old, so
I guess I'm also getting alittle ahead of myself talking
about college.
But I got a job working retail.
I was 16, I just wanted to makemoney, but I also knew I really
(02:29):
loved working with clothing andit was a really interesting job,
because obviously anyone whoknows Land's End knows that it's
not exactly like trendy,fashion forward clothing, but it
did teach me a lot aboutmerchandising and about working
with customers that maybe had adifferent sense of style, about
fit and I just loved that.
(02:52):
I loved dressing the mannequinsand it was just really very
fulfilling and working in thatenvironment.
And so when it came time to goto college and to choose a major
and I chose fashion design, Ithink at that point I assumed or
hoped that I would be adesigner and it kind of was all
(03:14):
over the board throughoutcollege of whether it would be,
you know, moving to New York anddoing a really glamorous
internship for a big designer orif it would be working at
Target as a designer, doingsomething more kind of
commercial every day here in theTwin Cities.
But I think it was reallythanks to the recession, I guess
(03:38):
, when I graduated college in2008, that there really weren't
any jobs available post collegeand especially in design, but
really doing anything.
So that is what really led meinto being more entrepreneurial.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I guess Sure how did you go from wanting to you
studied fashion, wanting to workin fashion, to owning your own
business?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
So I mean it was partially out of just not having
many options.
I was working at a smallretailer here in the Twin Cities
doing just selling, you knowbeing a stylist there, and I was
serving too on the side.
I just got married and so I wasjust really not sure what I was
(04:25):
going to do.
And so a friend of mine at thetime who also went to school for
fashion design, she and Istarted designing handbags
together and we were makingthese beautiful hand-made
clutches that we were thenselling to local boutiques or
trying to sell to them wholesale.
And we we're just doing it forfun on the side.
(04:48):
And I mean we had dreams toexpand that business and we're
passionate about design.
But we were going throughout theTwin Cities and pitching these
bags to boutique owners and itwas really in that experience
that we're like these boutiquesare not, this isn't going to
work, Like they're not doingwell, At least it appeared to us
(05:09):
when we would go in and meetwith the owner and there was
never any customers there.
And so we were actually inChicago looking to meet with
some manufacturers and try todevelop this kind of concept for
our handbags.
And we were walking in LincolnPark and these boutiques, like
these really high end boutiques.
They were beautiful and we weregoing in and talking to these
(05:30):
owners.
They were just dead, Like therewas no one there, there were no
people shopping.
And across the street therewere, you know, H&M and
Francesca's and Zara and theywere packed and we were like
okay, it's not that peoplearen't shopping, and I think we
also had the conversation atthat point to say we want to
shop with these boutiques, butlike why can't we combine this?
(05:52):
And it was just a really sortof a hair brain idea at the time
.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
The best ones are the best.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I agree.
I agree, it's like on acocktail napkin.
I mean, it's like you've hearda million times and yeah, and we
just came up with the conceptof it was so simple and it still
really is.
That primp, that is just reallyan affordable price point, but
that high end experience and atthe time it really it didn't
(06:20):
exist, Like there weren't otherboutiques with that Tell me a
little bit about the experienceat primp in your boutiques are
different from, say, if you gointo an H&M or something like
that.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Sure, what is that difference?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well, we, so all of our employees are stylists.
I mean aside from our storemanagers, but even they are
stylists by training andpassionate about styling women.
And so we, you know, you walkin and you're greeted and I mean
I just always think it'samazing to me how rare you walk
(06:55):
into a retailer and are evennoticed Like just thanks for
coming in, like hi, I see you.
So simple, but it's somethingthat I really do pride us at
primp and really making a pointto notice the customer.
And we serve beverages.
We have champagne and wine andobviously sparkling water and
(07:17):
all the, all the beverages thatI think just add that touch of
hospitality and of A realpersonalization.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
It's a real, like you said.
You're combining a high endexperience with an affordable
price point.
So then you, you, you didn'tjust open one store, it's.
It's interesting to me becauseat any time you know you could
have continued working in aboutique and serving and being
kind of content there, but youtook it next level, got out the
(07:47):
cocktail napkin.
Here's how we can do this.
And even then a lot of businessowners would go okay, I have, I
have my store, this is my store, I have my one store.
How do you get to then?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
seven, seven, I mean, I think at the time, you know,
I was pretty freshly out ofcollege and I was so naive Both
of my and you weren't tired yet.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Yes, that's right, you were just out of college.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Didn't have kids, didn't have much to lose, like
it makes it a lot easier.
It's a very important piece isI just didn't know, like I
didn't really know what I wasgetting into, and I think that
that really works as a plussometimes, when you don't even
understand or know the reasonswhy this could really fail.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
You just know that this is in my heart to do it,
and you believe in yourselfenough and the people that
you're working with to go aheadand do that.
So, and go on, you guys.
So you expanded.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, we um well, and even one of my favorite moments
with Primp, early on and likethose first few weeks and months
of developing the concept, waswe had, you know, been working
on this business plan and buyingand we had such little money I
mean, both myself and myfounding business partner both
(09:08):
came with $8,000.
So we had $16,000 to build thisbusiness and my husband at the
time was going to businessschool and him and his friends
were, you know, so curious aboutour entrepreneurial cute little
boutique business, you know.
And they put together thisspreadsheet of all of our
expenses.
And his friend I'll like neverforget even where I was.
(09:29):
I remember we were at North forthe weekend with friends and he
was like this isn't going towork because, you know, if you
do $20,000 in sales, like you'regoing to run out of inventory
or not going to have any cashand like you're going to fail,
like you, this is like a badidea.
And by that point I mean wewere already in way too deep,
you know, to turn back and I waslike, nah, we'll figure it out.
Like we're not going to run outof inventory, we'll figure it
(09:51):
out.
And I mean, you know we didfour times that in our first
month of business.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
And it was.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Which was?
Was that unexpected?
I mean, we, we were like wehave to sell six dresses a day
just to stay in business for twoyears Just to pay the rent.
We weren't even factoring inpaying ourselves.
I was like we have internet, wehave phone and you know, as
long as we sell six dresses aday.
Yes, I'm like mom, I'm lookingat like where my mom, my sister,
my friends like just buy adress a day, so so, yeah, I
(10:20):
think, getting back to justbeing naive and not knowing,
like sometimes having all thatinformation and still like
having the grit and the passionand the flexibility to just know
you're going to make it work.
I think that was, and trulythat's been, the story of Primp.
I mean we so we did reallyreally well.
I mean there was a line ofpeople you know around the block
(10:43):
to get in on our opening day.
It was really really busy.
We were busy for the firstcouple of months and it was
pretty quickly where we werelike okay, like this was an
amazing, unexpected twist.
But this store, you know, wereally can't do this level of
business forever here.
We need to open a secondlocation to alleviate some of
the pressure that we're puttingon this one location.
(11:05):
It was just too much.
We were lying for the fittingrooms all the time.
It was just a lot of volume forthis one time.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You had to grow up really fast.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
We did, we did.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
It was a great problem to have, and I want to
add too for our listeners Wesleyhas three children now and they
are.
How old are they again?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
They're seven, almost eight, he'll be eight and about
a week and a half and five andthree.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So you've been doing this for quite some time having
children, expanding thisbusiness and growing it while
having these children.
I admire that so much when,when I also have three children,
and when my kids were younger,I had an opportunity for several
years to be home with them andthen later on kind of started my
(11:53):
career, I got into real estateand got going, and I often think
how does anybody do this withyoung kids at home?
Because it's such especiallyowning your own business there's
, there's just so much that'sgoing on.
Was there ever and this mightbe a dumb question every time,
when or what do you do in thosemoments of where there has to be
(12:17):
, has to have been, times wherethat overwhelm just kind of sets
in?
Yet you can't stop the train,you have to keep going.
What keeps you going?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Oh man, that's a great question, besides, maybe,
a lot of coffee.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yes, lots of coffee.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
You know, I think if there's one thing that I mean,
the pandemic in and of itselfwas just such a mountain, you
know, for us all to climb, and Ithink I learned a lot about
myself as business owner but asa person that it's just like the
overwhelm is going to hit andyou just really have to pause
(12:56):
and you know you can't.
It's that putting on your own oxoxygen mass first mentality of
knowing when I'm burnt out, andthat means I need to just take
time for myself.
And I think it's an importantthing to teach my kids.
You know to know like I am sooverwhelmed to try to tell them
that, like when I'm feeling thatway, like I'm burned out, like
(13:18):
I'm feeling stressed, I'mfeeling tired, I need to rest,
and you know you can't take careof people if you're that way.
And I, it's not just obviouslymy kids, it's my employees and a
lot of obligations that I haveand my husband and being a
partner and being a friend, andit's it's a lot to juggle, but I
think that they always say youknow busy people get it done.
(13:42):
You do, I think the more youhave going on, you're just
forced to juggle it and theballs are in the air and you're
just you do it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, that that is very true With your Excelsior
location, for example.
There's you also do a great jobof getting involved with your
community and on Tonka Talk wetalk a lot about the ways people
find and create community andconnection.
How, how has that gone for you,excelsior?
The Lake Minnetonka area is alarge, it's a large area, but a
(14:12):
small area.
Yes, what are some of the, someof the ways that you've tied
into the community?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I mean a huge way is in our employees.
I mean, I think that it'sreally, really important to me.
It doesn't always work out, butit actually is working out now
at Excelsior of just havingemployees that are from the area
Like I think, so often peoplecome in, especially in a town
like Excelsior, people who arenot from that area, and are
asking you know, where should Ihave lunch today?
(14:40):
Or where, where can I get a cuteyou know gift for my friend?
And I think that having thosepeople that are in in the
boutique, that know the area andthat can service our customers
in that way too, is so importantand just builds those
relationships with the customers.
And so that's that's one way.
Also, you know, through eventsand through connecting with
(15:02):
other local businesses and doingevents with them, doing events
with local charity organizationsand schools and churches, and
you know, I think having a smallbusiness that allows us to do
that very quickly, you know.
I mean, I think if someonecomes in and is like, hey, we're
trying to raise money for myson's baseball team, it's like,
do you want to have an eventthis weekend with your
girlfriends and we'll give 10%back to your son's baseball team
(15:26):
, and it's okay, great.
Like you can't do that atTarget.
It's probably make a lot moremoney, but it's, you know, at
Primp and at small businesses.
I think we're just really eagerto connect and to build that
bridge.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Yeah, that is what I like a lot about the local
businesses in the area is there.
In.
The majority of them, I wouldsay, are independently owned,
and you're right, it gives youthat opportunity to create a
culture of acceptance andinvolvement and you hit the nail
on the head.
There's nothing worse thangoing into a business and
speaking to someone who worksthere and asking them a question
(16:03):
about the area.
Of course, you don't have toknow everything, but not even
being familiar with thebusinesses around you, it's just
to me that scares me.
Yes, but you're right, it'sknowing that.
Hey, we can tell you.
If we don't have what you need,we can show you exactly where
to go down the street to find it.
So that's so great that that ispart of your culture within
(16:24):
Primp to make sure that theemployees and the people on the
sales floor are familiar withthe area and what's going on,
because I would imagine,especially at the Excelsior
location, because there's somany people from out of town as
well as locals that come in.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Oh yeah, it's a ton, especially in the summer.
People from all over that arecoming to visit and Excelsior is
so.
I mean a lot of communities arethis way, but I think
especially Excelsior thecustomers in the community, they
appreciate that small, uniquebusiness.
You know, they want theirconsciously and intentionally
(17:02):
supporting us and supporting theother stores and I think we can
also do that as smallbusinesses to you know, as
you're saying, to direct peopleto the bookstore or to the toy
store down the street.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And you know it may not be a something, if you don't
know something.
Safari in Excelsior is.
I think it's the world's besttoy store, because I don't know
how she does it, but sheremembers so many of the kids
She'll know exact.
I used to go in there and belike, hey, do you know so and so
?
And she's like, yeah, I know, Iknow that kid.
Well, my kid.
There's a birthday party.
(17:36):
What do I get?
Come here and she'll show youexactly what it is.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Exactly.
It's so personal.
And it's so important for us tosupport these businesses and
like at this time of year,especially where it's maybe easy
to just hammer through yourlist on Amazon or Target or
wherever but to really go in andto build those relationships
and to support these businesseslike that's what brings the
(18:01):
charm to these areas I'm alwayscurious about with, especially
boutiques how do you choose, howdo you decide what to buy?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Oh, how do you decide which, which items, which
clothing to bring in?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
It's.
I mean, it's so hard.
I have an amazing buyer.
Her name is Jenny.
She has been with me for 10years.
She's incredible.
She, she does such a good joband I mean so much of it is
listening to our customers and,again, with the small business
mentality and flexibility is,you know, being in the stores
(18:35):
and seeing firsthand what ourcustomers are asking for and
what our employees want.
You know, I just yesterday wewere having a team meeting and I
was like Primp is so uniquebecause I've all of us in this
room are our customers and so,you know, I was asking everyone
to go around and I was like,where did you shop on Black
Friday?
Like, what are you shopping for?
(18:56):
Like we can, we can channel ourown shopping habits and what we
want.
And it's like if you're lookingfor a really cute embellished
blazer, like tell me so I canlook for it in the market,
because you're you know, if youwant it, probably our customers
want it.
And I think that allows us tobe so reactive and also stay
ahead of the curve at the sametime, if you can do both and our
(19:20):
vendors are really, reallytrendy and have a lot of pieces
that are really fashion forwardthat we can kind of sometimes
try to find the Minnesotaversion of that super trendy
piece.
It's always what we strive for.
Nothing's too crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Just put a loon on it , yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
That always works too .
Speaker 1 (19:42):
What would you say as you know because here you are
now you're opening your seventhstore Some of the some of, as a
female business owner too someof the challenges that you've
run into over the years if youwere speaking to some younger
people who are like you knowwhat I have such a passion to
get into fashion, which I feellike that's been a theme for you
(20:04):
, and such a driving force isit's in your core, is going back
to that reason and that why,why do I do this and it it?
When we're able to do somethingthat really lights that fire
with it within us.
And if you can do it for aliving, then power to you.
And I feel like that is whatand I speak from experience too
(20:25):
I love community, I love realestate, I love helping people
turn a house into a home and getconnected within their
community.
So that's what drives me allthe time, even when things are
stressful and things get hard.
But with younger people who arelooking at it and want to
aspire to doing what you'redoing, what would be some advice
that you would give them Ifyou're looking back at that 16
(20:50):
year old self of yours?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh man, I you know.
I think the biggest thing toeven just echo what you were
saying is to really dig deepinto what is the why?
Because you know, fashion isit's, it's our creative
expression for some people, notfor everyone, some is just, you
know, function and necessity andall the things that you know.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
My husband would probably say that yeah, I do
have more of a function andnecessity, yeah, I need help in
that area, and so what I'mhearing is I probably could walk
right into primp and they wouldtell me they would help me with
fit and things like that.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
And I think that for me, that is that's what gets me
excited is the connections.
Like is helping people throughfeeling good.
You know, I think that if andmaybe it is more of a creative
expression if you love fashionbecause you love getting dressed
and you love doing the makeupand you love, you know, maybe an
influencer, that kind of thatroute would be a better fit.
(21:53):
I think there's so manychannels and ways to express
what it is that you kind ofdrives that passion in you.
But you got to dig into it andfigure it out, Because I think
that if you're just there tosell clothes or just there to
try on clothes or look cute likethat's not sustainable, I don't
(22:15):
think long term.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Exactly that's.
That's not the thing that willkeep you going, especially when
you get into later in life,where then you're married and
you have children and you haveother obligations and somehow
you have to get all of this done.
I think you're right Going backto that, that passion, that,
that that eternal internal flame.
(22:36):
Yeah, exactly, exactly it soundscorny as all get out, but it's
so true.
Holding on to that and I thinkthat's that's a common thread,
when I'm fortunate to be able tospeak to a lot of business
owners and it does seem to be acommon thread is the reason why
they did it in the first place,because a lot of times, retail
(22:57):
can be a very thankless business.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Oh yes, you get to deal with all kinds of people
coming in, but always need tokind of maintain a smile.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
It is, and this time of year, I mean what I've been
telling my team as we're gearingup for holiday and as we were
gearing up for, obviously, BlackFriday and a huge weekend is
just reminding people that thisis the time or reminding my
employees, I should say this isthe time when so many people
come in that hate shopping.
Like because I have to rightthey have to shop, or they don't
(23:27):
have to, but they're.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
No, you have to.
I've been told to stop showingup in my pajamas at work.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
They have to put on clothes and I think you know you
have men that are coming inbuying gift cards or
grandmothers coming in to pickout a sweater thing you know,
for gifts, and I think that itis so important that we still
service them and that we'restill being kind and still warm
and welcoming and offering themthe beverage and offering to
(23:54):
take their bags or their coat orwhatever, and if they're coming
in to make a return, that it'sit just.
It's so important to me that wecontinue to just be kind and
it's it should not beproprietary, but it is like it
really is just noticing thecustomer, welcoming them.
Like that will forever bringpeople back in and build that
(24:16):
sense of community which I thinkis what makes us small and
makes us primp and why I thinkso many people love to shop with
us.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Well, I think it's testament to just the fact that
you now have seven stores says alot to that.
That is that type of a culturethat would keep people coming
back.
What do you think is next?
Oh, is it just, you know,expanding primp?
It's is there.
I'm curious.
Is there anything else that youhave your eye on that you're
(24:44):
interested in doing?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, I mean, I definitely, I'm definitely still
expanding primp.
I hope to open at least anotherstore, maybe a couple of stores,
in the next year or two.
But I think recently I've hadthis such a strong passion for
just moms and women and thatI've met at print but also just
(25:08):
in my friends, my friendshipsand it's.
I think there's thisoverwhelming sense of anxiety
and loneliness and I just thinkthere's something there that I
really am passionate aboutbringing women together and
finding ways to do that.
I mean, I love fashion and Ithink that it's a very
(25:29):
vulnerable place when you'reshopping and your body is
changing and all the things thatyou're trying to find,
something that makes you feelgood, but and I think that's a
channel to maybe reach women ina unique way.
But but yeah, I think that justpost pandemic I didn't come in
here wanting to talk about thepandemic, but it's a piece of us
(25:51):
, our world and our assistantpeople but I think that we're
just as a community and as womenand as moms, I think, still
suffering the kind of trauma ofthat season of life, of being a
mom, of being an employee orbeing a business owner, or being
a partner or friend during thatseason, and I think we need to
(26:13):
tend to that now.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Well, I can't wait to see what you do.
I'm hoping that you'll share itwith us.
I got a feeling we're going tohave you back on to be able to
be hearing about whatever thatis.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Can't wait.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
What is the best way for people to connect with you
who kind of want to follow whatyou're doing?
What's going on with Prim Is it?
Would it be a website orthrough social media?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yes, all of those.
We have a website,primp-boutiquecom, yet also our
website.
You can see where our productis available in stores.
You can see all of ourlocations on Instagram or print
boutique, facebook, printboutique, tiktok all the all the
platforms.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
You can find you everywhere.
Yes, well, that's wonderful.
Thank you so much for coming inand for sharing that, and I
really look forward to hearingwhat is coming next.
Thank you very much for havingme.
Yes, Everybody else.
I will talk to you later.
Have you ever wondered what it would take to
create your own business orsomething in fashion, maybe even
a boutique?
Today, my guest is WesleyEuthis, and she is the owner of
PrintBoutique, and we're goingto dive in and talk about the
struggles that she's run into,but also what really lit that
fire for her that kept her goingand to go to the point of being
(00:22):
just this 16 year old dreamingabout doing something in fashion
, to today having seven stores.
I'm Natalie Webster and this isTonka Talk, where we talk about
community and connection.
Welcome, wesley.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now you have what I feel is a very interesting story
because you are a femalebusiness owner but you really
had a passion.
I've done a little readingabout you From a young age of
having already in your mind kindof what you wanted to do being
in fashion.
Can you talk a little bit about?
Well, first off, I'm gettingahead of myself because I'm
(00:59):
super excited.
Wesley owns seven print storesPrintBoutique, which if you're
not familiar you need to checkit out and this is today.
So today here she said she ownsthese.
She just opened her seventhlocation in Minneapolis.
But I want to hear I wasreading about again you as a 16
(01:19):
year old wanting to get intofashion and your first job.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthat?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, yeah, I always, as a young child, loved fashion
, loved getting dressed up andchanging my outfit, you know, 10
times a day, and so I lovedplaying with Barbies.
I think my mom would agree thatI played with Barbies all the
time, loved dressing her andreally that's how I learned to
(01:44):
sew, was making her clothes andloved getting really creative
with that, and so I knew Iwanted to go to college for
something related to fashion.
I've also always been verycreative and artistic and so I
chose fashion design and Ididn't at the time really know
what I would do with that.
(02:05):
I think again my parents areprobably like okay, where are we
going with this?
But I, I did work at Land's End, actually as a 16 year old, so
I guess I'm also getting alittle ahead of myself talking
about college.
But I got a job working retail.
I was 16, I just wanted to makemoney, but I also knew I really
(02:29):
loved working with clothing andit was a really interesting job,
because obviously anyone whoknows Land's End knows that it's
not exactly like trendy,fashion forward clothing, but it
did teach me a lot aboutmerchandising and about working
with customers that maybe had adifferent sense of style, about
fit and I just loved that.
(02:52):
I loved dressing the mannequinsand it was just really very
fulfilling and working in thatenvironment.
And so when it came time to goto college and to choose a major
and I chose fashion design, Ithink at that point I assumed or
hoped that I would be adesigner and it kind of was all
(03:14):
over the board throughoutcollege of whether it would be,
you know, moving to New York anddoing a really glamorous
internship for a big designer orif it would be working at
Target as a designer, doingsomething more kind of
commercial every day here in theTwin Cities.
But I think it was reallythanks to the recession, I guess
(03:38):
, when I graduated college in2008, that there really weren't
any jobs available post collegeand especially in design, but
really doing anything.
So that is what really led meinto being more entrepreneurial.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
I guess Sure how did you go from wanting to you
studied fashion, wanting to workin fashion, to owning your own
business?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
So I mean it was partially out of just not having
many options.
I was working at a smallretailer here in the Twin Cities
doing just selling, you knowbeing a stylist there, and I was
serving too on the side.
I just got married and so I wasjust really not sure what I was
(04:25):
going to do.
And so a friend of mine at thetime who also went to school for
fashion design, she and Istarted designing handbags
together and we were makingthese beautiful hand-made
clutches that we were thenselling to local boutiques or
trying to sell to them wholesale.
And we we're just doing it forfun on the side.
(04:48):
And I mean we had dreams toexpand that business and we're
passionate about design.
But we were going throughout theTwin Cities and pitching these
bags to boutique owners and itwas really in that experience
that we're like these boutiquesare not, this isn't going to
work, Like they're not doingwell, At least it appeared to us
(05:09):
when we would go in and meetwith the owner and there was
never any customers there.
And so we were actually inChicago looking to meet with
some manufacturers and try todevelop this kind of concept for
our handbags.
And we were walking in LincolnPark and these boutiques, like
these really high end boutiques.
They were beautiful and we weregoing in and talking to these
(05:30):
owners.
They were just dead, Like therewas no one there, there were no
people shopping.
And across the street therewere, you know, H&M and
Francesca's and Zara and theywere packed and we were like
okay, it's not that peoplearen't shopping, and I think we
also had the conversation atthat point to say we want to
shop with these boutiques, butlike why can't we combine this?
(05:52):
And it was just a really sortof a hair brain idea at the time
.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
The best ones are the best.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I agree.
I agree, it's like on acocktail napkin.
I mean, it's like you've hearda million times and yeah, and we
just came up with the conceptof it was so simple and it still
really is.
That primp, that is just reallyan affordable price point, but
that high end experience and atthe time it really it didn't
(06:20):
exist, Like there weren't otherboutiques with that Tell me a
little bit about the experienceat primp in your boutiques are
different from, say, if you gointo an H&M or something like
that.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Sure, what is that difference?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well, we, so all of our employees are stylists.
I mean aside from our storemanagers, but even they are
stylists by training andpassionate about styling women.
And so we, you know, you walkin and you're greeted and I mean
I just always think it'samazing to me how rare you walk
(06:55):
into a retailer and are evennoticed Like just thanks for
coming in, like hi, I see you.
So simple, but it's somethingthat I really do pride us at
primp and really making a pointto notice the customer.
And we serve beverages.
We have champagne and wine andobviously sparkling water and
(07:17):
all the, all the beverages thatI think just add that touch of
hospitality and of A realpersonalization.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
It's a real, like you said.
You're combining a high endexperience with an affordable
price point.
So then you, you, you didn'tjust open one store, it's.
It's interesting to me becauseat any time you know you could
have continued working in aboutique and serving and being
kind of content there, but youtook it next level, got out the
(07:47):
cocktail napkin.
Here's how we can do this.
And even then a lot of businessowners would go okay, I have, I
have my store, this is my store, I have my one store.
How do you get to then?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
seven, seven, I mean, I think at the time, you know,
I was pretty freshly out ofcollege and I was so naive Both
of my and you weren't tired yet.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Yes, that's right, you were just out of college.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Didn't have kids, didn't have much to lose, like
it makes it a lot easier.
It's a very important piece isI just didn't know, like I
didn't really know what I wasgetting into, and I think that
that really works as a plussometimes, when you don't even
understand or know the reasonswhy this could really fail.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
You just know that this is in my heart to do it,
and you believe in yourselfenough and the people that
you're working with to go aheadand do that.
So, and go on, you guys.
So you expanded.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, we um well, and even one of my favorite moments
with Primp, early on and likethose first few weeks and months
of developing the concept, waswe had, you know, been working
on this business plan and buyingand we had such little money I
mean, both myself and myfounding business partner both
(09:08):
came with $8,000.
So we had $16,000 to build thisbusiness and my husband at the
time was going to businessschool and him and his friends
were, you know, so curious aboutour entrepreneurial cute little
boutique business, you know.
And they put together thisspreadsheet of all of our
expenses.
And his friend I'll like neverforget even where I was.
(09:29):
I remember we were at North forthe weekend with friends and he
was like this isn't going towork because, you know, if you
do $20,000 in sales, like you'regoing to run out of inventory
or not going to have any cashand like you're going to fail,
like you, this is like a badidea.
And by that point I mean wewere already in way too deep,
you know, to turn back and I waslike, nah, we'll figure it out.
Like we're not going to run outof inventory, we'll figure it
(09:51):
out.
And I mean, you know we didfour times that in our first
month of business.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
And it was.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Which was?
Was that unexpected?
I mean, we, we were like wehave to sell six dresses a day
just to stay in business for twoyears Just to pay the rent.
We weren't even factoring inpaying ourselves.
I was like we have internet, wehave phone and you know, as
long as we sell six dresses aday.
Yes, I'm like mom, I'm lookingat like where my mom, my sister,
my friends like just buy adress a day, so so, yeah, I
(10:20):
think, getting back to justbeing naive and not knowing,
like sometimes having all thatinformation and still like
having the grit and the passionand the flexibility to just know
you're going to make it work.
I think that was, and trulythat's been, the story of Primp.
I mean we so we did reallyreally well.
I mean there was a line ofpeople you know around the block
(10:43):
to get in on our opening day.
It was really really busy.
We were busy for the firstcouple of months and it was
pretty quickly where we werelike okay, like this was an
amazing, unexpected twist.
But this store, you know, wereally can't do this level of
business forever here.
We need to open a secondlocation to alleviate some of
the pressure that we're puttingon this one location.
(11:05):
It was just too much.
We were lying for the fittingrooms all the time.
It was just a lot of volume forthis one time.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You had to grow up really fast.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
We did, we did.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
It was a great problem to have, and I want to
add too for our listeners Wesleyhas three children now and they
are.
How old are they again?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
They're seven, almost eight, he'll be eight and about
a week and a half and five andthree.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So you've been doing this for quite some time having
children, expanding thisbusiness and growing it while
having these children.
I admire that so much when,when I also have three children,
and when my kids were younger,I had an opportunity for several
years to be home with them andthen later on kind of started my
(11:53):
career, I got into real estateand got going, and I often think
how does anybody do this withyoung kids at home?
Because it's such especiallyowning your own business there's
, there's just so much that'sgoing on.
Was there ever and this mightbe a dumb question every time,
when or what do you do in thosemoments of where there has to be
(12:17):
, has to have been, times wherethat overwhelm just kind of sets
in?
Yet you can't stop the train,you have to keep going.
What keeps you going?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Oh man, that's a great question, besides, maybe,
a lot of coffee.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yes, lots of coffee.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
You know, I think if there's one thing that I mean,
the pandemic in and of itselfwas just such a mountain, you
know, for us all to climb, and Ithink I learned a lot about
myself as business owner but asa person that it's just like the
overwhelm is going to hit andyou just really have to pause
(12:56):
and you know you can't.
It's that putting on your own oxoxygen mass first mentality of
knowing when I'm burnt out, andthat means I need to just take
time for myself.
And I think it's an importantthing to teach my kids.
You know to know like I am sooverwhelmed to try to tell them
that, like when I'm feeling thatway, like I'm burned out, like
(13:18):
I'm feeling stressed, I'mfeeling tired, I need to rest,
and you know you can't take careof people if you're that way.
And I, it's not just obviouslymy kids, it's my employees and a
lot of obligations that I haveand my husband and being a
partner and being a friend, andit's it's a lot to juggle, but I
think that they always say youknow busy people get it done.
(13:42):
You do, I think the more youhave going on, you're just
forced to juggle it and theballs are in the air and you're
just you do it.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, that that is very true With your Excelsior
location, for example.
There's you also do a great jobof getting involved with your
community and on Tonka Talk wetalk a lot about the ways people
find and create community andconnection.
How, how has that gone for you,excelsior?
The Lake Minnetonka area is alarge, it's a large area, but a
(14:12):
small area.
Yes, what are some of the, someof the ways that you've tied
into the community?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I mean a huge way is in our employees.
I mean, I think that it'sreally, really important to me.
It doesn't always work out, butit actually is working out now
at Excelsior of just havingemployees that are from the area
Like I think, so often peoplecome in, especially in a town
like Excelsior, people who arenot from that area, and are
asking you know, where should Ihave lunch today?
(14:40):
Or where, where can I get a cuteyou know gift for my friend?
And I think that having thosepeople that are in in the
boutique, that know the area andthat can service our customers
in that way too, is so importantand just builds those
relationships with the customers.
And so that's that's one way.
Also, you know, through eventsand through connecting with
(15:02):
other local businesses and doingevents with them, doing events
with local charity organizationsand schools and churches, and
you know, I think having a smallbusiness that allows us to do
that very quickly, you know.
I mean, I think if someonecomes in and is like, hey, we're
trying to raise money for myson's baseball team, it's like,
do you want to have an eventthis weekend with your
girlfriends and we'll give 10%back to your son's baseball team
(15:26):
, and it's okay, great.
Like you can't do that atTarget.
It's probably make a lot moremoney, but it's, you know, at
Primp and at small businesses.
I think we're just really eagerto connect and to build that
bridge.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Yeah, that is what I like a lot about the local
businesses in the area is there.
In.
The majority of them, I wouldsay, are independently owned,
and you're right, it gives youthat opportunity to create a
culture of acceptance andinvolvement and you hit the nail
on the head.
There's nothing worse thangoing into a business and
speaking to someone who worksthere and asking them a question
(16:03):
about the area.
Of course, you don't have toknow everything, but not even
being familiar with thebusinesses around you, it's just
to me that scares me.
Yes, but you're right, it'sknowing that.
Hey, we can tell you.
If we don't have what you need,we can show you exactly where
to go down the street to find it.
So that's so great that that ispart of your culture within
(16:24):
Primp to make sure that theemployees and the people on the
sales floor are familiar withthe area and what's going on,
because I would imagine,especially at the Excelsior
location, because there's somany people from out of town as
well as locals that come in.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Oh yeah, it's a ton, especially in the summer.
People from all over that arecoming to visit and Excelsior is
so.
I mean a lot of communities arethis way, but I think
especially Excelsior thecustomers in the community, they
appreciate that small, uniquebusiness.
You know, they want theirconsciously and intentionally
(17:02):
supporting us and supporting theother stores and I think we can
also do that as smallbusinesses to you know, as
you're saying, to direct peopleto the bookstore or to the toy
store down the street.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And you know it may not be a something, if you don't
know something.
Safari in Excelsior is.
I think it's the world's besttoy store, because I don't know
how she does it, but sheremembers so many of the kids
She'll know exact.
I used to go in there and belike, hey, do you know so and so
?
And she's like, yeah, I know, Iknow that kid.
Well, my kid.
There's a birthday party.
(17:36):
What do I get?
Come here and she'll show youexactly what it is.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Exactly.
It's so personal.
And it's so important for us tosupport these businesses and
like at this time of year,especially where it's maybe easy
to just hammer through yourlist on Amazon or Target or
wherever but to really go in andto build those relationships
and to support these businesseslike that's what brings the
(18:01):
charm to these areas I'm alwayscurious about with, especially
boutiques how do you choose, howdo you decide what to buy?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Oh, how do you decide which, which items, which
clothing to bring in?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
It's.
I mean, it's so hard.
I have an amazing buyer.
Her name is Jenny.
She has been with me for 10years.
She's incredible.
She, she does such a good joband I mean so much of it is
listening to our customers and,again, with the small business
mentality and flexibility is,you know, being in the stores
(18:35):
and seeing firsthand what ourcustomers are asking for and
what our employees want.
You know, I just yesterday wewere having a team meeting and I
was like Primp is so uniquebecause I've all of us in this
room are our customers and so,you know, I was asking everyone
to go around and I was like,where did you shop on Black
Friday?
Like, what are you shopping for?
(18:56):
Like we can, we can channel ourown shopping habits and what we
want.
And it's like if you're lookingfor a really cute embellished
blazer, like tell me so I canlook for it in the market,
because you're you know, if youwant it, probably our customers
want it.
And I think that allows us tobe so reactive and also stay
ahead of the curve at the sametime, if you can do both and our
(19:20):
vendors are really, reallytrendy and have a lot of pieces
that are really fashion forwardthat we can kind of sometimes
try to find the Minnesotaversion of that super trendy
piece.
It's always what we strive for.
Nothing's too crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Just put a loon on it , yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
That always works too .
Speaker 1 (19:42):
What would you say as you know because here you are
now you're opening your seventhstore Some of the some of, as a
female business owner too someof the challenges that you've
run into over the years if youwere speaking to some younger
people who are like you knowwhat I have such a passion to
get into fashion, which I feellike that's been a theme for you
(20:04):
, and such a driving force isit's in your core, is going back
to that reason and that why,why do I do this and it it?
When we're able to do somethingthat really lights that fire
with it within us.
And if you can do it for aliving, then power to you.
And I feel like that is whatand I speak from experience too
(20:25):
I love community, I love realestate, I love helping people
turn a house into a home and getconnected within their
community.
So that's what drives me allthe time, even when things are
stressful and things get hard.
But with younger people who arelooking at it and want to
aspire to doing what you'redoing, what would be some advice
that you would give them Ifyou're looking back at that 16
(20:50):
year old self of yours?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh man, I you know.
I think the biggest thing toeven just echo what you were
saying is to really dig deepinto what is the why?
Because you know, fashion isit's, it's our creative
expression for some people, notfor everyone, some is just, you
know, function and necessity andall the things that you know.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
My husband would probably say that yeah, I do
have more of a function andnecessity, yeah, I need help in
that area, and so what I'mhearing is I probably could walk
right into primp and they wouldtell me they would help me with
fit and things like that.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
And I think that for me, that is that's what gets me
excited is the connections.
Like is helping people throughfeeling good.
You know, I think that if andmaybe it is more of a creative
expression if you love fashionbecause you love getting dressed
and you love doing the makeupand you love, you know, maybe an
influencer, that kind of thatroute would be a better fit.
(21:53):
I think there's so manychannels and ways to express
what it is that you kind ofdrives that passion in you.
But you got to dig into it andfigure it out, Because I think
that if you're just there tosell clothes or just there to
try on clothes or look cute likethat's not sustainable, I don't
(22:15):
think long term.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Exactly that's.
That's not the thing that willkeep you going, especially when
you get into later in life,where then you're married and
you have children and you haveother obligations and somehow
you have to get all of this done.
I think you're right Going backto that, that passion, that,
that that eternal internal flame.
(22:36):
Yeah, exactly, exactly it soundscorny as all get out, but it's
so true.
Holding on to that and I thinkthat's that's a common thread,
when I'm fortunate to be able tospeak to a lot of business
owners and it does seem to be acommon thread is the reason why
they did it in the first place,because a lot of times, retail
(22:57):
can be a very thankless business.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Oh yes, you get to deal with all kinds of people
coming in, but always need tokind of maintain a smile.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
It is, and this time of year, I mean what I've been
telling my team as we're gearingup for holiday and as we were
gearing up for, obviously, BlackFriday and a huge weekend is
just reminding people that thisis the time or reminding my
employees, I should say this isthe time when so many people
come in that hate shopping.
Like because I have to rightthey have to shop, or they don't
(23:27):
have to, but they're.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
No, you have to.
I've been told to stop showingup in my pajamas at work.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
They have to put on clothes and I think you know you
have men that are coming inbuying gift cards or
grandmothers coming in to pickout a sweater thing you know,
for gifts, and I think that itis so important that we still
service them and that we'restill being kind and still warm
and welcoming and offering themthe beverage and offering to
(23:54):
take their bags or their coat orwhatever, and if they're coming
in to make a return, that it'sit just.
It's so important to me that wecontinue to just be kind and
it's it should not beproprietary, but it is like it
really is just noticing thecustomer, welcoming them.
Like that will forever bringpeople back in and build that
(24:16):
sense of community which I thinkis what makes us small and
makes us primp and why I thinkso many people love to shop with
us.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Well, I think it's testament to just the fact that
you now have seven stores says alot to that.
That is that type of a culturethat would keep people coming
back.
What do you think is next?
Oh, is it just, you know,expanding primp?
It's is there.
I'm curious.
Is there anything else that youhave your eye on that you're
(24:44):
interested in doing?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, I mean, I definitely, I'm definitely still
expanding primp.
I hope to open at least anotherstore, maybe a couple of stores,
in the next year or two.
But I think recently I've hadthis such a strong passion for
just moms and women and thatI've met at print but also just
(25:08):
in my friends, my friendshipsand it's.
I think there's thisoverwhelming sense of anxiety
and loneliness and I just thinkthere's something there that I
really am passionate aboutbringing women together and
finding ways to do that.
I mean, I love fashion and Ithink that it's a very
(25:29):
vulnerable place when you'reshopping and your body is
changing and all the things thatyou're trying to find,
something that makes you feelgood, but and I think that's a
channel to maybe reach women ina unique way.
But but yeah, I think that justpost pandemic I didn't come in
here wanting to talk about thepandemic, but it's a piece of us
(25:51):
, our world and our assistantpeople but I think that we're
just as a community and as womenand as moms, I think, still
suffering the kind of trauma ofthat season of life, of being a
mom, of being an employee orbeing a business owner, or being
a partner or friend during thatseason, and I think we need to
(26:13):
tend to that now.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Well, I can't wait to see what you do.
I'm hoping that you'll share itwith us.
I got a feeling we're going tohave you back on to be able to
be hearing about whatever thatis.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Can't wait.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
What is the best way for people to connect with you
who kind of want to follow whatyou're doing?
What's going on with Prim Is it?
Would it be a website orthrough social media?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yes, all of those.
We have a website,primp-boutiquecom, yet also our
website.
You can see where our productis available in stores.
You can see all of ourlocations on Instagram or print
boutique, facebook, printboutique, tiktok all the all the
platforms.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
You can find you everywhere.
Yes, well, that's wonderful.
Thank you so much for coming inand for sharing that, and I
really look forward to hearingwhat is coming next.
Thank you very much for havingme.
Yes, Everybody else.
I will talk to you later.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.