Moms Tell All Series: A Golden Afternoon
Introducing: A vision come to life! My "Moms Tell All” Series. A mashup of motherhood, entrepreneurship, the plot & the twists, the good, bad, and maybe even the ugly! I am on a mission with this series to shine a BRIGHT LIGHT on some of the amazingly badass women of our community, running incredible & successful companies, telling their stories, and letting their voices be heard!
My first stop, meeting Jennifer - the owner of Golden. Now - in true “mom-prenure” fashion, I myself show up with my 3-year-old son in tow. He made it very clear that his interests lied mainly in where he could make a fort, and when we were leaving. Luckily, Jennifer is a mom to 2 sweet boys herself & can appreciate some of these silly boy mom moments. Meeting other moms with whom I share similar interests with just gives me butterflies. I knew since following @theshopgolden on Instagram, & Jennifer’s personal page, that we would click! Her mom was helping out at the store that day, and I instantly knew I had picked the perfect first. First “interview”, first pop-by, first real person-to-person introduction as Courtney - Simply Snohomish blog owner.
Jennifer’s boutique, Golden, is located just North of first street, off Bickford. She has been there for 3 years now! She has had this vision of owning this store since she was 22, after working many years in all facets of retail. “The dollar amount to start something was so jarring and seemed so unattainable. It took me nearly 10 years of cold feet, not knowing where to start - but was always my end goal” Jennifer explained to me while we discussed how Golden came to fruition. It’s so true! Sometimes our dreams and goals can be scary, but the best risks in life usually are - and I am certain Jennifer is thankful she took the leap. Her last job before taking her leap was managing a boutique in Ballard. She loved it so much, and it was there that she realized that she could do this on her own and carry out her vision.
At the time, she was a new mom! Talk about a relatable moment here - taking on new businesses as new moms. Been there a few times! There is a sense of empathy, but also empowerment, knowing all the things we want in life, our careers, relationships & more doesn’t just go away or have to stop when your “mom era” begins. Jennifer launched her online business in Sept 2018 after leaving her job to stay home with her then 6-month-old son. She grew a large following and customer base online first. Her online customers are still loyal and remain a large pillar of her business. This solid foundation was the reason she was able to then open her brick-and-mortar location here in Snohomish!
Her tips for balancing motherhood as a business owner:
1. Find your pockets of time
2. Have medium expectations
3. Involve your family!
Jennifer adds: ”As hard as it is when your kids are little, waking up before they do - even though it doesn’t always work, really is very helpful! But there are definitely times where you’re up at 5:30am, and your kids just sense it, so just make sure to have those medium expectations here.”
Jennifer also explained how she and her husband discuss their priorities often, so that they all feel accomplished at the end of the day. For example, if she gets home from work and still has to finish up some loose ends - they talk about it before they arrive home and the expectations are already set, and they can adjust accordingly to the others needs. Brilliant! Sometimes it is so helpful to hear what other people are doing that works for them, and I am always fascinated by those with solid routines because I’m kind of a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ type of person at times.
The most rewarding part of being a business owner thus far - was the community she didn’t know she needed. Being part of a small town just cultivates a level of support that you just don’t get elsewhere. It keeps her going, and you can really tell she is just beaming with pride and joy. “I really feel lucky that I’ve gotten to do both. I have gotten to be both a stay-at-home mom, and I’ve gotten to work.” We both resonated with wanting to financially provide for your family without having to clock in to a typical 9-5 job, and are truly blessed to be able to pull it off. She also loves when someone new comes in that she doesn’t know! The organic relationships are so special. To see your hard work, getting your name and brand out there pay off. Seeing the story come to life through what someone is purchasing is equally as special. For example, when a mom comes in to shop for her daughter’s graduation - seeing them wear something she helped pick out, to create those special memories is priceless. When things like this just happen after you feel like you were pushing a snowball up a hill for so long, it just feels like it’s all coming together.
Being a business owner has it’s challenges, as we all know! For her it is making sure she continues to analyze her bottom line. “Ultimately, we are in business to make money! I look at each item as dollars, and really pay attention to year-by-year numbers. What doesn’t work, what does work - and fixing it”. She explained. She used the term “tuning up your business” - which I LOVED. And removing your ego from items that you loved but didn’t sell is also important!
I loved hearing how she incorporates her style and inspiration into Golden. As a Fashion major myself, I just had to ask! Jennifer’s inspiration comes from those around her. She tries really hard to envision who she could see wearing a specific item out of a group of 5 of her family and friends. Involving your family and friends in your business endeavors just sweetens the deal that much more.
I can’t say enough good things about Jennifer and her beautiful store! If I said it all, I would be giving it away! If you have not yet ventured up Bickford to pay her a visit, I highly recommend! The last Saturday of every month, the entire store and website is 20% off! “Golden Saturday” is the 24th of this month, be sure to swing by or shop her website at this link!