Joy Boutique in Quakertown curates a variety of inclusive sizes and styles for customers while encouraging them to find happiness in the everyday.
Rachel K. Carson
Owner
Tell us a little bit about your professional background and what initially inspired you to open Joy Boutique.
I have always had a huge passion for fashion! All throughout college, I worked at Ann Taylor LOFT while I minored in clothing and textiles at Liberty University. I knew that, eventually at some point in my life, I wanted to own my own clothing store of some sort. I always found an amazing correlation between fashion and helping women. I always enjoyed helping women feel beautiful and find their inner beauty through the means and power of a great outfit. Opening Joy Boutique was my goal to help every woman, no matter her age or body type, to find something that makes her feel gorgeous inside and out.
What is the meaning behind the shop's name?
I actually created Joy Boutique while sitting on my dorm room bed my sophomore year of college! I was in a fashion merchandising class and was assigned a project to create a storefront, brand and business concept for a store all my own—Joy Boutique was created in that moment. I named the business Joy Boutique because I am a big believer that there is a reason to find joy every day in life. In the Bible, joy is defined as “gladness not based on circumstance,” meaning that happiness can be found in every moment of life, whether it is a great day or a bad day, sorrowful or glad. There is always something we can find happiness in. Therefore, I wanted to create a place that, no matter what your day, you would be able to find a sliver of joy in our store. That translates to the clothes too—no matter what the occasion, you'll be able to find something at Joy Boutique for that agenda.
What was the experience of opening a retail shop in the middle of a global pandemic like?
Challenging to say the least! We originally planned on opening back in spring 2020; however, when the lockdowns occurred, we had to take a step back and be patient until a better economic time. It has not been easy—with so many at home, many people are not going to work or out and about like they used to, hence not as much need for style! However, we are doing our best to adapt to the times and create chic and cozy options for home. Our customers and local community are the most supportive and encouraging people and we are so grateful—our amazing support base is what keeps us going. We are beyond grateful for that, so thank you!
Describe the variety of clothing and sizes that you carry!
We are proud to carry an array of clothing and sizes. We carry sizes XS through 3X. We strive to supply many choices in a variety of sizes as well as different styles to meet the needs of our customers' preferences and tastes.
Talk a little bit about the jewelry and gift options you have available.
We have a full jewelry collection, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and more, which are unique and one-of-a-kind pieces. Roughly half of our jewelry collection is handmade locally in the U.S. Supporting women-owned businesses near and far as well as supporting local businesses in our community is very important to us. We have a gift table that is always stocked with fun, unique choices that are perfect gifting items for others or yourself!
Is there one item that just continually flies off the shelf?
We have two items that are extremely popular at Joy Boutique—the first is our “Waffle Knit Wide V-Neck Cozy Sweater” and the other is our “Heather Swing Plus Dress.” Both are soft, comfortable and no-itch. They are effortless style pieces, which we believe is what makes them such great sellers—stylish in a pinch and can be worn and styled numerous different ways. We constantly are getting them in in different colors and these items definitely don't stick around for long.
What do you love about being based in Quakertown?
I have lived in Quakertown for almost 10 years and this town is home. I love the people, the atmosphere and everything about Quakertown! The best part of Quakertown, however, is the small, close community feel. We are exceptionally grateful to be part of the downtown borough community. Everyone here was beyond welcoming when we opened and did everything they could to help ensure our successful start.
What trends or offerings are you looking forward to this spring?
The color palettes of spring/summer 2021 are absolutely stunning. There are soft Easter palette colors with some great pops of colors in blues and pinks that really are stunning and energizing—they offer hope and brightness of better days ahead! I also am very excited about some of the great trends such as silver as the prime metal color, minimalism styling and the return of workwear as a prominent style. We are seeing such great pieces in runway and are excited to bring everyday options that reflect these trends to our boutique in the upcoming months!
245 W. Broad St., Quakertown | 610.615.8761 | joyboutiquepa.com
