Name: Emma March
Age: 27
Location: Arlington, Mass.
Education: B.S. in Communication from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass.
Job Title: Owner of Gracie J’s Boutique
What She Does: Emma spends her days (and nights) running a mobile boutique called Gracie J’s. She brings her merchandise to private parties in women’s homes or shopping events with other retailers. Her daily schedule includes everything from updating her website, scheduling events, and scouting new clothing designers including Nick & Mo, Voom, Under the Canopy, and Zoa.
How She Got Her Gig: The mobile-boutique concept “was really by accident,” Emma explains. “I wanted to have a storefront, [but] when I sat down with an accountant, he said that wasn’t financially feasible unless I had a major investor.” Rather than “wait for some money to fall out of the sky,” Emma decided to work out of her house and sell clothing at parties and special events until she had enough of a following to create a brick-and-mortar store. She also got involved with the Boston chapter of Ladies Who Launch to help her network and build her business.
Feminine Inspiration: “My whole concept was inspired by the women in my life who are so creative and talented,” Emma says. “Losing both my grandmothers put things into perspective.” In fact, the name Gracie J. comes from them: One had the middle name Grace and the other had the first name Jean, so it’s a blend of their names, she says.
Dress for Success: In addition to selling clothing, Emma also offers consultations to women who want to clean out their closet and spruce up their wardrobe. “It’s really about making them comfortable in their own clothing,” says Emma, a self -described “jeans and T-shirt girl.” “But everybody needs a dress that they feel like a million bucks in, a dress that they can wear on a date or to work or for a special occasion.”
Setting Boundaries: Emma admits that she has a tough time shutting off her computer at the end of the day. “I don’t know when to cut myself off,” she says. “I try to cram in way more than I’m capable of, but I’m trying to learn to say no.” She’s also interviewing interns so she’ll be able to spend more time looking at the big picture rather than dealing with all the details.
Go With Your Gut: “Listen when your gut speaks. No one else is going to make your business grow but you,” she says. “I can’t show up to an event and expect people to buy stuff, I have to be proactive and talk to people. I have to be my biggest advocate.”
This Job’s for You if: You’re ready to pour your heart and soul into your business. “It doesn’t work without passion and soul,” she says. “You really have to be able to connect with people and really, truly care about why they’re talking to you.”
