Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Kirk.
Haley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Opening a boutique has been a dream I’ve had since I was 12 when I realized I can’t draw and sewing frustrates me. I studied business at the University of Oklahoma and double majored in Entrepreneurship and Marketing with my store in mind. I’ve worked in both small and large retail environments and it was in college working at a little boutique on Campus Corner called Blush that I found exactly what felt like the right fit.
After graduating, I worked a 9-5 cubicle job I always swore I’d never do. For the next 5 years I was doing all kinds of marketing for recruiting firms and recruiting franchises and their franchisees. I learned a great deal that I later used to refine my business. I loved the people I worked with too so even though sitting in a cube Monday through Friday wasn’t something I saw myself doing long term it was a great experience for me.
Fast forward a little and I’ve now got my boutique that is up and running and gaining ground in Historic Downtown McKinney. Just to get the doors open was a challenge like I’ve never faced. I’m talking blood, sweat and tears – and I mean, literally for each of those.
Without my family and the support of those closest to me I’m sure I would have many more breakdowns to get to this point. My dad was my contractor and cheap labor, my mom helped with buying trips and cleaning, both of my grandfathers had a hand in things like lighting and building risers and tables and my sisters pitched in with odds and ends as they could. They truly were what helped keep me somewhat sane through the stress of getting up and running.
Taking the risk of quitting my job and putting all of my life savings into this store was a big step for me, something I’ve had excuses for putting it off for the last 5 years and I’m so glad I finally took the plunge.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wish I could say it was all rainbows and sunshine getting 31ten up and running but that would be a huge lie. Working with an old building, like the space we are in now, had a number of interesting challenges from needing to tear out and paint over a never ending amount of black, refinishing old wood floors, making a number of minor but time consuming changes to bring it up to code, never ending cleaning, etc.
Money, budgeting and working with the bank always seems to have its own set of struggles. As well as working with the city, especially in the historic district, to get all the permits approved. In both cases finding the right individual to work with was key. My banker was able to speak my language and work as the go between for me, ensuring I got the funding when I needed it. At the city, I was eventually able to find one woman who went above and beyond by telling me where to go, who to speak with and giving me realistic timelines (we ran into a timing issue with permits and our grand opening was a month later than we had planed for).
I’m sure like any other business owner there are a number of other things that we’ve gone through just to get our doors open that didn’t go as planned but that seems par for the course looking back on the process. I do have to say I never knew I had as much patience in me as I’ve needed to call upon during the journey to get from idea to reality with 31ten.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 31ten story. Tell us more about the business.
31ten is a women’s clothing, accessories and gifts boutique in Historic Downtown McKinney. We carry trendy yet affordable items. You won’t find anything above $90 in our store. Our customers encompass a wide demographic from high school age girls, women in their 20s on up to 40s and 50s easily. We want 31ten to be an inviting environment for everyone.
We have a mezzanine area above our store that will be perfect for hosting the after hours private shopping parties, sip and shops, hand lettering classes, and a number of other fun events we have planned for our customers in the coming months. We are finalizing the first few events now and can’t wait to share them with our customers.
Our store itself has bits of historic charm, like many of the businesses on the square. The Historic Downtown McKinney Square itself is a great mix of businesses, southern charm, history and a sense of community. We love being a part of the square. There is always one event or another going on and a great deal of people who come to the square as a destination not just find it by chance.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Honestly I don’t think I typically have good luck per say. During the process of getting up and running we definitely hit some unlucky situations, but overall I’d say it has more to do with hard work and the effort and time you put into your business that make things work or not. There are only a certain amount of variables you have control over and if you put in 110% things usually have a way of working out. Those that don’t, I’ve learned weren’t meant to be and looking back there is usually a very good reason they didn’t.
Pricing:
- Nothing over $90
Contact Info:
- Address: 211 N Tennessee St
McKinney, TX 75069 - Website: www.shop31ten.com
- Phone: 972.542.5655
- Email: haley@shop31ten.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop31ten/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shop31ten/
Image Credit:
Heather Buckley Photography
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