Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Rice.
Hi Janelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My love for fashion began at a young age. As a kid, I was always raiding my mom’s closet and playing dress-up. My very first job in high school was working at a local surf shop- from here, I fell in love with retail. What I loved most about retail was helping customers and merchandising the product. I began working for small boutiques and even got to work for some pretty amazing well-known brands in the fashion industry. From there I decided to major in Fashion Merchandising to further pursue my career in fashion. While I was in college, I managed a boutique in Corona Del Mar. The owner approached me to start a new concept targeting a younger clientele, which would become the sister store of the boutique I worked at. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to own a store but it was always a dream of mine. We opened a boutique in 2007, a few doors down from the store I managed. I learned so much in this new role: I got to travel to tradeshows, visit showrooms, go on buying trips, merchandise the store, learn the backend about operating a storefront and so much more. Boy did I learn a lot- I especially learned that owning a store comes with A LOT of work! It was a great learning experience, and we were able to have it for a few years, however, it did not survive the recession. Fast forward to 2013: I landed my dream job doing Visual Merchandising for Vans corporate. I learned so much in this role and met some amazing people during the seven years I was with the company. I got to travel all over the country, stay in some of the nicest hotels, open and merchandise various store concepts all over the United States- it was a career dream! Later in my career my priorities started to shift: I got married, I had my son, then had a baby girl, and once I had my daughter, I decided to pause my career and stay home. My husband was so supportive, and financially we were able to make it work with one income. Right after I left my career, the pandemic hit, and I went stir-crazy. I needed a creative outlet, so I got back into making jewelry, and once things started to open back up, I started participating in local markets. My side business began to gain momentum and I started to open up wholesale accounts in stores I had always looked up to. I found an outlet to be creative, watch my kids full time, all while becoming successful- for me, it was a win-win.
During this time, I wasn’t finding the exact style of clothing I was looking for. As a mom, I wanted to be comfortable and still be fashionable. I couldn’t find cute neutral affordable women’s clothing. So, in January 2021, I opened up a mini shop with the company Open Market OC. This company features a storefront where various small businesses can open their own space while the company runs the store for you (you are responsible for your space). I started with a small 10×10 space featuring women’s clothing, jewelry, and accessories. This lit a fire inside me, and my creativity was back! I missed my career in merchandising, and this gave me the opportunity to design a store from start to finish and merchandise all of the product that goes into it. Fast forward to almost two years with this company, and I now have six locations located in various cities within LA and Orange County. I love the concept behind these Co-Op store locations: you pay rent, you are responsible for your space, there is a central checkout, and they ring the customers up for you. As a mom with two small children, this concept is a perfect balance for me. Opening a storefront of my own is not completely off the table- it’s just not in the cards right now. My kids are still young, so being a mom is my main focus. This year I opened a 1,000 sq ft showroom/office space located in Huntington Beach, which I offer private shopping for my customers. My brand has grown immensely in these last few years, and I am so grateful for the continued support from my husband, family, friends, and customers. I still love to participate in local markets- meeting my customers in person is the absolute BEST!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I have learned so much from the very first retail store I owned back in college to owning the current mini shop spaces I have now. Some concepts that I have opened in the last two years have grown/expanded, while some have failed and closed. It has all been a learning experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I have sacrificed a lot with this business. I have missed out on a lot of events and even family trips. I know that the end goal in sight is worth all of this hard work and sacrifice. At times I feel like I work 24/7; when you are your own boss, the work is never done. There is always something to do, but the amazing part of it all is that I am able to run this business with my children by my side. Being able to teach and show them how to work hard (for yourself) is priceless. Also, if my business can survive Covid and the shutdown, I know I will be able to push through any obstacles that happen along the way of this journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Moonchylde Collective originally started as a jewelry brand, and since then, has evolved into a complete women’s boutique featuring curated clothing, quality jewelry (handmade by me), home decor, apothecary, and various ethically sourced small brands. My goal is for the women that shop with me to, first and foremost, feel cute and comfortable. I hand-select all of the apparel, ensuring that it is soft to the touch yet still stylish. I am known for neutrals and pink, of course! You can always find our signature pink arch painted by the talented Palmer of The Salt Air Collective- no store is complete without it. I think what sets me apart from everyone else is that the style of my mini shops are cohesive, curated, and have a vibe to them. I am most proud of how much this brand has grown and how it is becoming recognized. I am blown away when I meet someone at a market or in passing, and they know my brand. At the end of the day, I am just a mom of two kids- typically in yoga pants, hair in a bun, hustling this small business of mine. I feel gratitude every day that I have the opportunity to wake up and do this for a living.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I absolutely love Huntington Beach! I have lived here for 16 years. The beach is my favorite part, and I love the laidback vibe of this community. My best-performing store is located at Pacific City, and it is an absolute dream to be able to have my clothing and jewelry available at this location. I love the support of this community, anytime I have a market my customers show up, and the support is huge! I wish the rent was more affordable so that one day I could open a store of my own in this beautiful city!
Pricing:
- Clothing $18-$100
- Jewelry $15-$50
- Home Decor $5-$80
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moonchyldecollective.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/moonchyldecollective
Image Credits
Amie Jones
