Violet Boutique

Local Love: Violet Boutique

Washington DC Clothing Boutique
Violet Boutique is all the rage with its chic atmosphere and affordable prices. The popular D.C. clothing store is every Washingtonian fashionistas’ go-to spot for unique, stylish pieces that work for any occasion. We got the chance to talk to owner Julie Egermayer about her journey with Violet Boutique and of course, what she loves about the capital city.

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 How many years have you been in business?
Violet Boutique opened March 11, 2011 and we will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary this month.

What inspired the name of your business?
Honestly, I really struggled with naming the store.  I toyed with names that managed to sound high-minded, pretentious or both (it’s embarrassing to admit there were A LOT of double entendres tossed around, the absolute worst being City/State).
After a few months of naming nonsense, I stopped thinking about the name of my business representing a style or concept and more about my demographic and future customer. Right before I started the process of opening my store, I worked at Rue 14, a small clothing boutique on 14th Street, with this darling, young girl named Iris. She was fresh-faced, free spirited, sweet, excited by new prospects and experiences and I loved her casually polished, yet trendy style. Of course her name was the logical jumping off point to Violet. Once I landed there, I recognized the color could be interpreted as soft or powerful, shy or bold or a number of other dichotomies to a diverse range of customers.

How did you get into your line of work?
Age, luck and a crazy amount of determination. Obviously, like anyone who decides to go into fashion, I loved playing dress-up as a girl and always wanted to open my own clothing boutique. I don’t remember this, but according to my husband, I even told him when we first met that I was going to open one some day. How I got there was much different.
The age part: I moved to DC right after college to do the DC thing – work in politics, go to grad school, become a social worker. I’ve always been ambitious and driven, but as time passed, I started wondering who and what I was doing all this for? Around the time of my 30th birthday, I experienced a series of professional setbacks while working at a community mental health agency that left me shaken and disillusioned. I also had been depressed and unhappy for a very long time, so I decided f**k it, what did I have to lose at this point? It felt like every decision I had made up until then was for someone other than myself. I asked my husband if I could quit my job and go open my own store. I’m a very fortunate woman, because he was unbelievably supportive of my decision. So I quit my job the next day, and two weeks later, I started working part-time at the aforementioned clothing boutique and a trapeze school.

I was lucky because I have a cousin who is an incredible buyer and store owner, and having worn her clothes for years, I knew her product would sell well in DC. It was also just after the worst of the recession, and I knew young professionals would flip for the fun, trendy, budget conscious LA labels she bought from. There also weren’t any other boutiques in Washington at the time who carried these lines or had executed my concept of affordable clothing sold in a beautiful boutique with the level of customer service you would expect from a high end store. After doing my own research then working with a business coach to flesh out the concept and business plan, I recognized there really was a window of opportunity in front of me, and it was now or never.

Age and luck helped, but determination is everything. Getting into any line of work you’re passionate about doesn’t just happen – it’s a conscious choice that you live with and reaffirm every single day. When you’re a small business owner, your business lives and dies on your shoulders. Good or bad you have to choose it every day.

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What do you love most about being located in DC?
Pretty much everything. I love how DC residents are committed to shopping local and so supportive of small retail businesses. We have the greatest customers and my staff and I have had the incredible privilege of becoming a part of their lives and sharing in both their difficulties and successes.
I also love the burgeoning creative arts community, which is flourishing in part by the incomparable Morgan Hungerford West, founder of A Creative DC. I think it’s been a unique opportunity to see the various creative communities within DC unite, which is why it’s so exciting to be apart of and participate in its growth. Everyone is so nice and supportive of one another because there is room for people to find their niche and succeed.  I’ve been especially surprised by how DC creative entrepreneurs have been very open to discussing their businesses, sharing connections, collaborating and inspiring success.

Share with us and our readers an insider’s tip into your favorite spots or activities in the city.
 
At least once a year, I rent a bike and ride from the top of Rock Creek Parkway and follow the trail past the monuments and through the National Mall until I reach Union Station and metro home. It reminds me of how much I love DC and how incredibly beautiful the city it. I also think everyone should take a trapeze class at TSNY DC at least once. It’s really cool that you can learn a trick and a catch during your first class and a great activity to do with friends.
My staff will tell you that I am way too passionate about coffee and baked goods, especially the sugary kind. My favorite place to get both is Three Fifty Bakery, right off of 17th and U Street. Their cold brew coffee and mini quiches may be the best I’ve ever tasted. I also love walking to Taqueria Nacional for tacos and drinks with my girlfriends.
My secret wish (besides being a hip hop dancer) is to be a visual artist and I highly recommend taking painting classes with Dana Ellyn (dcpaintingclasses.com) for their chill vibe and to hang with Dana herself, and studio classes at Capitol Hill Art Workshop (chaw.org) and Washington Studio School (washingtonstudioschool.org). I took a drawing class with a girlfriend at WSS last fall, and was a great way for us to spend time together, as well unplug from the stresses of the work week.
Violet Boutique
Do you have a special promotion, event, or sale you’d like for our readers to know about?
Since we’re moving moving to Georgetown at the end of April, we wanted to show our appreciation for all that our neighbors in Adams Morgan have given us over the last 5 years. To celebrate our anniversary, we will be making three $1,100 donations to non-profits in the greater Adams Morgan neighborhood. We would love for our customers (and neighbors) to vote to assist us in picking the recipients. Keep an eye on our social media channels (@shopvioletdc) for updates and to cast your vote!
We will be closing our Adams Morgan location for good on April 30th and reopening at 3289 M Street NW on May 2nd.  We are so excited to move Violet to a much larger space and bring our brand and exceptional customer service to Georgetown!

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