Exploring Life & Business with Claire Engelken of KB&Co and Stripes Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Engelken.

Hi Claire, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My first job ever was in retail, and I’ve always loved shopping and helping to style family and friends. But I never envisioned a career in fashion; I went to the University of Arizona and got a journalism degree. After that, I taught English in South Korea for 3 years, and then came home and got my Master’s degree in Education from the University of Kansas. After grad school, I was really burnt out of teaching and wanted a break, so in 2016 I got a job at KB&Co, a new collective boutique that was opening in downtown Lawrence.

I was there working the register on opening day, which is such a special memory for me. After that things really started to fall into place; within a year I became KB&Co’s first manager. And in 2018 I opened Stripes Boutique, which is inside KB&Co. And in 2020, I purchased KB&Co from Kristie Bowen. So this is not at all where I pictured myself, but everything came together organically and I just kept taking the next right step. And I think that has to lead me exactly where I’m supposed to be.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. KB&Co and Kristie Bowen really nurtured my talents and my interests – they gave me such a safe space to learn how to manage people, to learn about the Lawrence market, and to learn from the incredible store owners inside KB&Co. This gave me the confidence to open Stripes Boutique. And starting my own business and running it for 2 years gave me the confidence to buy KB&Co. That was all pretty smooth.

However 2 months after I bought KB&Co, COVID hit. Running a retail business during COVID was full of struggles – everything from the obvious health and safety concerns to dealing with continuous supply chain issues. The hardest part was that no one had answers – there wasn’t a more experienced store owner that I could turn to for advice, we were all learning on the fly together. It was a very uncertain, scary time. 2022 has felt like a recovery year, and I’m so grateful we made it to this point.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
KB&Co is a collective boutique, which means we have 13 boutiques all coming together to flow like one large store. (Including my own, Stripes Boutique) All of our boutiques are small, women-owned businesses. A collective boutique allows us all to benefit from each other and to have an incredible location in downtown Lawrence. Because of our amazing stores, KB&Co is able to offer women’s apparel, footwear, accessories, gifts, and home decor to a wide range of customers.

We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shop for women, regardless of age, size, budget, or style. Having 13 boutiques in one means that we have 13 different stylistic viewpoints and I think that really sets us apart in the retail space. I am most proud of the fact that all of our stores are small, female-owned businesses. These women care so much, they work so hard, and they add so much to their local communities. It’s my absolute pleasure to provide an atmosphere where all of our businesses can thrive.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I could fill up pages and pages with all of the incredible people who have helped to make KB&Co and Stripes successful. First and foremost, Ashley Carson (who owns Ash Boutique in Topeka) and Kristie Bowen have mentored me personally and professionally for years. They are both wildly talented and successful and I continue to learn from them constantly. My parents gave me the push to actually start Stripes Boutique and have been helpful and supportive every step of the way.

My mom has been an assistant buyer for Stripes since day 1 – she is so talented and has been an invaluable supporter, motivator, and cheerleader. It’s hard for me to picture Stripes without her involvement. My sister-in-law, my brothers, and my niece and nephew are huge supporters and sources of motivation. I always want to make them proud. And of course my partner Jeff deserves so much credit. I started Stripes out of our 1 bedroom apartment – it was stressful and crowded and he just rolled with it. He believes in me and the business 100%. He is also responsible for building displays all over KB&Co. He’s the best business and life partner I could have.

Professionally, I am grateful every day for the store owners inside KB&Co. Their creativity and work ethic are so inspirational and KB&Co would not be successful without them. I’ve also been fortunate to meet and learn from so many female business owners in Lawrence – these women do incredible things in the community. And last but certainly not least, the KB&Co employees are the best!

They are creative and funny and bring so much to the table – they are a huge source of motivation and inspiration to me. And so much of that credit goes to Jaycee, our manager. She is smart, organized, and incredibly capable and competent, no matter the challenge or task. It is a joy to work alongside her.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopkbandco.com
• Instagram: @shopkbandco
• Facebook: KB & Co.