Community Highlights: Meet Sarah Jabbour of SCOOBIE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Jabbour.

Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started the business a little over 9 years ago as a side hustle while working a full-time marketing job, with the hopes of one day being able to open a store of my own. After the first three years, I was able to leave my 9-5 job to continue to grow and expand the business with the continued goal of one day having my own storefront. It has been a long road to get to this point, but so glad the past has led us to the Prairie Village space today!

SCOOBIE has been open for nine years and has been a part of multiple co-op spaces around the KC Metro area (from downtown KC to Leawood to the West Bottoms). I have also helped market our business by the popping-up shop at events big and small, and at one point offered personalized style services. I worked out of our home office in Prairie Village for seven years, until building out our current Prairie Village store in 2019 (the space did not have plumbing, walls, electrical-we started from scratch on the buildout!).

It has been a goal of mine since the business started to have my own storefront-and have loved having our own store for the last 2 1/2 years. With the opening of the shop, we also re-introduced our online shop, where we also add about 90% of the product that is available in-store!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, gosh-never! We wanted to start our own storefront from the beginning but lacked the capital that the bank was willing to give us (we were fresh out of college!). I started the business then as a side hustle with the goal of one day owning my own store. We would pop up all over the KC metro and beyond in people’s homes and for events big and small-sometimes 5x a week.

I attempted to start my own storefront in both Lawrence and in Prairie Village over the last 6 years but both opportunities did not work out. I started in co-opts in various places in the city, so while we were smaller-I was able to make mistakes on a smaller scale with less overhead as well as get to know our target markets-which was super helpful!

As you know, we’re big fans of SCOOBIE. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
SCOOBIE is a women’s clothing boutique offering unique finds at affordable prices. (Before Covid), I traveled the country to hand-select our inventory in order to find the best quality pieces at the best prices. We love to touch and feel everything! During Covid times, we have bought over video calls or still in person at smaller markets that have traveled to KC, and thankfully, I have been able to get back to the major markets in the last 6 months!

Most of our items are under $100 in order to keep the inventory in our store affordable to a large group of fashion-loving women! Almost all of our accessories are made by local KC artists and businesses as well! I love supporting other women in our community! Our family is very much a part of the Prairie Village community and with living just a few minutes from the Prairie Village shops, we are up at the shops multiple times a week. I have loved getting to know the shop owners in the center, and it is an honor and a privilege to now be amongst this prestigious group of businesses-truly a dream come true!

I truly am in love with fashion! It is a genuine passion of mine that I want to share with others. I have worked in the retail world since I was fourteen and have always loved coordinating outfits and helping people look and feel their best. I have worked everywhere from Limited Too, to Nordstrom, to lululemon to local boutiques in both Kansas City and Lawrence while attending college.

It is so rewarding to see the confidence in someone once he/she is in a well-fitted and styled outfit. I have been able to create my own style and develop our own brand through our locations, and I love sharing our finds with all our amazingly supportive customers—they truly make my world go around!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I do love the podcast: ‘How I Built This’ It shares stories of how successful businesses in all industries got started and how they have overcome challenges. It is so inspiring!

Contact Info:

• Email: sarah@shopscoobie.com
• Website: www.shopscoobie.com
• Instagram: @shopscoobie
• Facebook: @shopscoobie

Image Credits
Anna Petrow, Emily Penke, Samantha Holli Creative, and Meg Cusick Photography