They’re two best friends with a passion for style.
Alle-Kiski Valley natives Dessie Mitcheson Pilek and Jen Zatko Atchison satisfied as cheerleaders in seventh grade and graduated alongside one another from Kiski Spot Substantial School in 2009. These days, they are small business partners growing their on the web outfits business — East West Boutique — with a brick-and-mortar place in historic Vandergrift.
The new keep, at 140 Grant Ave., celebrates its grand opening nowadays.
Their business philosophy is about cheering on all females with a concept of inclusion and empowerment.
“We want to make ladies truly feel wonderful and assured in any dimension,” Atchison said.
Just after leaving their respective positions as hairstylist and X-ray technician, the pals started the on line variation of East West Boutique in Could. They started by offering women’s clothing in dimensions additional-compact to 3X by a cell app and web page, shopewb.com/keep.
Consumers are encouraged to download the free of charge East West Boutique application and tune in for the weekly “Tuesday Night Live” procuring broadcast. The display attributes Pilek, Atchison and visitor types showing 15 new clothing choices from their stock.
“One of our shoppers claimed she pours a ‘shoptail’ drink and will get cozy on the sofa and ready to store ‘Tuesday Night Dwell,’ ” Atchison said.
The growth to a brick-and-mortar spot will come after looking at their on the net profits exceed projections.
“We met our six-month income plans on the web in one month,” Pilek claimed. “We had been blown absent.”
An Apollo indigenous and prime athlete at Kiski Region, Pilek moved to Southern California 8 decades ago, operating as a model. She will commute from the West Coast to support run the shop. Atchison, elevated in Vandergrift, is married with 3 children and lives in New Kensington. Their two locations are the inspiration for the store’s title.
Each women of all ages provide as purchasers, touring to clothing markets in Dallas and other towns, selecting items that typically are not located in the Pittsburgh spot.
Prospects can expect to locate trendy sweaters, denims, dresses, outerwear, shirts, accessories, jewelry, handbags and footwear amid a renovated historic constructing featuring a large tin ceiling and exposed brick wall and hardwood floors.
“We’re contemporary Boho with a twist,” Atchison claimed. “Our motto is trend from coast to coastline.”
Clothing prices vary from $15-$75.
Atchison recalled that, as a tiny girl growing up in Vandergrift, she recognized there weren’t clothes purchasing solutions. Her mom drove her to Monroeville or other malls to purchase clothes.
“I know prior to I was born, Vandergrift experienced a good deal of buying in this article in town — this was a massive, booming location to arrive to,” Atchison stated. “Just obtaining a minor piece of that back again here once again with the up-and-coming eating places, breweries and tiny stores opening is meaningful.”
The duo are leasing a setting up that was a stylish costume store through the 1960s.
Buyers can expect a heat welcome at East West.
“We required an inviting, Boho experience, but we desired to preserve the common experience of the making,” Pilek mentioned. “We just want everybody to arrive in, find one thing they are going to really like to don but also have a enjoyable experience with us.”
In August, they sponsored a gathering at the Vandergrift pool for gals — of all ages, shapes, dimensions and health and fitness ailments — to mingle in their swimsuits and “love who you are,” Pilek said at the time.
Taylor Stein, 28, of Castle Shannon is a faithful on the internet shopper who options to show up at the grand opening this weekend. She said she routinely receives compliments while donning her East West purchases.
“Each piece is superior top quality, and I enjoy the model. Anyone can uncover one thing they are going to like,” Stein claimed. “I come to feel like a million bucks when I have on their things.”
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Assessment workers author. You can contact Joyce at 724-226-7725 , [email protected] or by using Twitter .
