If you come across oneself at Ritte’s Corner, the strange five-way intersection in Covington’s Latonia neighborhood, get a instant and appear at the storefronts that encompass you.
They offer fabrics and espresso, classic armchairs and outfits. They are purveyors of natural beauty and wellness, heritage and style.
And they are predominantly owned by women of all ages.
Ten female organization house owners (soon to be 11) operate 13 enterprises in the Latonia Business District.
And it is not a coincidence.
Billie Kegley and Chris Kidwell are the unofficial ringleaders of the team. Kegley owns the Roost Latonia, alongside with Mona Lisa’s Collections and an incubator, Blondielocks and the A few Chairs. Kidwell opened her boutique, Regional Studio 325, a calendar year and a 50 percent ago.
“It’s the first atmosphere where I have felt rooted … and supported,” clarifies Kegley. “In just about every part.”
Latonia: Women of all ages business enterprise house owners supporting each and every other
I fulfilled with Kegley and Kidwell and the other woman business enterprise proprietors to sip tea, delight in lively conversation, and study why this group of females functions so effectively together.
“It’s incredibly supportive,” Kidwell claims. “We coordinate a good deal of activities, functions and gross sales keep-to-shop. It’s us coming alongside one another outside of our particular person spots. We’re able to come alongside one another, brand name with each other, marketplace together. I feel which is the actual difference.”
Paula Miller is one particular of the house owners of Ruwe Family members Pharmacy, and has worked at Ritte’s Corner for 25 decades. Kelly Niceley opened All-around the Corner Fabrics just before Thanksgiving past year. Equally have found what a supportive group of enterprises can do for each and every other – and for the bottom line.
“I cherished the feel of Latonia right before I even made a decision to open up,” says Niceley. “As a client I’d appear in and introduce myself. Then when I got concerned with (the other feminine company homeowners), not only are they empowering on the company facet, they’re empowering on the emotional, lady facet.”
Miller claims the inflow of new, artistic enterprises has “definitely introduced men and women down, introduced new people today seeking all over. Individuals wander in on a Saturday – that by no means utilized to transpire.”
Angie Williams just celebrated her initial anniversary as owner of Angie’s Closet, but has called Latonia residence for 35 yrs. “It utilized to be a extremely dominantly male existence down right here,” she points out. “That’s exactly where the group empowerment will come from. We’re transforming factors and involving the local community as effectively.”
Like Ritte’s Corner by itself, numerous of the enterprises there have a classic feel with a mix of modern day.
“Little by tiny within just the last pair of many years, it’s kind of exploded,” claims Heather Buckley Pauly, who has owned Curated Style & Décor for 4 years. “This region is great for that. We send out all people to all the other stores to make absolutely sure men and women have the whole Ritte’s Corner Latonia knowledge.”
Their merchandise and providers are incredibly diverse, but they’ve discovered a prevalent goal in supporting fellow female enterprise proprietors – and in their like for Latonia.
“I believe this place wanted us,” states Aimee Wilson, owner of Warrior Spirit Wellness. “I imagine the electricity of the town desired a raise and we ended up the ones to do it.”
“It’s seriously strong,” points out Amy Abafo of Kealoha’s Kitchen area. She has lived as far absent as South Korea, but discovered her group in this article.
Why does it do the job? And why does it do the job here? Rachel Thompson of Head 2 Toe Salon, who has put in her full everyday living in Covington, claims it’s “spunk and character. You wander in and you are greeted with enjoy – and a close friend.”
“I imagine they see what we’re executing in this article, and they start off seeking for a spot so that they can be a part of in,” claims Kidwell.
Kegley agrees. “At initially it was like ‘girl energy!’ But when I look at it right now, it’s a neighborhood. It’s not just us. It’s the grants that have been created 10 several years in the past, it’s the associations, the businesses, the group council – those all matter.”
The interview was more than, but the fellowship was not. In the back area at the Roost, next to a cardboard cutout of the Golden Girls, these organization owners slipped ideal back into laughter and dialogue about enterprise and spouse and children, shipping and delivery and buying. This Women’s Heritage Thirty day period, these ladies are performing together to produce their own.