Cassie Large is the business owner of Gracie Jane on Main, operating in Bad Axe.
Gracie Jane on Main is a boutique specializing in baby, toddler, and children’s clothing. Once she and her family returned to the Thumb from Texas, she realized the need for high-quality and unique children’s fashion. The store has different clothing that is not seen in rural stores, like big bows, frills, and ruffles.
As a full-time worker at the pulmonary clinic at McLaren Thumb Region, Cassie makes time for giving residents the best options when it comes to clothing and their kids.
The store opened just this year, and currently has limited hours, but is expected to expand as the business continues to grow. Gracie Jane on Main Children’s Boutique is located at 970 N. Van Dyke Road and is open from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays 2 to 7 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cassie and her husband Rian, have fulfilled their dream of owning their own store, which has lots high-quality children’s clothing.
Mark Birdsall/ Huron Daily TribuneQ: What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
A: Honestly, just being able to work for myself, make my own decisions, and not really having to validate them with others. I think a lot of it has to do with my parents, they have owned a trucking company for 40-plus years and just watching them work so hard since I can remember has had an impact on why I wanted to start a business. How I look at them and see how much they sacrificed day in and day out, that is how I want my girls to look at me one day.
Q: Is fashion something you have always been passionate about and how so?
A: Not really, I am the only girl with six brothers, so I grew up a tomboy. My dad did not know what to do with a girl. It wasn’t until I moved to Texas in 2009 that I really stumbled into what I liked and didn’t like in fashion. When I had my oldest daughter in 2013, I really got involved in baby/children’s fashion, like big bows, tutus, dresses, glitter, rhinestones, you know all things girly and adorable.
Q: How much research and time did it take to create a business plan and come up with the business?
A: For about seven months now I have been going back and forth on opening my business. It honestly wasn’t until I sat down with my nail tech one day that solidified the decision to take the leap. The name was the easiest part since it’s named after my two daughters. The rest, however, is definitely hard and stressful, It takes a lot of physical and financial planning. We are still planning and we opened up two months ago.
Q: What are some of the things you look for when choosing clothing to inventory in your store?
A: I am big on looking at all the item pictures and reading the descriptions of the products. I basically live by, “If it’s something I wouldn’t put my children in, I wouldn’t expect someone else to” quality-wise. I make sure that items are not going to shrink, you are getting what you pay for and I want to make sure parents are getting several wears or even several seasons out of what they purchase from us.
The store has children, baby and toddler clothing that is different what is found at other stores here in the Thumb.
Courtesy Photo/ Cassie LargeQ: What are some of the challenges you have faced since opening and how do you plan to tackle them?
A: It has been advertising to get the word out about where we are located, and what our store has to offer. I am constantly posting on my business and personal social media platforms, doing weekly live sales. We also started something new called “Deal of the Day,” which is something I choose from the store to mark down. I do these a couple of times a week. We just started market season, so we can be seen in various places this summer, this is a good way for us to get out and be known and connect with all kinds of different people.
Q: How do you want to make your mark here in Huron County?
A: We would like to be customers’ first choice of children’s clothing and special occasion gifts/items. We also would want customers to express if they are looking for certain items and our store fulfilling that request. Offering availability to customers private shopping experiences.
Q: What are some of the goals that you have for your store?
A: Just keep getting the word out of where the store is located, and what we have to offer. Doing more Facebook Lives once a week. Also being involved in community events like festivals, markets, etc. Ultimately the main goal is to have the boutique open five days a week, but I’m working full time so it’s hard and hours are limited, with Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
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