We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Johanna Gleason. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Johanna below.
Johanna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I always had a great sense of fashion and how clothes are supposed to express the way you feel. I was taught at a very young age of just watching the way my father would dress. I really looked up to him when it came to dressing and I still do. I always knew I wanted to have a business one day from an early age, but the question was for what and how do I make this happen? The greatest invention we hold within ourselves is our eyes and minds, to which we will see the most sadden things around us. I want to create something so deep that any women who can relate to it because we are still within a process of accepting our bodies. Which means accepting clothes that are not made for our bodies. I remember looking at women that are curvy and asking myself ” she is such a beautiful woman but why is she not dressing like it or how she should see herself?” ” Why is she buying clothes that doesn’t even match her personality?” “Why should she cover herself up to make the other person feel better about themselves because of their body size, she isn’t allowed to wear what she wants?” But my biggest question to myself was ” Why are these plus size women paying more for their clothes because it takes more material to make them? “So plus size women have to degrade themselves for clothes?” It broke my heart just to see these women dealing with this, even women that I am close with. I wanted to relate to women because let’s be honest, I have been there. I have been all sizes there are. I have been a size 10 to a size 16 and back and forth, again and again. I have dealt with weight issues all my life and feeling how I need to look like the next girl, which no women should ever feel like that.
That’s how Jo’Ley came along and was created in 2020! Jo’Ley is a woman cheer on the next women in line. To gain confidence in your body, mind, and clothes. No women should have to make them feel less than they are, especially in clothes that don’t lift up your spirit. So, my process in looking at clothes, I had to research so many different vendors that believed in sizes 0 – 6x and there is not that many vendors that support the size going pass 3x. So, my question to myself was ” how can these vendors promote plus size, when they only go up to a certain size?” So, I make it my mission to have all SIZES at my boutique and not clothes that is going to damage your confidence. I want you to wear clothes that are chic, classy, and uplifting. Now over the years, my biggest dream is to have a line of my own one day that will have every size that will fit that person’s needs.
I have taken Jo’Ley in other directions then just women. As, being the owner of Jo’Ley, the store is all about my life and background. I have taken it to home decor, jewelry, beauty, and my favorite collection is my baby to children’s clothes, just for boys. I am a mother of two boys and one thing I hate is there is no over the top boy clothes. They are boring and not up to style. I thought it was time to bring boys clothes into a next level, which I am almost done working on the collection.
Johanna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Johanna Gleason. I was born and raised in Sun Prairie, WI. I am a mother to, 2 wonderful boys named Jayden and River. From a very young age I would watch how my father would dress. From shirts, pants, shoes, hats, and always had jewelry on. He always stood out no matter where we went but his confidence is what made his stand tall. I remember going to him as a young girl and asking him what he thought of my outfits or how could he help me match them. He would always say ” now remember, white and black go with anything. You can never go wrong with that.” No matter what outfit I chose to wear that day. He would always have something sweet to say to me to give me that inner glow, which it worked! See, my father had plenty of different styles that depended on where he was going and the mood, he was in. It felt amazing to have people come up to me and ask where I got my jackets or shoes from and the only real answered that I had was ” my daddy give them too me.” People would be shocked by that answer because of his taste when it came to fashion. I was more than glad to brag about that.
As, I got older I always knew from being a little girl that I wanted to do something with clothes. I wanted to create something that gave insight on me and who I am. I wanted something that people could connect with because of their personal live struggles within themselves. When I first wanted to start a business, I already knew what I wanted and that was clothes. As, the Jo’Ley was created it became way deeper than I expected. It came to the point how can I be different than other boutiques? What is going on in the world that was being addressed but still not making that much progress.? Why is there this little amount of clothes for plus size women in the back of the store? It was like those stores were ashamed to even have a section that went above a size 14. What really got me was seeing the option of clothes that these women had to choose from and the look on their faces just looking at them. There was no excitement, no joy, and just no confidence as they were looking at the clothes. I just felt really disappointed in the clothing industry. I knew how they felt because I was that young girl all the way into my early adult years that had no self-worth because I wasn’t anything under a size 14. I was told that I couldn’t wear clothes like everyone else because of my body type. It just wasn’t accepting because no one was my body size. It made me feel small and not worthy to love myself or no will love because of my body type.
The problem solving and what makes Jo’Ley so different from other boutiques was I had to do my research on plus size. When it came to sizes, I actually asked women what they are looking for when it comes to their body types. I really took my time looking at different vendors that just didn’t say ” we support plus sized.” but actually showed it by the sizes. I look for vendors that have sizes from 0- 6x. Most vendors only go up to a size 3x. The next step was looking at the material and different styles. My question I always ask myself when it comes ordering clothes. ” Would I wear this?” because I just don’t put anything on my website. When it comes to pricing my items, I make sure that item is the same price no matter what size it is. I don’t think it is right to charge more on clothes because that item needed to be made with more material, which so many stores do that.
I am very proud of how far Jo’Ley has grown into what it is as of today. Jo’Ley is about empowerment, confidence, selflove, and body positivity, no matter your body size or taste in clothes. To take that experience we gave you and you pass it along to the next women. All are welcomed to shop at Jo’Ley and I really take pride into putting all of me into my business.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Having a social platform is VERY important to get your name out there. I can’t express enough how hard it was in the beginning to tell people about your business. You can get overlooked very easily and people can miss judge you. Post content every day! Even if it just a reel or you post 5 pictures. The things that I do are, that I chose the content I will be posting for that day. I first start on Facebook and work my way with that post through all my social medias. I think the next most important thing you need to do is create ads on all those social platforms. The best thing that I have done so by far is networking with other businesses owners by sharing their products vs that they will do the same for me. You will build wonderful relationships with those other small businesses too.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I know a lot of people are in the same boat that I am in when it comes to funding their business. I funded my own business with my own money out of my pocket and the money that I get from sales. I know so many other people who how told me over and over again, that I need to get grants or go to the bank to open a line of credit. I personally think I don’t want to put myself in a line of jeopardy by open a line of credit just at this moment. I could see myself doing but years down the road, when I get where I want to be with Jo’Ley. I have looked into grants, but each grant is different when it comes to what you do in your business and the state you live in. It is something that I will look into in due time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://joleyboutique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joleyboutique
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoLey-Boutique-102051895840788
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joleyboutique1995/