We were lucky to catch up with Alyssa Washington recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

At Jagged Edge Boutique we strive to provide the most unique shopping experience around. Our clothing and accessories selection are for women and girls of all styles, vibes, ages, and sizes! We take great pride in our selection, and aesthetic that our customers love. Our company slogan is ” Be Fearlessly Authentic.” Showing up as our authentic selves is something I believe in and promote heavily at Jagged Edge Boutique. We take the time to careful curate our selection that’s caters to everyone! So no matter what size, age, vibe, or style you may have…you have a place here! Jagged Edge is a place you can feel comfortable coming in to explore with your style and find clothing and accessories to help elevate your most authentic self!

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Alyssa but the people closest to me call me Lyss or Missa. I’m 27 years old and the owner and founder of Jagged Edge Boutique. An honest truth: I haven’t always loved clothing. It took me a while to find my style until I fell in love with boutique style clothing. Finding your style can be challenging and frustrating and that’s something I want to change and have a positive influence on. SO I created a safe space at Jagged Edge Boutique to give people the opportunity to let their guard down and truly feel comfortable exploring with style no matter your size, age, or sense of style!

Back in 2020 with the world on lockdown and nothing but time, I slowly started forming a company in the notes section of my iPhone. June 11th, 2020 something in me told me to go, and go now. On that day at 6:11 PM, Jagged Edge Boutique LLC was put into the universe. I launched Jagged Edge Boutique at the age of 25, with 800 dollars in my bank account in the tiny dining room of my family home. I started my sales in a private Facebook group that began with 30 people, made up mostly of friends and family which quickly grew to over 1 thousand people in 3 months. With that 800 dollars in my bank account, I ordered my first round of inventory and started using my live sale format within my group. July 27th. 2020 I was walking Haddon Ave, one of the most popular streets in South Jersey in Haddon Township, and stumbled upon the most perfect storefront. That storefront 3 months later became the home base of Jagged Edge Boutique.

At Jagged Edge, the clothing items are unique pieces that you won’t be able to find everywhere else, that’s my promise! Those unique pieces appeal to a very wide age range of girls and women, ages 13 to mid ’70s. Not only are the clothes unique but so is the atmosphere I have molded into the store. Clothing shopping can be hard for girls and women but not here. We have fun, we laugh, and we talk, we network. Jagged Edge is a safe space for me and I want to provide that space for others as well.

Jagged Edge has made such a HUGE impact on girls and women in and around our Haddon Township location. Our goal is to bring the most unique shopping experience around. My customers actually model my clothing items. Why? It portrays real people with real bodies of all shapes and sizes. Many women and girls don’t get to experience and see clothing items they love on their body type, typically it’s a photoshopped photo of a model…which in most cases people cannot relate to. Oftentimes women will say “I love that but it wouldn’t ever look like that on me.” So instead of that, l love to show my shoppers, that those items CAN look amazing on you, and here’s an example. Having my shoppers model for the shop also gives the teenagers in the community an opportunity to build up their self-confidence and connect with other girls in the community. “Being involved with Jagged Edge has helped me develop confidence and positive self-image and I’ve made some incredible friends.” Anyone can sell clothing, at Jagged Edge we sell and create a shopping experience like no other!

In April of 2021, 6 months after our official open we were awarded 2nd best clothing store in South Jersey by The Courier Post.
In June of 2022 we were awarded Best of South Jersey in Teen Fashion by South Jersey Magazine.

Being a 27 year old and a business owner is a challenge but is also inspiring and incredibly rewarding. I’ve been put in a position where I can be a positive influence for the younger girls that shop here but also be an ally to those around me.
When someone asks me how the shop is or how things are going, I will always reply with the same answer… “I’m just really happy to be here.” I’m really happy you are here too!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started Jagged Edge Boutique as a side hustle so to say. I was working in the school system as an educational assistant in special education. In March of 2020 we were directed to work from home due to covid. When school returned in September, I retuned as well. I worked at the school from 8:30am to 3pm, and then made my way to the shop. The shop was open from 3:30 to 8:30pm. In the Spring I made the bold decision to make Jagged Edge Boutique my full time career and leave my job at the school. Making that choice has been the most challenging yet rewarding decision I’ve had to make. It was a BIG financial risk but I felt as though it was time to give Jagged Edge my full attention. Although I loved working at the school and with the students, the choice to invest fully into my company is easily the best decision I’ve ever made.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am learning as a business owner that resilience is a trait you just need to have. Due to the time I started the company, I wasn’t eligible for any COVID business relief funds. Retail is an extremely hard business to be in. There are months that are absolutely amazing and we are meeting or surpassing our goals, and then there are months where I think to myself “WOW, i need to get a job.” It’s during those slow months that I find more create ways to advertise my items to my shoppers, and also engage with them more. During those slow time is also a time where I reflect on what I can do better or differently. As the business ebbs and flows, not only does it grow, but I do as well. In my opinion resilience is showing up, even when there are reason not to.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaggededgeboutique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopjaggededge/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaggedEdgeBoutique
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-washington-a1647022a/