(Ashley Walton)
Local woman brings new life and style to downtown Puyallup
By Meredith Lawrence
When Ashley Walton moved home to Puyallup after college, she promptly decided to take an alternative approach to the traditional job search process.
Walton, who graduated in August from Western Washington University with a degree in communications, has opened a consignment shop.
“I started to send out resumes, but I was like, ‘I like thrift shopping and coffee, how can I turn this into a job?’” Walton said.
With the support and encouragement of friends and family, Walton decided to do something she loves. In Bellingham she had seen many cute consignment shops and wanted to bring one to Puyallup.
Friends and family pitched in time and donated furniture to the store and the city gave her the space at a low cost because it had been vacant for a year and was rather rundown, she said.
She named the shop Ashley’s Room, after herself. The outside of the shop is framed by two giant painted wooden curtains. They are painted in black and white stripes, pulled back with yellow ribbon. The curtains were built by her dad and designed to bring attention to the store, which has tinted windows that can make it hard to see in, Walton said.
Inside the store Walton’s mother painted a mural, bringing a more personal feel to the space, Walton said.
To add to the small-store atmosphere, Walton is serving hot cider and cookies and plans to serve hot tea throughout the winter months, transitioning to ice tea as the weather warms up.
Although the store has only been open for a couple weeks and business has been somewhat slow, Walton is pleased with the store’s reception and confident that as more people learn of the store, it will get busier.
“I think once people know I’m here, it’ll be good,” she said.
Although she does not have a target age group, Walton’s store is aimed at current fashions.
“I’m looking for young-at-heart styles,” she said.
The clothes themselves are everything from designer brands like True Religion, to Target brands. Walton said she is more focused on the clothes being cute, than on the prestige of their brand name.
“My thing is something affordable for everyone,” she said.
Although Walton herself lives with her parents, she said it is only temporary and she plans to move out as soon as she can. She will run the store herself for about a year, planning to be open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After the first year, Walton hopes she will have enough money to hire someone to work in the store with her.
The store is always accepting consignments, for which Walton offers 40% of anything sold. She asks that clothes be brought in on hangers, which will be returned to the seller.
So far, business is doing well.
“I’ve had no problem breaking even and paying my bills,” Walton said.
She hopes that someday she will be able to expand and would like to be able to sell men’s clothing. But for now she is content having created a job for herself doing something she loves. Reach Intern Meredith Lawrence at 253-841-2481 Ext. 315 or e-mail at [email protected].
By Meredith Lawrence
When Ashley Walton moved home to Puyallup after college, she promptly decided to take an alternative approach to the traditional job search process.
Walton, who graduated in August from Western Washington University with a degree in communications, has opened a consignment shop.
“I started to send out resumes, but I was like, ‘I like thrift shopping and coffee, how can I turn this into a job?’” Walton said.
With the support and encouragement of friends and family, Walton decided to do something she loves. In Bellingham she had seen many cute consignment shops and wanted to bring one to Puyallup.
Friends and family pitched in time and donated furniture to the store and the city gave her the space at a low cost because it had been vacant for a year and was rather rundown, she said.
She named the shop Ashley’s Room, after herself. The outside of the shop is framed by two giant painted wooden curtains. They are painted in black and white stripes, pulled back with yellow ribbon. The curtains were built by her dad and designed to bring attention to the store, which has tinted windows that can make it hard to see in, Walton said.
Inside the store Walton’s mother painted a mural, bringing a more personal feel to the space, Walton said.
To add to the small-store atmosphere, Walton is serving hot cider and cookies and plans to serve hot tea throughout the winter months, transitioning to ice tea as the weather warms up.
Although the store has only been open for a couple weeks and business has been somewhat slow, Walton is pleased with the store’s reception and confident that as more people learn of the store, it will get busier.
“I think once people know I’m here, it’ll be good,” she said.
Although she does not have a target age group, Walton’s store is aimed at current fashions.
“I’m looking for young-at-heart styles,” she said.
The clothes themselves are everything from designer brands like True Religion, to Target brands. Walton said she is more focused on the clothes being cute, than on the prestige of their brand name.
“My thing is something affordable for everyone,” she said.
Although Walton herself lives with her parents, she said it is only temporary and she plans to move out as soon as she can. She will run the store herself for about a year, planning to be open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After the first year, Walton hopes she will have enough money to hire someone to work in the store with her.
The store is always accepting consignments, for which Walton offers 40% of anything sold. She asks that clothes be brought in on hangers, which will be returned to the seller.
So far, business is doing well.
“I’ve had no problem breaking even and paying my bills,” Walton said.
She hopes that someday she will be able to expand and would like to be able to sell men’s clothing. But for now she is content having created a job for herself doing something she loves. Reach Intern Meredith Lawrence at 253-841-2481 Ext. 315 or e-mail at [email protected].
