Meet Jennifer Kaleck
of JENNK boutique
by Linda Herman
When you travel along Huntingdon Pike in Lower Moreland, as you approach Philmont Avenue, there’s a strip of trendy boutiques, hair salons and offices housed in some of the area’s oldest and neatest buildings. JENNK boutique is one of those boutiques. It’s housed on the third floor of Blue Hair Studio, itself one of the oldest homes to be converted into commercial space. You can find Jennifer Kaleck, its owner and the entrepreneurial spirit behind this unique store, surrounded by her life’s dream.
I met with Jennifer to talk about her boutique and how she finds herself not too far from where she grew up, went to high school and spent her formative years. “I’ve always had a passion for fashion! Even in high school, from the age of 16, I worked at different area clothing boutiques. And when I went up to school for communications at Northeastern University in Boston, the first thing I did was get a job at a trendy women’s boutique on Newberry Street. I worked there all through college...... fall, winter, spring and summer.”
We talked about her career path and her contemporaries. “After college I went on quite a few interviews in my degreed field. Early on I could tell it was not a good match. I returned home, lived with my parents and worked, again, at area boutiques further honing my craft. Most of my buddies moved downtown and worked jobs that supported them. I decided to stay at home, work towards my goal and save up enough money until I was able to take the leap and open JENNK, about 6 years ago. I knew I wanted my own business and be in control of my own destiny.”
“I had this idea that it would be neat to have my boutique associated with a hair salon. I had already worked in a similar environment and saw the advantages of being 'within' an already existing concern, rather than being a free-standing store. I have nothing to do with Blue, but I do reap some of the benefits of their clientele as they reap the benefits of some of my clientele.”
Indeed, all one has to do is go to JENNK on the third floor of this wonderful building. What was once an attic has been turned into the most captivating display space. Imaginative, colorful, something to look at every corner of the room. JENNK houses styles for fashionable women ages 18-60. And Jennifer prides herself in offering a full shopping experience for moms, daughters and even grandmothers. Non-threatening, no pressure, she works with customers so they leave satisfied and happy… no purchase required!
So what should the “fashionable” woman wear this season? “Anything military, fur vests…. faux is popular, animal prints, anything textured. Colors on the runway are gray and anything green; green as in olive or pine green. The skinny jean is king (or queen). j.brand cargo pants are this season’s must-have.”
She continued saying, “When women comb through the racks they’ll notice that there are many price points represented here. You can find something no matter your pocketbook. And I can bet you’ll also find something you like. When I first started buying merchandise for the store, I always looked for pieces that I liked. I learned quickly, that I had to buy product that my customer would like. So I’ve had to broaden what I carry…. And because of this, because of what I carry and my no-pressure approach, there is very little that is returned. Customers can be certain that, if they want it, they have my undivided attention, and ONLY my attention. There are no teeny-bopper salesgirls working at JENNK. When you shop here, you work with the owner, the one person who cares most about whether the business succeeds or not. It makes a difference in customer care.”
Jennifer is young and bubbly, and she’s at the very beginning of what is a successful retail career. She’s nurtured her business, growing it with care, taking more space only when she’s ready for it. I asked if she would recommend her choice to someone else “starting out.” “I work ‘round the clock. This is my life. Your personal life… a life other than business…. takes second and third place. If someone is prepared to sacrifice, yes, go for it. If you have the patience to see the bigger picture, and you can see the picture beyond what anyone else is doing or saying, do it.”
It would be hard to find someone as committed to her work as Jennifer Kaleck. I wondered, isn’t there life, a little life, outside the decorated turrets of her boutique? “No, there’s not much of a life! I like to cook… sesame seared tuna, very rare is a favorite. My mom is a great cook. Guess I got ‘the cooking thing’ from her. I used to cook dinner for my roommate at college every night! I love to shop for clothes and anything vintage in particular. I can shop for clothes 24/7 plus!”
It was neat visiting with Jennifer. I felt like a little girl hanging with a girlfriend ready to play dress-up. Hidden away, in an intimate space, surrounded by velvet, brocade, mannequins and beautiful clothing, JENNK is a woman’s delight… regardless her age. And Jennifer encourages that delight with her open welcome and big, broad smile. She’s created an “attic” that every “big girl” will want to visit. It has lots of clothes to check out and what starts out as “dress-up” will most likely end up as a wardrobe!
JENNK boutique
2550 Huntingdon Pike
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
215.938.1845 |
