Move over, Santa Claus. For fashion-lovers in the greater Sioux Falls area, what matters now is that The Paisley Pod is coming to town.
Sisters Chrystal Rothenberger, Laura Weisenburger and Dani Meyer work together to run a small boutique. It’s painted a fresh, petal pink and filled with jewelry, scarves, tops and dresses. The twist?
It’s on wheels.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kocher
“Us three have always said, ‘We should open a boutique,’” Laura said, “but we didn’t know how we wanted to do it.” When she was getting ready for work one morning, she saw a boutique truck (think a food truck but with tunics instead of tacos) on Good Morning America and knew it was perfect.
“I instantly took a picture of the t.v. and texted it to them and said, ‘This is what we should do—a boutique truck.’”
The truck has been up and running since June and splits its time between camping out in their parents’ big red barn and attending private parties, for which they try to specialize their selections based on the host’s request. Between the two, the truck is usually out three or four days a week during the summer.
It wasn’t love at first sight for everyone, though.
“We told our dad what we wanted to do, and he was like, ‘What?’” Chrystal said. “’You want to put what in a truck? You want to paint it pink?’”
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kocher
He painted it nonetheless (and willingly), and according to the sisters, the business has been well received by the community. Mobility has its advantages.
“We get to travel all over,” Chrystal said. “A storefront can’t travel to Hartford this week and then Brandon next week and Sioux Falls the week after that.” The Paisley Pod can. And while winter is an admitted disadvantage—“Driving the truck in the winter? Slightly scary,” Chrystal said—the barn setting still allows the Paisley Pod to make a showing.
And it is quite a showing. Because all three sisters contribute to the product selection, the range of offerings is wide as they lean toward slightly different aesthetics. The three split up the business side, too; Laura handles the technology and website, Chrystal takes care of the finances and Dani’s retail background set her up for the business’s visual aspects.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kocher
The sisters have begun to think about what’s down the road, too, and the nearest destination appears to be the launch of a small baby section currently dubbed Paisley Baby. Chrystal also dreams of franchising out. But even when that happens, the sisters will still stick together. After all, they started together. And why?
Dani looks at Laura. Laura looks at Chrystal. The three burst out laughing simultaneously. “We love clothes!”
But there’s a bit more to it than that, too.
“Who better to own a business with and have your dream together with than your sisters, your built-in best friends?” Chrystal said.
