Meet Karen Davis

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t make the decision myself. I contacted my daughter’s high school to ask if they knew of any groups in our town that accepted donations of formal attire and gave them to students. The Assistant Principal, Ryan Hollingshead, responded, saying, “This is great! Thanks for doing it!” From that moment, we put together our first Prom Shop in just three weeks from scratch. The Outlets of Castle Rock donated a space for us to set up in and the rest is history. Our community is truly amazing and has always been supportive of Clover’s Closet. I think the astonishing fact is I never once thought of saying no. I think that says something about me.

What should our readers know about your business?
In 2019, my daughter Molly and I started Clover’s Closet. We set up our first Prom Shop in just three weeks from scratch, using a donated store from The Outlets of Castle Rock. Although our turnout wasn’t great, we were able to help some students in our community and sent some clothing to the reservations in South Dakota. This experience taught us some valuable lessons. Firstly, we realized that we cannot have expectations about attendance. We should either be open for all or open for none. Secondly, we made a strict rule of never accepting cash at the event. Once you start taking money, it changes the perception of what you’re trying to accomplish, and we don’t want to put our volunteers in an awkward position. Our website has options for PayPal and Venmo, and we also have a QR code in the shop for those interested. And then there was COVID….
Four days before we were supposed to open our shop, it became evident that the coronavirus would have a significant impact on school events. About a week later, when schools closed for Spring Break, the world went into lockdown. During this period, we thought about how we could help the community during this crisis. We decided to launch an online marketplace where families could order clothing and other items, and I would make the deliveries. One of the most memorable moments for me during that time was delivering a box of tampons to a multi-million dollar home. It made me realize that things are often not what they seem from the outside. While this model quickly became overwhelming, this mission became very dear to my heart. We discovered that we could assist other organizations in the community to provide clothing for many families in need. In July 2024, we participated in a back-to-school event where we provided access to free clothing to over 600 people!

Our pop-up events have been growing steadily, and at the heart of each event is a student or family in need of a little help, no strings attached. Essentially, when a student who can afford a dress attends with a girl who cannot, both benefit from the experience. Ultimately, they are just two girls needing a dress for the dance. During the Prom Shop 2024, we provided dresses or suits to 309 students, and for Homecoming 2024, we helped 368 students!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver is a wonderful place to visit. Depending on the season and your preferences, the mountains always offer a refreshing and soul-cleansing experience. For a quick day trip, Grand Lake is a fantastic option and not too far away. We enjoyed having a picnic lunch by the lake, but there are also great restaurants to choose from. If you’re up for it, there is a lovely hiking trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall. The hike is not too difficult, and you’ll be surrounded by the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. Definitely check it out!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Clover’s Closet is a labor of love, and it would not be what it is without the love and support of my crew. These dedicated people show up for each event with love in their hearts and smiles on their faces. I’d like to give them a shout-out here:

Family:
Roger Davis, Volunteer 001, is my rock. Without him, I would never be able to do this.
Molly Davis Co-Founder. You are the kindest person I know. Thank you for being a part of this grand adventure with me.
Cai Meadows. Your creativity is amazing, and I always learn something new from you.
Jackson Davis. You are there when I need you. Always.
Mikayla Michaels. I am so glad you’ve joined the team.

Dress Wranglers:
Robyn Chartier. You’ve been by my side almost from the start, and girl, I love your style!
Megan Martinez. You are stronger than most men, and I love laughing with you!
Sienna Martinez. I love your heart and spirit, especially when you’re dressed like a princess!
Priscilla Hunt. You have the biggest, most generous heart. We’re lucky to have you.
Carolina Gonzales. You are amazing, and you bring a genuine desire to help.
Nicole Ellison. I can always count on you when things get crazy. I’m so thankful to have you on the team.
Beata Kocsi the flower arrangements and your sense of style are a truly beautiful thing!
Nichol Swan Your energy was so amazing in the shop, you really connected with the kids and made them feel comfortable.

Website: https://www.cloverscloset.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloversclosetkarendavis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.cloverscloset

Image Credits
Photos provided by Clover’s Closet