Meet Jodie Clarke | Sole Proprietress & Women Promoter

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

Hi Jodie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
There wasn’t one! In February of 2020 I took a leap of faith during a time in my life when I needed to re-create myself financially as well as emotionally. My divorce was looming and I had been a stay at home mom for 18 years. I left a Software career to be with my kids and knew that no one was going to hire a women in her fifties. Trust me, I tried. I started with a small room with another group of women in the Little Yellow House on the corner of Curtis and Alamo. When that lease was up, I decided to take on the full lease for the house and create the store of my dreams and Lollygag Antiques & Boutique was born. I wanted to help other women who were coming in or coming out of something in this new space. So, I decided that Lollygag would only support women artists and vendors. After being in the Little Yellow House for 3 years, I realized that I couldn’t grow the business in that location and decided in August of this year that we needed a bigger boat. I took another leap of faith and went BIG. We not only have more space in the new location to showcase more artists and vendors, but we have a workshop where local artists can teach their craft. The workshop was always my dream. So here we are, almost 4 years later…no plan, just pure grit and determination. I also… really just love helping other women be seen for all their glory. That’s my true passion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m a one woman show… I not only work a crazy amount of hours, I showcase and curate wonderful artists, I buy and source products for the store, I do all the marketing and social media, payroll, create the work schedule, build relationships in the local and distant communities, sponsor animal rescue events. Mostly, I’m working when I’m not “working”.  I’m enthusiastically exhausted and love doing what I do.

Lessons I’ve Learned: That this a business first and that it’s okay to protect and take care of myself and the business. Not everyone has my dedication to succeed and that’s okay.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite places are: Downton Littleton… not because it’s where my store is located, but because it’s truly a magical place.
Eat at Palenque on Main Street in Littleton, Drinks Jakes, Kate’s Wine Bar and The Alley
Eat at La Chiva, Zomo’s and Karma Asia on Broadway
Take them to Idaho Springs, drive up Mount Evan’s hike up to St. Mary’s Glacier, Drive to Glenwood Springs and soak!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Beyond my children, artists and vendors and really close friends who continue to encourage, mentor, love and support me, I want to thank my Aunt Joan! She was in her later years of life and started cleaning out her house. She wanted to help my little store as well. So we teamed up and helped each other. I helped her clean out and she helped my store get a good jump in sales. Her stuff was incredible. She was an incredible artist who created beautiful linens, revamped antique trunks, collected local art and books from her travels and she LOVED Christmas. She passed this year and wanted my store to sell anything my beautiful cousin didn’t want. Her goodness is everywhere.
I also want to thank my son-in-law Jack for making my signs and workshop tables. Love him dearly. There’s one vendor (friend) in the store who helped me the most this year with the move, and that’s Kris with Eye Design Arts Studio. She painted the new store, hauled load after load, painted the old store, scraped windows, created a mural and changed it “a few” times. She was and is my rock.

Website: https://lollygagantiquesboutique.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lollygagantiquesboutique

Image Credits
Tri Heart Designs for my head shot.