Knock Knock Boutique

Knock Knock Boutique offers clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts. We primarily serve women, but we do our best to offer something for a broad range of customers.

I studied education but didn’t feel passionate about it. My dad owned a jewelry and gift shop when I was younger, and the idea of running something similar stayed with me. Hershey didn’t have anything like this at the time, so I saw an opportunity. I also liked the idea of building something for myself.

Before opening, I noticed a space downtown that looked underused. I wrote a letter to the owner explaining my vision, and within two weeks they called to offer it to me. That moment changed everything! Opening day was another milestone. After weeks of late nights preparing, I wasn’t sure anyone would show up. The turnout was huge and gave me confidence that the boutique could thrive.

Knowing our success depends on the effort we put in. Customers have many options as to where they spend their money, so we want to earn their business by providing great service and products. My team and my family also motivate me. When I started, I didn’t have kids. Now the business supports my family, so I’m fully committed.

Passion is a core value here. If you don’t love what you do, it shows. Our customers deserve a thoughtful experience and products we’re proud of. I also believe people should build lives centered around work they enjoy.

Covid was challenging, especially since renovations stretched what should have been a short closure into five months. But the years after have been even harder. Inflation has affected spending, and gift items aren’t essentials. We try to keep prices in line with the brands we carry, so we don’t always control pricing. Balancing customer expectations with economic pressure has been tough.

Make sure you love it. You trade a nine to five for working around the clock, and you’re the one responsible for everything. You need drive and consistency.

“If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” It sums up how I feel about running the boutique.

We often donate to different fundraisers or initiatives, or sponsor events. We recently collected food for the food bank, and do the best we can to support the initiatives of our customers!

I still teach dance, I’m part owner of a dance studio, and I run Airbnbs. I genuinely love businesses of all kinds and enjoy learning how they operate. I also listen to “How I Built This,” which inspires me through other founders’ stories.