The Polka Dot Divas Provide Affordable and Fabulous Gifts for Girls and Women of All Ages

Sipping icy Diet Cokes and creating an atmosphere of fun and passion, the Polka Dot Divas are slowly becoming celebrities not just in the area, but wherever they go. 

Owners Julie and Kristyn are pushing the envelope in creativity and fun to provide unique and “sassy” gifts to girls and women of all ages.  While many large chains like Hallmark might have similar gifts, shoppers will have a hard time finding a place as fun and intimate as the Polka Dot Divas shop. 

What is your background?

Polka Dot Divas:  We met 5 years ago at a gym and became instant friends.  We were having difficulty finding gifts, so we started Polka Dot Divas.  We each started out with $1,000 and have grown incrementally every year.  We started selling to girlfriends.  Then we began selling out of our garage.  Next we launched a website.  Finally, we signed the lease to this store the same day we saw it. 

What distinguishes your store?

PDD: We have cutting edge gifts.  We wanted to be a place where girls at any age can get gifts for any occasion.  We also don’t want to look like anywhere else, so we want to be edgy, classy and sassy.   In the future, we could possibly open up a franchise or another shop, but what really makes us unique is that 90% of the atmosphere that we create.  We have fun and we joke around, and we have a mom and pop shop feel.  Our customers are more our girlfriends than our customers. 

What is the best thing about being entrepreneurs?

PDD: The best thing is that we still wake up and say “We own this!”  Also being in Occoquan gives us the opportunity to have business owners and locals come by and say “Hi!” every day.  We are in a protected bubble and everybody knows everybody.  We also have a great Internet presence with our website and reaching out to customers on Facebook and Twitter. 

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

PDD: Remember why you went into business.  A lot of times you can feel the energy when you walk into a building.  Even if our customers don’t buy anything, they leave with a smile on their face and they have a good time.  If you are not excited about what you do and what you sell, your customers won’t be excited.

When you start focusing on making money, you begin to lose some of the great customer service.  We are customer friendly, and we stay in touch. It’s not about pressure; it’s about enjoying having someone in your building.  We greet every customer that comes through town.  They can go anywhere, but they choose to come here. 

Polka Dot Divas on the Web