Connect
To Top

Meet Allyson Smit of Acey Designs in Downtown

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allyson Smit.

Allyson, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story starts in the middle. I’m on my second re-invention after a career in physical therapy and then staying home to raise my kids. Going back to work after 13 years at home was a little daunting. I knew I wouldn’t return to my original career as it would require me to go back to school, and the amount of continuing education was overwhelming. So, now what? Who would even hire me?

That’s where family comes in. My mother owned a wholesale clothing business at the Denver Merchandise Mart and needed help over the holidays. Perfect! I learned the wholesale side of the clothing business and really loved working with customers, business owners, and manufacturers. When it was time for my mom to retire, I decided instead of commuting to Denver from Fort Collins every day. I would take the show on the road.

After coming up with a business plan and a budget, my husband and I bought an 8×20 foot cargo trailer. We spent every weekend for nearly three months converting it into a mobile boutique. It was just a shell when we started so we had to put in walls, a ceiling, electricity, flooring, shelves, and display fixtures. Or first event was a home party in Morrison, CO and we were on our way!

Since then, we’ve been doing festivals, events, fundraisers, home parties, and partnering with other businesses in the Denver Metro/Fort Collins/Colorado Springs area. We’ve been through rain, hail, wind, and snow, and it’s never a dull moment!

Not too long ago, a boutique owner in Fort Collins contacted me and asked if I’d like to take over her lease on her business as she had planned to move. It was a great opportunity to try out a brick & mortar location without getting tied up in a long term lease, and I took the leap.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road with the mobile boutique always has it’s bumped its bumps. Even with experience under our belt, you never know what you might find when you open the door after a long drive!

We were one of the very first fashion trucks on the road in 2014 and had to really pave our own way. Most cities we applied for business/sales tax licenses didn’t really know what to do with us. We were treated like a food truck most of the time – we had to have a fire marshal inspect the trailer in one town to complete our license even though there’s nothing in or one the trailer that applies. Oh well! We just rolled with it.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I love the way the right clothes can make you feel, and when you feel good, you feel confident, you can do anything. I started the mobile boutique to bring quality fashions to town, while (bonus!) connecting with great people and their families. I want my customers to find unique things that they won’t find anywhere else at great prices. But what I also found was that I can help women to feel confident in their clothes and to feel good about themselves. And that is truly rewarding.

I think I’m most proud of the ways we’ve found to be a part of the community and how we take opportunities to give back. We employ local college students and community members, host a variety of fundraisers from soccer teams to women’s shelters. In addition, we’re able to donate clothing to local Career Closets and non-profits along with supporting community fundraising efforts with gift card donations to their silent auctions.

I appreciate the opportunity to become a part of the community and have always valued our customer relationships and, while the business and styles have changed over the years, those values have endured. My focus is to provide a friendly, service-oriented experience for customers. I want you to feel special the minute you walk in the door and know that every dollar spent stays within the local community.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up on a lake in the Midwest and loved being outdoors, playing sports, and being out on the lake. My first jobs were babysitting and working in my parents’ store. Yep, that’s right – a clothing store! While it was a children’s clothing store, I still learned how to tag merchandise, manage inventory, and help customers.

I guess you could say I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and I love being my own boss AND I’ve always loved clothes – my mom used to call me a ‘clothes horse’. And so I suppose the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in