We recently connected with Patricia Gillmore and have shared our conversation below.
Patricia , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is an important, powerful tool that one person can possess. It is like ambition. It comes from within. Growing up as an adoptee from Honduras who came to the US in 1990, a Loveland, Colorado native, I had my fair share of learning to overcome hard times, understand diversity, and find the path to success through dark times. It was the dark times that helped me flourish. Going against the grain was always something I did; however, the test came in my teenage years, where I had to stand against a justice system that had its own agenda. When you have time on your hands to sit with yourself, you discover what your will and faith are made of. I learned that I wanted to create something unique and that working a 9-5 punch card routine was not in my deck of cards. I learned through the system there are ropes to jump through, some that are not taught, for it’s how the circle of life works. When you learn to jump through the hoops and understand the end goal, there is nothing that any system or person can do to hold you back. Reliance is what you call sparking life in your soul; how we self-talk and prep ourselves each day is vital in overcoming our setbacks. I knew I was built not to stay silent under a glass ceiling; I know God gave me the strength of a bull, the wisdom of an owl, and the outlook from a panoramic view to be able to build a community of work that would help not just myself but others to flourish and grow!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started GGirls Closet in 2013 with a mission to help reduce the carbon footprint, all while educating against the fast fashion industry. I started as a small storefront in Englewood, Colorado. I learned through the failure of the first brick-and-mortar that you can not do your dream alone; there are things that we will master, and yet there are parts of the business that flourish with knowledge from others. I stepped back in 2015 to learn more about e-commerce and the internet world of selling. I admire the mission of how we sell gently used quality clothing, from vintage brands to designer goods. We can offer our local clients a higher payout and margins because we are a hybrid consignment shop, where seasonal doesn’t matter. I expanded the footprint when I saw the need to tag up with non-profits & schools. Most churches, schools, and non-profits fundraise to generate public funding. I saw a way to do business together; we have teamed up with local schools, ministers, and non-profits by taking clothing donations they do not use in their community and selling them for them on consignment, helping generate funding from another source. Used clothing is goods that can be used for the local community, and rather than being dumped to corporate thrift stores, having a massive list of local places that can use the clothing is what our clients and shoppers look for. We take pride in being socially conscious. I learned there is always a need to recycle clothes while generating profits for local businesses that do boots-on-the-ground community work here. We did launch a new store in Aurora, Colorado, where you can purchase vendor items – Vintage clothing, those rare gems from Explore Mile High Vintage, those free spirit breathtaking finds from KaliGirlsKloset, and treasures from designer household goods, and clothing from Whimsicals Treasure by Gloria. This store not only carries local vendors and their items but also allows the local community to come together and share space to sell their quality products to buyers. When you shop at our store, you create a socially conscious ripple effect. We are acquiring a new space in the same building in January 2024 that will offer $5.00 rack sales, help employees, and assist women and men from all walks of life to get work skills in the clothing industry.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The ability to see things from both perspectives, set boundaries, and be aware of myself, my talents, and my energy has been key to managing daily. I learned a long time ago from a wise person that if we do not discipline our daily routine and get enough sleep, it will be harder for us to provide the full focus and energy needed to get tasks done. I was also taught how to keep the passion alive, like romance. You have to love your business, mission, and or stance in order to make any ripple effect! For anyone pondering or investing in something new, I will say no matter the no’s or the hard hurdles, I have been denied by banks and credit lenders, but if there is a will, there is a way. There are places to get grants and micro-grants from local places without being a non-profit; just because traditional lending says no, it does not mean everyone will. Learn to utilize the assistance and look at yourself as an investment. You can truly make or break your own income ladder. It is up to you, and if the unknown scares you, then you need to figure out if entrepreneurship or business owning is the right path for you.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking for areas of opportunity with new clients. If you are a non-profit, church, or Title One school, have a local community liaison contact us to see how a clothing drive can help you generate funding for your local business and community. Let us know if you are a non-profit or school offering paid internships for adults or students seeking to learn retail, e-commerce, or fashion knowledge. We can provide the skills they need to acquire to succeed in their fields. Email or call us today, and we will figure out how to keep making a local impact in the Denver/Metro community! Together, we can impact all walks of life while repurposing clothing/accessories goods.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ggirlscloset.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ggirlscloset/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggirlsclosetllc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-gillmore-b5323975
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/g-girls-closet-aurora-2
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ggirlscloset/_created/ – Pinterest https://303magazine.com/2022/10/ggirls-closet-is-a-brand-for-the-community/?fbclid=IwAR3821xlFsCk113morrbL69ebPLC737MNdf1cL8RY4dSImCXRQqYCaHsRRA — 303 magazine spread
Image Credits
Image Credits To: Mary Pendergast (Denver, Colorado)
