Kimberly McGehee is the owner of SheShe Boutique. She is a Colorado native that grew up in the Denver area and moved to the Western Slope when she married her best friend, Michael, in 1990. She and Michael have four children: Keegan (28), MaKenna (26), Jenna (23) and Stephen (18). Being their mom has been her favorite, most rewarding job, McGehee says.
Kimberly and Michael McGehee (far right) and their four children.
Montrose Business Times: Tell us more about your family.
Kimberly McGehee: They have taught me so much about life and myself. Our family enjoys traveling and trying new food! Our next trip is in March, when we will go to Japan for Keegan’s graduation from the University of Tsukuba. I love watching my children pursue their passions.
They are each so unique. Keegan is a scientist. MaKenna is an artist. Jenna is aspiring to be a doctor. Stephen is considering being a barber. My mama heart is full!
It’s always been important to me to have flexibility and put my family first. I think that is why I have been an entrepreneur most of my adult life. I started selling Mary Kay in 1996 when Keegan was 1 year old. Mary Kay taught me so much about owning my own business, from how to manage expenses to customer service and public speaking.
MBT: So it was your Mary Kay career that got you interested in running a boutique?
McGehee: During my career with Mary Kay I earned five free cars. Yes, Mary Kay really does give you Pink Cadillacs, White Grand Prix and Silver Grand Ams. After Jenna and Stephen joined our family, in 2007, I chose to focus on our family and a non profit had started in 2008, We Bead Connected. This organization sold paper bead jewelry through home parties, retail web sales and wholesale outlets. I was able to help a large group of women in Uganda support their families. The organization also helped Ugandan women with medical expenses, put children through school and built a playground.
MBT: So how did you come to own SheShe Boutique?
McGehee: SheShe Boutique was one of my wholesale distributors. When Sheree Frede was liquidating SheShe in June 2011, I came to collect my marketing materials. I was curious why Sheree was closing our beloved boutique.
After some discussion Sheree said “You should buy the store!” My enterpentual spirit whispered, “tell me more!”
Two and a half months later, I was the proud owner of SheShe Boutique. I was excited to bring my passion for helping women feel confident and beautiful to a new platform. I had never owned a brick and mortar but my mom always told me I could do anything I set my mind to do. So, blindly but with a huge amount of faith, support from my family and friends I reopened SheShe at the end of September 2011.
When I first looked at buying SheShe Boutique, I wanted my mom, Sheila, to purchase the store. She had been wanting to move to the Western Slope for years, and I saw this as a golden opportunity. She wasn’t convinced it was something she wanted to do but said we could start the business together. Initially she was to move to Montrose within five years.
That did not happen, but I am still glad I jumped in feet first and tried something new. I have been in sales my entire life. I worked at the Limited in high school and loved it! There is nothing like finding a need and filling it. Even back then, I loved the confidence I could instill in a woman that put on an outfit that made her smile. For me, it is all about the relationships I have gotten to build over the years.
MBT: What’s your favorite part of running a downtown boutique?
McGehee: I feel like downtown is the heart and soul of a community. It is where people connect on a deeper level. I can’t tell you how many heart to heart conversations I have had in my store or how many husbands I have helped be a hero on a holiday.
It’s an honor to be a small part of sunshine in people’s lives. I also love to support and encourage my follow female business owners. I don’t see them as competition, rather as completion of offering an assortment of shopping opportunities.
I have grown so much as a business owner in the last 13.5 years.
MBT: What have been some successes or challenges along the way?
McGehee: I think my biggest lesson came in 2020. When COVID hit, I knew I had two choices. I could either sink or swim. I decided that I was going to swim. I started getting really tight with my buying and generous with my employees.
What I mean by that is I stuck to my budget, learned to say no when it wasn’t the best choice for my business, and I trusted my gut. I had hired Kim Keller the year before and wanted to have her work for me full-time, but I was scared I would overcommit myself. The smartest thing I ever did while owning SheShe was bringing her on fulltime and then delegating to other team members duties that were their strengths.
I say often it takes teamwork to make the dream work. I have been so blessed to always have an amazing staff and currently I have some of the best teammates ever!
MBT: Tell me a little more about what it’s like owning a retail store in 2024. And what sets you apart from others?
McGehee: Owning a retail store in 2024 takes tenacity and consistency. You have to put the blinders on and take one step at a time towards your goals. I am always learning something new. When I feel discouraged, I ask myself, “What is one thing I can do today to move me towards my goal?”
What set’s us apart from other retailers? We offer exceptional, consistent service to everyone that walks through the door. We give you honest feedback. We don’t want a one time sale.
Kimberly. McGehee has owned SheShe Boutique since 2011. (Provided photo)
We want to earn your trust and keep you coming back and trusting us with your gift giving, event and wardrobe needs. We hand select the items in the store with our customers in mind and call them when something comes in that we think they’d like.
We also remind them of items they have in their closet that would go back to the new purchases. Our goal is to help you build a wardrobe you love, feel amazing when you attend that event and think of us when you need retail therapy.
MBT: Anything else you’d like to say?
McGehee: I want to thank the Montrose community that have supported me in all my endeavors over the past 24 years. You’ve helped me earn free cars from Mary Kay, spread awareness about sucide and depression, adopt two beautiful children from Uganda, raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families in Uganda and believing/supporting me when I was struggling to find my way. It’s an honor to be nominated for this award and to be among so many inspiring women.
If you, or someone you know, owns a business you think would make for a good “Ask a Local Business” feature, email us at submissions@montrosebusinesstimes.com or call us at 970-765-0915
