The business, which started online and at vendors markets, can now be found off of the square in Historic Downtown McKinney. Grady Ln Boutique is a size-inclusive apparel and accessories store focusing on trendy styles that fall into the store’s specifically curated aesthetic, Wooddell said.
“I have a brand in my head, and I'm luckily able to make it into something; I can bring it into life,” Wooddell said. “It's just an aesthetic of like, we’re Western, we’re [bohemian], we’re grunge. It just all comes together so seamlessly. ... It's just beautiful to me.”
The store, which was launched online in June 2020, offers a range of sizes from extra small to 3XL, with some items available in sizes up to 6XL. Wooddell, who sources most of the items found in the store, has dreamt of owning a boutique and providing clothing options for a wide variety of body types since she was young, she said.
“I grew up as a plus-size child. ... I've always been so tall, so finding things that are fit in a way that they fit ... somebody who needs some more room is so difficult,” Wooddell said. “When you do find it, it is just a generalized style. It's so outdated. It's no longer anything that's just hip and cool.”
The inclusivity-focused shop, which first opened its doors June 26, 2021, has continued to adapt and expand since opening, Wooddell said. In addition to adding additional staff to her team, Wooddell recently began creating embroidered products and also continues to launch curated product collections, she said.
“My dream isn't to have a billion stores. ... My dream is just to have a place where people can shop online or they can shop in person and just feel good,“ Wooddell said.
In addition to the online and physical storefronts, the business has also seen success on social media. The shop’s Instagram account has over 5,500 followers, and its TikTok account has surpassed over 12,000 followers and 57,000 likes.
“We had a few TikTok [videos] go viral, and I think that's what really did it for us. ... We started gaining a new audience,” Wooddell said. “People like to share once they find us because it is so niche. ... It’s just for the right person.”
Building a business:
- June 2020: Launched online storefront
- September 2020: Began selling at markets
- January 2021: Began selling as a vendor inside a boutique in Wiley
- April 2021: Began looking in McKinney for a storefront
- June 26, 2021: Opened a storefront off of McKinney’s downtown square
Grady Ln Boutique
111 Chestnut St., McKinney
www.gradyln.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.
