Inspiring Conversations with Jessica Folino of Arie Layne Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Folino.

Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I am Jessica Folino, owner of Arie Layne Boutique. My love for retail and relationship building started when I was in high school, working in our hometown jewelry store, locally owned by a special family. I knew one day I would like to have my own store, back then I wanted to design and sell jewelry. Then I went off to college where I worked at a high-end golf resort as the merchandise buyer for the women’s Shop. I knew then that entrepreneurship was my dream. And then life happened which took me down many amazing and not-so-amazing paths and led me to where we are today. All of which I now realize were opportunities, not failures.

I did a great amount of soul-searching for a couple of years when realizing my twins were almost 8 and my oldest in high school, I was never bored, yet knew it was time to do what made me happy. I was a partner in a skincare sunscreen company at the time when I decided to rejoin the world of retail and small business. There were very few unique shopping options in Goodyear or our surrounding area and women were standing by waiting on something great to take place in our town. I knew I had the retail experience, the knowledge, and the understanding of the industry and I knew I could create an unmatched customer experience that women deserve. So I found the space, built it out, spread the word, and created a community of loyal women who appreciate and thrive on supporting other women in business.

One year from the day I decided to create this place where women would feel welcome, feel included, and valued…I opened Arie Layne Boutique. And we just celebrated ONE YEAR in business.

Arie Layne is named after my late grandmother, Arie Gladys, and also after my daughter, Hiatt Arie. Both of my Grandmothers were extremely influential in my world, each in a very different yet significant way. It was an easy decision to honor the women who signified strength, love, and family when naming my Shop.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, it has been incredible. There is always the fear of the unknown…what if no one comes, what if they don’t like what we have, what if this fails. It is human nature. My faith is strong in my experience and my ability to be flexible when necessary.

My faith in the power of communication with our community is also strong, where we listen when they speak. We ask questions and include our customers in our buying decisions. The summer in Arizona is pretty tough since many people leave and our location is a little tucked away…though we are near Home Goods, an Orthodontist, and a Massage Studio so that helps tremendously! All in all, I would say we have been extremely blessed.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Arie Layne Boutique?
We are an upscale women’s clothing boutique providing a personalized shopping experience and a unique product selection in a space that embodies community and connection. We are passionate about supporting other local small businesses and encouraging community over competition.

We are an elevated casual Shop that inspires women to get dressed up. From our “Occasion Collection” down to anything but basic Denim Collection, our priority is that you stand out from the rest. We carefully select high-quality styles and fabrics that exceed our standards, inspired by the season’s latest trends.

We are known for the events we host, where we invite other local women-owned businesses of all industries to provide exposure and promote their brands throughout our local area and communities. We are very proud of women and business and believe we are stronger together through collaboration and friendship.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Goodyear is the fastest-growing city in the country with so much growth happening each day.

The building of the new Civic Square, Goodyear’s City Hall location, has brought class-A office space and great restaurants to our area. We are home to the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Red’s baseball Spring Training facility, which brings many fans from all over the country each year. And our “snowbirds” are very special, who come each year to enjoy a few months of our fabulous weather.

I have no complaints about our city, except for the traffic our growth has generated. Road construction is a challenge, but necessary and is only temporary. Thankfully, it does not affect our Shop directly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arielayne.com
• Instagram: @arielayneboutique
• Facebook: @shoparielayne

Image Credits
HNC Photography