JANESVILLE Sunny + Olive, a consignment clothing shop based in Milton, is preparing to open a second location in downtown Janesville, in the space currently leased by art studio Ravens Wish.
Amy Kelley, owner of Sunny + Olive, said she has a verbal yes from the landlord and plans to sign a lease soon. She hopes to move into the space in mid-August, with a goal of opening in time for the Janesville Wine Walk Sept. 26. Ravens Wish has planned to leave the storefront as its space needs have changed.
Sunny + Olive launched in June 2022 on College Street in Milton. Kelley initially stocked the shop with brand-new clothing in sizes small through 3x, aiming to be more size-inclusive than other local retailers.
About six months in, Kelley decided she no longer wanted to sell new clothing and shifted the business model to consignment instead.
When I get an idea, I go for it, she said of the pivot.
Alongside a longstanding focus on size inclusivity, Sunny + Olive has been expanding its gender-inclusive clothing stock. Kelley said a major goal in her Janesville expansion is to grow the companys offerings in mens apparel.
The idea of a second location has always been a subconscious thought, Kelley said. A friend recommended she reach out to Kegane Rynes, owner of Ravens Wish, an art studio currently leasing the storefront at 101 W. Milwaukee St. in Janesvilles downtown.
Everything blossomed from that, she said.
Kelley points to what she sees as growing commercial momentum in downtown Janesville as one of the largest pulls for a second location of Sunny + Olive.
We are impressed with the amount of growth that downtown Janesville has seen, she said. I have made connections with several of the Downtown Janesville reps, and they have nothing but good things to say about the growth of downtown.
Sunny + Olives new Janesville location spans 4,000 square feet about three times the size of the Milton shop. To fill the extra space, the business plans to add a childrens section and a coffee shop alongside its existing womens and mens offerings.
Kelley plans to keep working with the 10 to 15 businesses that currently supply additional products sold in the store, and she hopes to attract even more vendors and products as the Janesville location opens.
Kelley said she wants to keep the two locations consignment inventories separate. Shell keep consigned clothing thats accepted at the Milton shop in Milton, and clothing brought to the Janesville location will stay in Janesville.
Sunny + Olive plans a coffee bar as one of the new locations signature features.
I love a good local coffee, and having a coffee shop with a clothing consignment shop...I feel my two loves coming together, Kelley said.
The coffee shops offerings will possibly extend to baked goods.
In mid-June, Kelley launched a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $25,000 of the $50,000 total she estimates itll cost to open the Janesville location. So far, the page has reached about $600.
She expects the coffee bar will be the priciest part of Sunny + Olives Expansion. Other major costs will include installation of sinks, and fixtures such as changing rooms and product racks to fill the retail space.
Rent at the new location is also a major factor in the shops budget. Kelley said monthly costs at the Janesville shop will be a little more than twice what Sunny + Olive currently pays in Milton.
Kelley said shed likely use fundraised money to cover three to six months of rent upfront so she can focus on growing the Sunny + Olive.
Kelley said she doesnt expect to hit the $25,000 goal, and that doesnt worry her. Shed planned to self-fund the expansion herself through grants, a loan or some combination of the two. Kelley launched the GoFundMe after community members urged her to accept donations.
The fundraiser, she said, is not essential for making the expansion possible.
The second location also will require hiring three to five new staff, employee Caitlin Schroyer said.
Schroyer said shes been a soundboard for Kelley as the company has moved toward the expansion. Shell serve as manager at the Janesville location.
Schroyer said shell build a team of employees from scratch. Her goal: to bring together a range of personalities and perspectives.
We pride ourselves on strong, powerful, individual personalities, Schroyer said. Everybody has their own way of doing things and their own vision, so collecting them is the exciting part.
As with the Milton shop, she said new-hires will be expected to share in Sunny + Olives community-driven approach to retail.
This is not just another retail job, Schroyer said. Theres heart behind it, and were community focused, she said.