Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Abraham.
Hi Jane, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My daughter, Betsy, and I opened a Scout & Molly’s Boutique in Annapolis, MD at the end of last year. Our first store opened in Reston, VA almost five years ago. We then opened a store in Arlington, VA a couple of years later. We sell women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories.
We work hard to provide an environment that makes our customers feel like they are shopping in their best friend’s closet. Our fashion collections include many national and international brands. As a mother-daughter team doing the buying for our store, we have fashion that appeals to many ages, sizes, and styles. We really enjoy it when a grandma, mom, and daughter come in together and all leave with a special outfit they love!
We decided to open our store in Annapolis in the middle of COVID. That was perhaps a bold move. We had a store in Arlington that did not survive the COVID challenges. We were looking for a good place to re-locate. We love the Annapolis area and spend part of our time in Sherwood Forest. So, when a location became available in Annapolis Town Center last year, we decided to try a Pop-Up Shop during the holiday season.
The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. People would come in to introduce themselves and thank us for being there. It didn’t take long for us to know that we wanted to stay here long-term.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Running a small business is not easy and COVID really took its toll. It is going to take some time for supply and demand to level out. As you can imagine, retailers were stuck with a lot of inventory they couldn’t sell when stores had to close.
Vendors got stuck with a lot of supplies that they couldn’t sell. So, as the economy opened up both retailers and suppliers have been cautious. Additionally, customer needs have changed since COVID. We are working with our customers to figure out what they are interested in buying and doing our best to provide a variety of options.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Separate from my business venture with my daughter, I have been primarily involved in non-profit work. In the breast cancer arena, I served on the National Board of the Susan G Komen Foundation for a number of years and started a local group that raises funds for research and patient support programs through an annual fashion show. All of the models who participate are breast cancer survivors or current patients. I’ve also worked with child advocate organizations, crisis housing organizations, and education organizations.
A few years ago, I served as Chairman of the Congressional Commission to Study the Potential for a National Women’s History Museum, which was tasked with developing an independent, bipartisan plan that would develop a museum to highlight the missing themes and stories of American women and make recommendations to Congress and The White House on the museum’s location in our nation’s capital and how it should be financed, operated and maintained.
The first recommendation of the Commission for the Smithsonian to start an American Women’s History Initiative was embraced and I have been serving on its founding Advisory Committee. Recently Congress passed legislation to establish the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and I am now serving on the Advisory Council for this new Museum. I am very excited about playing a role in establishing this museum.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
My family and friends would probably say I was a serious child. I was voted Miss Goody Two Shoes and Most Likely to Succeed by my senior class. I’m not sure I’ve ever told my children that. I started working on weekends as soon as I was old enough. In college, I was President of the student government.
I’ve always been interested in being part of the decision-making process and remember when several students were upset that a professor was going to be let go, I went to the Board of Trustees meeting to make the case for reconsideration. It resulted in the professor being given a second chance.
Contact Info:
- Email: annapolistc@scoutandmollys.com
- Website: reston.scoutandmollys.com
- Instagram: scoutandmollysatc
- Facebook: scoutandmollysannapolis
