Meet Jan Carroll of Boca Raton Bridal in Boca Raton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Carroll.

Jan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
12 years ago I was in the middle of studying for my real estate license, looking for a career change. On a Sunday morning, the woman who owned the bridal salon I had bought my dress at years earlier called me. I hadn’t spoken to her in years, but I guess back in the day I had expressed a desire to own a store like hers. She told me we had to meet immediately and so we did. I walked into a tiny little salon that Sunday morning in an industrial district and met a man that was looking to sell. I left the meeting in total shock but my husband was adamant, this was something I just had to do. I had always loved retail and had a fashion degree that was getting no use so we mortgaged our house and here I am!

We moved to a new location immediately that was only 1,800 sq feet and got down to the business of figuring out what in the world to do! At that time I had a business partner that had been with the original owner so he was able to guide us some in those early days. We contacted a charity, they came with a huge UHaul and I donated most of our inventory, as it just wasn’t my style. After meeting with several new designers we changed directions and embarked on what we are today. In less than 2 years we had painfully outgrown the space we were in so I said a little prayer and moved us to a 5,000sqft showroom right on the federal highway.

Two years later we expanded to take over the store next door bringing our new total to 7,000 sqft. My beloved partner Jack retired 2 years ago, just as I was getting ready to open a second location. We opened Boca South in 2015 to help service our brides out west and with a lower price point. The two stores are completely different but both are a total labor of love.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This question makes me laugh out loud. Nothing in bridal is ever smooth! People always ask me to tell stories at parties, lol. I will say that the thing that has always driven me is that I care. Some accuse me of caring too much but that’s a concept I don’t agree with. My brides can always reach me, no matter what. I have been on the phone with girls at midnight while on vacation and have driven 8 hours to be with a terrified bride for her out of town fitting, and everything in between.

With the exception of the recession, we have always been on an uphill trend. For a few years, we really had to buck down and hang on and just pray the recession would pass. Fortunately, I am the child of an accountant so crunching numbers and saving money is something I excel at. It really saved us during those years. I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve built and where we are today. Sometimes I forget how special it really is.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Boca Raton Bridal – what should we know?
We are a bridal salon, specializing in Bridal gowns, maids, mothers accessories and of course custom alterations. We have a huge collection of designers, several that no other store in the South East carries. We are known for two things, the selection we have and our customer service. We’ve had many, many brides drive from several hours away tell us we have the best dresses in town. I hand pick every gown in here so that is a wonderful compliment to me.

The fact that I personally handhold any girl with any kind of issue is the other thing I think sets us apart. I am very hands-on, this business has always been my second child and I take it very personally. I’ve made many friends along the way with brides that I’ve been with and they will all tell you that I do whatever it takes to make sure a girl looks and feels perfect on her wedding day.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
In our early days, I would have to definitely give credit to my ex-husband as well as my business partner, who I always affectionately called my work husband. They both really supported me in my decisions. One let me mortgage our home, the other let me take the reins and drive us forward, even though he wanted to strangle me every time I expanded.

We had many late nights, drink in hand, wondering what in the world we were thinking getting into this business. It is most definitely not for the faint of heart. I have had two pivotal managers along the way, Sebrie and Leah, both have played huge roles in handling our rate of growth and the challenges that come along with that. I’ve also had a lot of great local vendors that have really rallied behind me over the years and supported us, helping spread the word.

Pricing:

• Bridal Gowns – Boca $1,500-$15,000
• Bridal Gowns – South $900-$2,500

Contact Info:

• Address: 3591 N Federal Hwy
  Boca Raton, FL 33431
• Website: bocaratonbridal.com
• Phone: 561-447-6541
• Email: gowns@bocaratonbridal.com
• Instagram: #BOCARATONBRIDAL
• Facebook: facebook.com/bocaratonbridal
• Other: Instagram.com/bocaratonbridal

Image Credit:
Jeff Kolodny Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.