Danielle Logan is the owner of KJ’s Boutique and Creatives, a new business in the Center Grove area. The shop features Logan’s own products, as well as those from more than 20 vendors selling a variety of clothing for both children and adults, as well as farmhouse-inspired decor, upcycled antiques, pottery, artwork, candles and much more.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
The idea was born from a foster mom wanting to help her foster kids.
Danielle Logan, a longtime foster parent with her husband, Zack, had two young girls placed in their home. The pair loved to get dressed up in fancy clothing, and Logan, a photographer by trade, would do fun photo shoots with them. But she had a hard time finding cute clothing that was easy to pick up in the area.
She wanted to find a way to offer fashionable kid’s clothes that were easy to shop for while supporting children in foster care at the same time.
“That’s what started the whole thing. I wanted my kids to be in cute clothes, and a lot of them had never had new clothes. They had hand-me-downs or things that didn’t fit,” she said. “That was fun to be able to give them that. They felt like they were in a fairy tale.”
From that desire, a new Center Grove-area business has blossomed. Logan opened KJ’s Boutique and Creatives in November, offering a variety of clothing for both children and adults, as well as farmhouse-inspired decor, upcycled antiques, pottery, artwork, candles and much more.
In addition to providing a place for aspiring entrepreneurs to display and sell their goods, Logan also provides a portion of proceeds from her sales to Indiana Kids Belong, which works to improve the experiences of kids in the state’s foster care system. Logan does volunteer photography work with the group.
She hopes the business not only supports local businesses and the foster care community, but introduces people to items that can’t be found anywhere else.
“There are unique items here, things that you’re not going to find in places like Amazon,” she said. “The creative mind of all of these people is incredible. I can do photography, but when it comes to actually crafting, I can’t do this.”
Among the booths inside KJ’s Boutique and Creatives, it’s easy to get lost in the variety of goods made by more than 20 local vendors.
Pine wood dough bowls filled with scented candles from Cedar Mountain Candles invite shoppers to sample every smell, from fir needle to hearth to apple.
Antique-style glasses with gleaming golden rims had been arranged in a row at Sweetgrass Vintage’s table. A business called Creations By Two Sisters and Mom had turned delicate tea cups and saucers into hanging bird feeders.
Katelyn Armour, owner of Kay Elaine Designs and Logan’s assistant at the shop, featured trendy Center Grove Trojan gear.
“One thing about Danielle is, she doesn’t mind helping someone else out who’s up-and-coming, whereas other people don’t want to help because that’s more competition,” Armour said. “She wants other people to make money and to grow. She shows her artistic ability as a photographer, and she wants other people to show their artistic ability.”
When Logan first decided to open KJ’s, she didn’t know how many local artisans and vendors would want to take part. Her idea was initially focused boutique where she could sell clothing for children, as well as some items for adults as well.
She worked with a realtor to find a space, and while checking out one off of State Road 135 on Fairview Place, she started envisioning ways she could fill the large space with help from other business owners.
“Initially, I was looking at the space as a new studio for my photography business. But looking around, I was thinking that we could have different vendors and make it into a shop instead,” she said.
Logan decided to name her venture “KJ’s” as a tribute to her two youngest children, daughter Kalleah and soon-to-be-adopted son, J.
Attending local craft events, Logan would reach out to vendors she felt would be a good fit within KJ’s, and discussed her plans. Blasts on social media also helped recruit area business owners.
Everybody brings something a little bit different, Logan said.
KJ’s Boutique and Creatives opened its doors on Nov. 18, and benefitted from the pre-Christmas shopping rush. With the momentum provided by the holidays, Logan is working to keep moving forward through the doldrums of winter. Shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day-themed baskets filled with products featured in the shop, suitable for both kids and grown-ups.
Logan is partnering with other Greenwood-based boutiques, including Crafts & Creations, which has a booth at KJ’s, to do a “shop-hop” event in February to encourage people to visit the different stores. Shoppers can do a crafting projects at each location, with participants eligible to win prizes.
KJ’s also plans to host painting, candle and other events led by its vendors. An Easter egg hunt is planned in the spring.
“We’re trying to do at least one event each month,” Logan said. “It’s been awesome to see everything come together.”
AT A GLANCE
KJ’s Boutique and Creatives
What: A new business featuring more than 20 vendors selling a variety of clothing for both children and adults, as well as farmhouse-inspired decor, upcycled antiques, pottery, artwork, candles and much more.
Where: 2503 Fairview Place Suite A, Greenwood
Who: Founded by Danielle Logan
Information: kjshomedecorandmore.com or KJ’s Boutique and Creatives on Facebook
