DELAWARE — Randi Keene spent years pursuing her love of fashion while working a full-time job. Now, at 43, she finally has a boutique of her own in downtown Delaware.
Keene recently opened RJ Designs Fashion Boutique at 30 S. Sandusky St. The store is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
But her passion for fashion goes back much further.
Some of Keene’s earliest memories involve clothes. She remembers playing dress-up as a child and volunteering for chores such as ironing and laundry as early as first grade. She always wanted to work in fashion, even if she wasn’t sure what that career would look like.
Keene attended Kent State University, initially studying fashion design before switching to fashion merchandising with a minor in marketing.
After graduating, Keene struggled to find a job in the fashion industry that fit her needs. She eventually began working at Hug and Hearts, a daycare owned by her mother, but kept her fashion and design dreams in the back of her mind.
A gift from a daycare parent in 2019 helped her find a new way to pursue it.
Keene received a pair of leather earrings and was inspired to start making her own, kickstarting the RJ Designs brand. She began selling jewelry at local craft shows and pop-up markets, where she met people who gave her the confidence to keep building her brand.
Last summer, Keene launched an online clothing boutique while continuing to work full time. Online sales were slow, but she eventually began selling merchandise at Painted Tree Boutiques in Lewis Center.
“It was crazy because on the weekends I was working so much between working on my clothes, tagging everything, and going to Painted Tree to revamp my little area. But I loved it. I was doing something for myself,” Keene said.
When the Lewis Center location closed this spring, Keene was left with extra inventory but remained determined to grow her business.
This summer, she and her mother began looking for a storefront. Her mother discovered an available space in downtown Delaware, and the two visited it that day.
Keene immediately fell in love with the location.
She went home that night and thought about how big of a step it would be to leave her job and change her life that quickly. But her family gave her their full support and pushed her to take this opportunity to pursue her passion.
“I’m 43 and when is there going to be a better time,” Keene said.
Her husband, Josh, their children, Reese and Jackson, and her mother and mother-in-law have all supported the business, whether by helping with pop-up markets, preparing the store or offering encouragement.
The RJ Designs name also reflects the family, incorporating the initials of Randi, Josh, Reese and Jackson.
Keene said the response from the downtown Delaware community has made the transition even more rewarding.
“Everybody in Delaware is so nice, so giving, and so willing to help. It’s been so amazing,” she said.
RJ Designs Fashion Boutique carries clothing aimed primarily at women in their 30s, 40s and 50s, with the goal of designing stylish and trendy clothing for women to wear with comfort and confidence.
The store currently features fall merchandise, but Keene expressed her excitement for future designs for upcoming events, holidays, and seasons.
Keene also continues to sell jewelry, including the leather earrings that helped launch her business. Customers can visit an in-store “charm bar” to pick out different style chains and charms to customize their own bracelets, necklaces, and keychains.
