Be Bold. Be Amazing. Be Beautiful. Be You. That’s the Pandy’s Closet motto. My “being” has always been grounded in my dream to be an entrepreneur. But making my dream a reality has been challenging and at times heartbreaking. I opened my first business in 1997 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to support my 3 children. I am a single mother and my business was more than just a dream, it was a necessity. I’ve had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and provide for my family. Through it all, I have always worked in roles that allowed me to be independent and uplift and empower others. In 2005, I lost my mother to cancer. Watching my mother’s battle with cancer and the battle of so many other women in the African American community in Iowa I discovered there was a particular need for services that catered to the unique health and beauty needs of women battling cancer and were inclusive of women of color. I honor my mother’s memory by providing transitional hair pieces and wigs to women fighting cancer and a series of beauty services in my boutique designed to complement each woman’s unique healing process. My goal is to use a portion of the proceeds from our sales to provide hair units to any cancer survivor who needs one, free of charge.
For all of my customers, no matter what phase or stage of life, I provide a personal, curated shopping experience. Whether someone is looking for the perfect outfit for a night out or a Monday morning job interview, I take pride in ensuring each customer has a personal one-on-one shopping experience. Once we’ve selected the right outfit for the occasion, customers can be seated with an on-site stylist to complete their look with hair and make-up professionals. As the era of large department store experiences are quickly coming to and end, Pandy’s Closet is carving out its own niche, brick and mortar boutique that offers multiple services in one location.