Meet Judy & Erin Dragoo | Owner at Judy Wear Boutique

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judy & Erin Dragoo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judy & Erin, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
“It helps ladies feel better about themselves. Mother nature isn’t always kind to our bodies as we age, so I love helping women find clothes that make them feel good. It also becomes a social thing as well — friendships develop at Judy Wear! The ladies develop a sense of camaraderie when they start talking about their sense of style, and we get them actively involved in each other’s fitting room experiences. And right now, so many people are still working from home, and they’re stuck wearing their pajamas all day; but we like to encourage them to get back into the habit of dressing up and feeling that sense of normalcy. We want Judy Wear to be a bright spot in our customers’ day, not just a shopping experience. We don’t want our ladies to come in and feel that they need to purchase something. We have ladies that come in just to talk and escape their everyday life. They feel comfortable at Judy Wear. There are ladies who haven’t left their house throughout the entire pandemic, and we’re the first place they come after twelve months. That makes us feel good.

We also like to get involved in local charities. Between October and May, we designate a specific charity to sponsor on the fourth Saturday of each month. We call it Sharing Saturday, where a percentage of our sales are donated to the selected charity.

Additionally, we promote other small businesses through a community board at the front desk, where other businesses can leave cards and flyers. ”

– Judy Dragoo, Owner at Judy Wear Boutique

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“It’s kind of like a Cheers bar without the booze. Everybody knows your name!”

-Ilene Ouradnik, Style Consultant at Judy Wear Boutique

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“Judy Wear is so much more than just a boutique. We’re a huge part of our customers’ lives, or at least I like to think we are. During the pandemic, Judy and I came in to make videos for them to watch at home just so they could feel some kind of connection and have something silly to look forward to in the morning. We have helped countless women find their outfits for birthdays, reunions and weddings, and I think that’s so meaningful for them to have that one-on-one attention. We’re like your best friend that lives down the street that has a huge closet she’s willing to share and a spunky fashion sense.”

-Erin Dragoo, Daughter-In-Law, Partner and Jewelry Buyer at Judy Wear Boutique

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
“I taught for 35 years at a title one school in Sierra Vista. I retired eleven years ago, When I was a teacher, I liked to create fun, seasonal shirts to wear for my students. Then the staff all started to want them, and so I would make them. And of course, I started making a little money. When teachers would wear my shirts, they would say, “Look, I’m wearing my Judy Wear!” That’s where I got the name. And then I started doing little festivals and events. It became very popular. When I couldn’t find clothes that I liked anymore when I was out shopping, I started to go to markets and buying things I liked wholesale. I used to get a lot of blanks and paint on them. Then I got old and sick of schlepping my stuff around, so I got a brick and mortar.

Getting to where I am today? It was actually pretty easy. I was just blessed. Everything just fell into place because we found the perfect location. There isn’t a lot happening in our little plaza, but we like that because we’re a destination shopping spot. It’s in the way back of the shopping center; we’re kind of tucked away back here, but once you find us, we’re so convenient. It’s close to Sun Lakes, and in between several retirement communities so it’s easily accessible for our customers, and it has ample parking.

We are tailored to a very specific clientele. We cater to women 55 and older, who are looking for clothing that is functional, fashionable, easy, comfortable and fits her lifestyle. Of course, we have customers of all ages, and rarely does anybody leave our store empty handed. We have a wide selection of clothes for all occasions, and a lot of it is wonderful for travel, too! We encourage our customers to tell us if they can’t find what they’re looking for, and we’re happy to order pieces to fit their needs. Our personal service, limited quantities of unique, handpicked products, and frequently updated inventory really set us apart.

We’re excited that we can finally start doing in-person fashion shows again! We’re starting to receive invitations, and we have one scheduled in Cottonwood in November! We also get excited when we receive compliments, and see our customers wearing our clothing and jewelry for their special occasions. They send us pictures or post them on Facebook, and it just brings a smile to our faces.

Along the way, I have learned to stay focused on the needs of our customers, and not to spread myself too thin. I keep a small business attitude, which keeps Judy Wear a passion and a hobby instead of just a job.

I love Judy Wear. It’s my love, it’s my passion and my focus. It gives me a purpose. One of the things that I think has been the most important is that Erin and I have developed a close relationship and partnership at Judy Wear.”

– Judy Dragoo, Owner at Judy Wear Boutique

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“She’s a natural fashion diva.”

-Sandi Brothers, Style Consultant at Judy Wear

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“I received my degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from ASU in December 2019. While I was going to school, I was also helping Judy build her brand and purchasing jewelry for the shop. Upon graduation, I decided that I didn’t want to leave Judy Wear to go pursue a career in public relations. Judy Wear is so special to me. I know that I won’t have this time with my mother-in-law forever, and we have so much fun running this business together. Why would I give this up?

Besides purchasing the jewelry and creating all the displays in the shop, a lot of my work is done behind the scenes. I created the Judy Wear logo, I designed and manage the website, take pictures of all the inventory, and post to our Facebook and Instagram accounts daily. I make sure that Judy’s presence is just as big online as it is in the store. Honestly, I know that all I have to do is to get people in the door, because as soon as they meet Judy, they’ll be customers for life. Everybody loves her. She’s so helpful, she’s funny, she’s honest, she’s open, and I feel like the women that come in can just relate to her. She’s what sets us apart from other businesses. Women can buy clothes anywhere, but not everywhere has a Judy.

When I am in the shop, Judy and I make a great styling team. She always puts together these really stylish outfits and then I get to top off the look with the jewelry. Years ago, I went through cosmetology school, and one of the things that we learned was the color wheel. I find that knowledge comes in handy when seeking out the perfect piece of jewelry, because I know what colors compliment each other, and how to add the ideal pop of a contrasting color.

The jewelry that I carry in the boutique is mostly loud statement pieces. You can expect to see a lot of color and unique shapes and materials. I want our jewelry to be something you don’t see in other places; I want each piece to make our ladies feel bold and confident every time they wear it. I also carry a small selection of Brighton jewelry, as well as other more traditional silver and gold pieces to make sure that I have a little something for every preference. But that’s one of the millions of things that I love about Judy Wear: we cater to the 55+ woman, but you can still find something you love at any age.

One thing that I love is our style parties. Women will schedule a time to come in with a group of their friends after hours, and we serve them little finger foods and drinks, and they just shop together. It makes us feel so good that a group of ladies wants to spend their evening shopping with us.

I’m hopeful and excited for our future. We have already met so many wonderful people in the past three years, and we continue to meet more every day. I love helping our customers find clothes and accessories that make them feel like the best version of themselves, and I feel so fortunate to be part of Judy Wear.”

– Erin Dragoo, Daughter-In-Law, Partner and Jewelry Buyer at Judy Wear Boutique

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
“Definitely dinner at Stone and Vine. Shopping at Judy Wear. Going to Wild Horse Pass Casino. I love walking around Downtown Chandler and Gilbert. If you need some little Arizona food gifts, D’Vine Gourmet is a cute little spot to visit. I can take them with me to water aerobics at Cottonwood.”

-Judy Dragoo, Owner at Judy Wear Boutique

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“Well, of course our first stop would be shopping at Judy Wear! Grab a coffee at Peixoto in Downtown Chandler, then walk down to Burst of Butterflies and paint some pottery. Grab lunch at San Tan Brewery, which is just a short walk away. Then, if we aren’t in a food coma, head over to Escape Chandler and test out our puzzle-solving skills! The next day, it’s breakfast at The Hangar — one of my favorite breakfast spots! It’s located right on the runway of the Chandler Airport, so you get to watch all of the little airplanes take off. Shopping at Chandler Fashion Center. Early dinner at Stone and Vine. Then, depending on how adventurous my guest is, I vote we go on a sunset hot air balloon ride over Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert with Aerogelic Ballooning! They give you champagne after your flight if that’s any motivation…”

– Erin Dragoo, Daughter-In-Law, Partner and Jewelry Buyer at Judy Wear Boutique

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“Downtown Chandler of course — they have lots of fun restaurants, breweries, bars. The farmers market in Downtown Chandler, and in Downtown Gilbert. There’s a great spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, and a wonderful golf course. And a great golf course at San Marcos. Dinner at The Buttes, off the I-10, off the mountains there. I would take them to Tortilla Flats, a little western town. And Superstition Mountains, there’s a steakhouse and barbecue called Lost Dutchman’s Mine, a really cool place.”

-Sandi Brothers, Style Consultant at Judy Wear Boutique

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“Have you ever been to Organ Stop Pizza? It’s a guy at a great big organ, and you can tell him what you want him to play and eat pizza. Also, Tortilla Flats, you drive through the mountains and end up in a cool little town with shops and restaurants. There’s a restaurant there, where you saddle up to the bar, and you’re actually on a saddle.”

-Ilene Ouradnik, Style Consultant at Judy Wear Boutique

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“We are so grateful for all of the women in Chandler and Sun Lakes for welcoming us with open arms into their community. They have helped us grow, and helped us keep our doors open during a challenging time. They have become more than just customers to us, but lifelong friends.”

– Judy Dragoo, Owner at Judy Wear Boutique

Website: https://www.judywearboutique.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judywearboutique/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudyWearBoutique

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/judy-wear-boutique-chandler-4?osq=judy+wear+boutique

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvFWgVMWn8u12F1DPPb-80Q