Behind every brilliant business are brilliant businesspeople that are ready and willing to put in the work to bring the best to their customers.
And yes, and it helps if those same businesspeople are women - in a great pair of premium denim, cute top, and locally crafted jewelry.
Staci Stevens Barnes studied Apparel Design at Oregon State University.
After graduating, she launched her fashion career at Nordstrom's Seattle headquarters as an Associate Designer and filling other time as a retail consultant.
Meanwhile, Jenelle Landgraf, a graduate from Seattle Pacific University was busy working a corporate position by day and scheming a boutique business plan by night.
All of the best businesses start with hard-working people with a shared passion and an eagerness/willingness to put themselves out there and to see what they can accomplish.
At least that’s how it was for Staci Stevens Barnes and Janelle Landraf.
Staci studied Apparel Design at Oregon State University, and after graduating launched her career in fashion at Nordstrom’s Seattle headquarters as an Associate Designer and retail consultant.
Janelle, a graduate of Seattle Pacific University was busy working a corporate day job while building a boutique business plan by night.
In 2006, Staci and Jenelle joined forces and developed their idea of what an inviting boutique shopping experience should be.
Soon after, the shelves were stocked and the doors to Mapel Boutique opened in Leavenworth, Washington.
After three successful years in Leavenworth, Jenelle started a family and Staci assumed store ownership relocating Mapel to Bridgeport Village in her home state of Oregon.
Staci watched Mapel's popularity grow throughout the local community, and with an expanding web presence and online shopping; Mapel’s reach spread across the country.
With business flourishing and a desire to serve additional local communities it was only natural for Mapel Boutique to add a second and then a third location.
In 2016, the cozy and convenient West Linn location opened its doors, followed two years later in 2018, by a location the popular Bethany Village.
And not to be satisfied there, in 2018, Mapel Boutique launched its remote personal shopping service Marke, by Mapel.
Marke, by Mapel Boutique, is the shopping experience you didn't know you were missing. Using FaceTime, text, email and phone communication, Mapel Boutique stylists are available when you need to shop for that upcoming interview, vacation or special event.
With the evolution of Marke, and the business as a whole growing, it became clear that Mapel had outgrown the Oregon flagship Bridgeport Village space and a move was necessary.
In September 2019 Mapel relocated its headquarters larger to Lake Oswego in Lake View Village.
The move was bittersweet, but the transition from Bridgeport Village to Lake Oswego embodies Mapel’s core brand value of being “your local boutique” and is the perfect location for the new headquarters.
Today, Mapel Boutique excels at offering a variety of styles for every mom, friend and sister.
Mapel Boutique caters to the creative, fashionable, professional, and unique everyday woman.
Staci and her husband Brandon, both OSU graduates, have two girls that keep them grounded, yet always on their toes and actively involved in their West Linn and Portland-metro community.
Staci now spends most of her Mapel time supporting the day-to-day tasks of what is involved with owning a local boutique business, but her first and forever love is working with customers.
"I believe what we wear evokes how we feel. There is power and potential in dressing and I love working with customers to help them discover what that means for them. Each and every piece that Mapel carries has a story and reason for being part of our assortment and I love marrying the right piece with the right customer.” - Staci
