TPOM~Passionate Styling With Purpose

Why?  

Why start a boutique?  

A simple question with what most may think has a simple answer…

because, HELLO, it's super fun!  Kind of a "duh" question don't you think;)!  

Let me share why I started a boutique and a little about me…

Hi, I'm Jen, Owner/Buyer for That Place on Main! 

Me, in a nutshell…

Broken, Forgiven, Restored & Redeemed by Grace

Wife to an amazing husband (who likes to clean, a keeper I know ;)

Momma Bear to four young men (Casey, Corey, Evan and Owen)

Life Group Leader to the most amazing group of teen girls (they're gonna change the world)

Daughter, Granddaughter, Sister, Aunt, Niece, Cousin

Owner/Buyer of a cool new place in downtown Tipp ;)

Friend to some of the best women out there, I am Blessed!

Advocate for the fight against the selling of Humans (Human/Sex Trafficking)

Interesting facts about me (just for fun;):

I despise clowns, popsicle sticks, wooden coffee stirrers and Dr. Pepper.  

I have an addiction to coffee (i know right;), anything salty, jeeps, all things vintage and the color NAVY!!!

I am completely intrigued by the military (or more accurately the FBI/CIA/any branch that is secretive). I'm not a big book junkie but if I do read it has to be about something truly interesting to me and real, I don't read fiction crap (sorry if I offended;)!  I recently finished American Sniper and loved my new perspective on what our military looks like from the inside out!  Opened my eyes for sure!

I don't like people touching my stuff (only child for ten years will do that to ya;).

I LOVE Guns 'n Roses, AC/DC, Madonna (old school), pretty much anything 80's is my fave ;)!  I listen to KLove when I drive, it inspires my day and helps keep me grounded!

I have five brothers and one sister but am the only child between my biological parents. 

 I can drive a forklift (well maybe, it's been a while).

Mexican food could be served daily and I'd be ok with that.  

I have never traveled outside of the USA. 

My favorite job:  working for Victoria's Secret Catalogue Call Center, yes you probably talked to me if you ordered via phone back in the day;).
This was the job that shaped my heart in to finally knowing what I wanted to do with my life.  

Then life happened, unexpected paths and dreams put on hold, my little family began…and here I sit 15 years later living out my dream that looks way different than I envisioned some 16 years ago.  And it's funny how I'm so thankful for the divine intervention and the course change.  I have a vision of my goals that looks extremely different today than all those years ago and I'm floored at the reason why.  Back then I knew nothing of human trafficking, I wouldn't have had a clue what it was if someone mentioned it to me.  Today, the raw vision of what it looks like is clear and unnerving.  It angers me, I lose sleep, I lose focus on daily tasks because I just sit and think and pray of how God can use me to end this atrocity against humanity once and for all!  I HATE IT!!!  HATE IT, HATE IT, HATE IT with every ounce of passion in my body!  That same passion that drives my business lights a fire of fury in my heart to save the enslaved, to give them a new life, to love them and to show them what hope and redemption look like.  And so this "dream" to be a buyer of a major department store has changed quite a bit.  I now crave to buy garments that have meaning, that offer hope and that aren't made by children sitting on some cement floor of some nasty factory for 15 hours a day all because the evil art of consumption exists.  We have consumed ourselves with consumption!!!  Don't get me wrong, I love to shop, love it!  Buying for the store is stupid fun!  I seriously pinch myself that this is my life at times!!!  But as much as I love it, I hate even more the fact that purchasing has become powerful in the way humans are viewed and treated.  Which is how my vision of That Place on Main came to be.  There had to be a change, there had to be a way to shop and still be fair to human life.  I don't buy into the whole self-centered world, I won't buy into it EVER.  I believe that we have a power in our purchase that can fuel our passion for helping others.  I have passed on many adorable items for the store because I just get an uneasy feeling about where or how they're produced.  Have I bought from questionable sources, I'm sure I have!  I can only go off what people tell me.  BUT I ASK every vendor about the manufacturing facilities, what they know about them, where they are, who runs them, etc.  I have passed on many lines because I didn't get warm fuzzies with the answers I heard.  I'm ok with that!  I know that my market is competitive, there are boutiques popping up around every corner, it's the latest trend.  I think what sets TPOM apart from other boutiques is our commitment to ethically produced products, which yes cost more, it's worth it don't you think.  I'm a firm believer in shopping local :)!  You have the power to literally change lives when you shop local and you shop small.  I promise that!  

Only just opening in November of 2014, your TPOM purchases have helped so many in so many ways!  

Your purchases have:

helped the local food pantry,

supported a missionary in El Salvador,

supported a short term missionary in Thailand and India (combatting sex trafficking),

you have given a mother battling cancer extra income by purchasing her scarves,

you have employeed many women in Uganda, Ethopia and Haiti with your purchase of certain lines.  I could go on and on honestly.

YOUR PURCHASES ARE EMPOWERING OTHERS!!!  

Stop and think about that for a moment!

Stop and think what that looks like to women in third world countries who have to sell their own children because they can't afford to feed them, let that sink in!!!  I am forever grateful for the opportunity to provide you with adorable stuff (remember I don't buy ugly ;) AND show you how together we can change the world with the power of our purchases!  The journey has been amazing thus far and I'm super excited to share some news with you!

This Thursday, my dear friend, two of my life group girls from church (they're both 16) and I are traveling to NEW YORK CITY for Fashion Week.  We are beyond excited for obvious reasons but my heart literally races with excitement for the Fashion Show we were invited to attend.  Hayley, the girls and I will be attending Elegantees Fashion Show and watching the debut and Spring launch of Anna Malika, a former victim of sex trafficking turned Fashion Designer!  This amazing company, Elegantees, was founded by Katie, who shares the same desire as me, to end slavery.  All of Elegantees products are made in Nepal by women rescued from sex trafficking.  The current waiting list of 500+ women begging for employment at this sewing house is far too ridiculous for me to live with.  I have made it my goal to help support Elegantees in any way possible.  Currently they need to make 200+ garments to stay up and running, so we are SUPER EXCITED to announce that we will be carrying Elegantees in TPOM.  Our end goal is employ the 500+ women in Nepal so that they no longer have to sell themselves.  We will be launching the line in house after Fashion Week!  Don't worry you'll hear all about it ;)!  We will keep you posted with pictures from this weekend on social media.  Please be praying, this is the start of something amazing, I just know it!  

I LOVE people, I adore their stories and I thrive off helping others, it brings me great JOY, unspeakable JOY!  If you have a story you'd like to share, please email us at jen@placeonmain.com, if you have a need that we can possibly assist with, please don't hesitate to contact us via email, phone 937-424-6109 or by stopping by That Place on Main, 125 E. Main St. Tipp City, OH 45371

From the depths of my soul, I thank you for supporting TPOM and our mission, it means the world!

Together I know WE can change the world, WE CAN BRING HOPE to the broken!  

Won't you join me :),

xoxo Jen