Local women have been turning to Jenny Joans Clothing for their fashion needs for more than two decades.
After all, the business can meet the apparel and accessory needs of women of all ages and sizes.
Jenny Joans has been owned by Jennifer and Mark Pettitt since it opened 23 years ago. Located in the 1200 block of Fourth Street in downtown Estevan, it employs six staff members who are knowledgeable about women鈥檚 fashions, and passionate about meeting the needs of Jenny Joans鈥� customers.
鈥淚 love what I do,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淓stevan is a great community to do business in. I鈥檓 passionate about fashion and this is my outlet.鈥�
They carry tops, jeans, dresses, skirts, accessories and many different styles of shoes.
鈥淲e鈥檒l satisfy your fashion cravings from head to toe,鈥� she said.
Jennifer knew a lot about the fashion world, and succeeding in business in Estevan, before she became an entrepreneur.
Her parents, Elenore and Norm Brosinski, owned Bastian Ladies Wear for nearly two decades. They purchased the furrier and clothing store in 1984.
鈥淚 was able to help out at the store, which definitely gave me the skills I needed to run a business,鈥� Jennifer recalled. 鈥淚 learned valuable and important lessons from my parents.鈥�
When the Brosinskis purchased Bastian Ladies Wear, it was located on Fifth Street in downtown Estevan. They eventually moved it to the Estevan Shoppers Mall, and continued to operate the business until they sold it in 2003.
Her parents also purchased another downtown clothing store, Jonathan鈥檚 on Fourth Street, which was located next to Frank鈥檚 on Fourth. The Brosinskis decided to convert Jonathan鈥檚 into Jenny Joans, and have their daughter operate the business.
It proved to be an easy transition, she said, and the timing was right to make a move.
鈥淭hey offered me the opportunity to run a ladies鈥� clothing store,鈥� Jennifer recalled. 鈥淚 was living in Saskatoon at the time and moved back. The store has been going strong for 23 years. It was a good move.鈥�
An entrepreneurial spirit and experience in the local business world weren鈥檛 the only assets that Elenore and Norm passed on to their daughter. Jennifer鈥檚 mother is a seamstress, which provided Jennifer with invaluable knowledge of fabrics, construction of clothes and everything associated with apparel.
鈥淚鈥檝e been around fashion my whole life,鈥� she said.
And while businesses have taken a hit during the economic slowdown, Jenny Joans has remained a popular place for shoppers in Estevan. Jennifer is thankful for the support she has received.
鈥淚 see the business continuing to thrive years down the road,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淓veryone is always looking for the latest trend and we try to accommodate those needs.鈥�
Customers should feel good about their clothes, shoes and accessories, and Jennifer said that she and the other employees at Jenny Joans are always happy when they can make that happen.
When she鈥檚 not at the store, Jennifer spends as much time as possible with her husband Mark, and their son Max. She enjoys all aspects of the arts, and is an avid gardener with a keen interest in plants.
