An idea hatched from one Harrisburg University student’s need to fulfill an internship requirement has grown into 10 years of business success.
Alexandria Keener Hammond, owner of My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe, launched her women’s consignment clothing boutique after finding it difficult to land an internship that suited her educational and schedule needs in 2012.
The decision, supported by Keener Hammond’s advisor and faculty, turned out to be a life changer as this month My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe celebrates its 10th anniversary of serving customers across the globe. Keener Hammond is the first HU student to launch a business and intern there at the same time.
“HU was instrumental to the start of my business in so many ways. My professors were encouraging, and at first didn’t realize that I was starting a legit business. Some of them thought it was a fake business at first, created just on paper for the internship,” Keener Hammond said. “HU spokesman Steve Infanti secured my first few press interviews to promote the business. My advisor, Interactive Media Professor Charles Palmer, talked me off of ledges multiple times, and was always encouraging me to push forward.”
Keener Hammond attended HU from 2010-2014 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in New Media Design and Production (since renamed Interactive Media).
My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe specializes in like-new clothing, shoes and accessories for women and children. The business sells items from high-end labels such as Kate Spade, Burberry, and more.
Launched as on online business in January of 2012, My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe expanded to include a mobile store in June of the same year. Almost a year later, Keener Hammond opened a storefront in downtown York and My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe was voted Best Of York (consignment category) by .Susquehanna Style magazine during the past seven years.
Going forward, Keener Hammond plans to keep following her entrepreneurial spirit she honed at HU by adding more dimensions to her business. She hopes to hire more employees to continue growing her storefront and online sales.
“My plans for My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe are always slightly changing, but the overall goal remains the same – Help customers and consignors turn their closets, and save money, without sacrificing the brands or designer pieces they love,” Keener Hammond said. “I’ll be forever grateful that there were people who believed in me and supported me when I came to them with this crazy idea. Had they said no I have no idea what I would be doing right now. I’ll be forever grateful that there were people who believed in me and supported me now.”
Harrisburg University congratulates Keener Hammond for 10 years of success!
To visit My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe online, visit https://mygirlfriendswardrobe.net/.
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