In 2015, Jennifer Johns began a boutique clothes enterprise often called “Simply JJ,” touring throughout Central Illinois to introduce customers to the LuLaRoe model.
“It just kind of took on a life of its own,” she stated. “So I went from doing what we called pop-up parties for the first couple of years to, in about 2018, pretty much strictly did it in my home and online.”
Then, in September 2023, the enterprise opened a storefront at 200 W. Washington St. in Monticello the place it now provides items, equipment and residential decor along with clothes.
Simply JJ will have fun its tenth anniversary with an open home from 6 to eight p.m. on Thursday, which is 10 years to the day of Johns’ preliminary launch social gathering in her front room.
The occasion will embody giveaways, in-store specials, refreshments and a deal with for longtime prospects — those that usher in a chunk of LuLaRoe clothes beforehand bought from the store in its early days will obtain a free reward.
“I thought it would be fun to just see some of the original pieces that people have held onto,” Johns stated, including that she’s not asking prospects to half with this stuff.
She stated it feels “pretty darned amazing” to hit this milestone.
“The name of the game is learning to pivot,” she stated. “… I feel like the way people shop has changed a lot in the last 10 years.”
About half of her gross sales had been happening in individual when the pandemic hit. Johns then switched to utilizing Facebook Live to carry gross sales.
“The byproduct of that is that I’ve really been able to build connections with people all over the country,” she stated. “And it sounds so strange, I know, but a lot of them will tell me they (tune) into the live show rather than television when we’re on, which I think is pretty neat. And I just feel like we’ve been able to connect with people in that realm that we never would have otherwise.”
The opening of Simply JJ’s Monticello storefront hasn’t quenched its on-line gross sales. Johns stated the individuals who had been already shopping for garments on-line now purchase every little thing else bought by the shop.
This triggered her to deliver her son onboard in fall 2024 to handle the shop, together with delivery and logistics.
LEFT: General supervisor Jeremy Bustamante, proper, and franchisee David Verkler speak in regards to the new Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Champaign. BELOW: The restaurant’s arcade.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s goals for mid-August opening
The new Beef ‘O’ Brady’s at 730 W. Town Center Blvd. in Champaign is predicted to open Aug. 18, stated franchisee David Verkler.
“The response has been crazy,” he stated.
Before the massive day, nonetheless, there are nonetheless a number of objects on the restaurant’s to-do-list, together with company coaching.
General supervisor Jeremy Bustamante stated the enterprise has employed about 60 folks thus far — after interviewing, by his estimate, simply over 300 candidates within the span of a pair weeks.
“We turned off couple categories because we were overwhelmed,” Verkler stated.
He advised The News-Gazette that the restaurant has acquired its well being division allow, and metropolis data present {that a} native liquor license has been issued.
As of Wednesday, the enterprise was not but listed on the state’s on-line liquor license lookup.
Verkler and his spouse, Maria, additionally personal one other Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Bourbonnais, which opened in 2006.
Maria described the restaurant as providing “a little something for everyone.”
“A party of 10, everybody can find something on there to eat,” Bustamante agreed. “You don’t have to just come in and grab a burger — but they are delicious.”
Champaign facility is now the primary downstate “DMV+”
State and native officers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Champaign DMV on Monday to have fun new providers and modifications which are anticipated to cut back wait occasions on the facility at 2012 Round Barn Road.
“The DMV+ utilizes a One-Stop-Shop design that involves cross-training employees to accommodate customers seeking all DMV tasks, including driver services — such as license and ID renewals, REAL IDs and driving tests — and vehicle services, including registration renewals, sticker and plate purchases and title work,” state officers stated, including that prospects will be capable of entry providers at a single station and undergo fewer steps for a “more intuitive flow.”
State officers stated the power’s 23 One-Stop-Shop service counters will likely be staffed by 32 cross-trained workers, together with three bilingual staff who converse Spanish.
Additionally, the location now provides extra Secretary of State providers not discovered at conventional DMVs, together with these within the enterprise, administrative hearings, index and personnel departments.
State officers stated the power was chosen to grow to be a DMV+ via a “data-driven approach” that sought to cut back the variety of out-of-town journeys required for about 7,000 registered enterprise brokers in Champaign and 1,500 in Urbana.
“The new Champaign DMV+ embodies the progress that we’ve made over the past two years and benefits from synergies generated by all of our modernization initiatives working in concert,” stated Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “This state-of-the-art facility will dramatically reduce the ‘Time Tax’ residents and businesses pay while eliminating unnecessary trips to our offices in Springfield and Chicago.”
The Champaign web site is now an appointment-only DMV, officers stated.