With Memorial Day Weekend right around the corner, the Jersey Shore is always a go-to for Philadelphians looking for a close getaway. For this month’s First Friday feature, we caught up with entrepreneur and girl boss, Caitlin Quirk. This Philadelphian has been working down the shore year-round to give beach-goers a chance to let their imaginations can truly come to life.
Caitlin has taken her passions from Philadelphia to Ocean City, NJ, and shows no signs of slowing down! Learn more about Caitlin’s various family-friendly businesses, entrepreneur advice, and an exciting project set to launch later this year.
Philly PR Girl (PPRG): Tell us about your background. How did studying fashion design play a role in becoming your own boss? What sparked your decision to become an entrepreneur?
Caitlin Quirk (CQ): When I graduated from Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University) in 2012 with a BS in Fashion Design, the only thing I knew was that I never wanted to work in a corporate setting. I had two options: continue going to school for business or roll the dice and try out the whole owning a business thing. I decided to open a children’s clothing store called Bangles N Bows on the boardwalk of Ocean City, New Jersey.
While I wasn’t designing the clothing, my degree played a huge role in my success. In college, we learned how to take an idea from concept to reality. I took those skills and put them to designing and building a retail space. I love the process of building (physically and experientially), which led me to my next concept, Bowfish Studios.
PPRG: Tell us about Bowfish Studios and its imagination stylists. How did you think of this one-of-a-kind interactive experience?
CQ: I came up with the idea my second year while I was still on the boardwalk. It was one of those ah-ha moments when I thought, How fun would it be for little girls to become mermaids at the beach? With limited space on the boardwalk, it wasn’t in the cards, so I decided to make the move downtown to Asbury Avenue. It started out as a simple concept of turning little girls into mermaids, but has grown into an interactive experience where children (and adults, too!) can bring their imaginations to life. With the help of our Imagination Stylists, our clients can become magical creatures, like unicorns, dragons, fairies, and our most popular, mermaids.
PPRG: As a Philly native, why did you choose to build your brand in Ocean City, NJ? How have you built a community to engage with local residents and visitors?
CQ: I chose Ocean City because I thought it was just going to be my summer gig. Live and work by the beach in the summer and get the winter off and go back to Philly. To me, it was living the dream, you know? After three years on the boardwalk, I realized if I really wanted the business to be successful (and also launch Bowfish Studios), I had to give it 100% and stay open year-round. That decision has been one of the best I’ve made thus far. Moving down to Asbury Ave. and staying open year-round has really made my business a “local” one. This has given me so many opportunities to get to know fellow neighbors on a personal level. We really focus on throwing events and activities with our community on fun, unique activities. We continue doing this throughout the summer, so our seasonal residents can get in on the action, too.
PPRG: Share some things people should know about OCNJ during its off-season! What do you miss most about living in Philadelphia?
CQ: I like to say that Ocean City feels like 1950’s America. We call it the “bubble,” but it’s really great to be a part of such a tight-knit community. OC’s year-round population is 11k, which is pretty small, so you get to know everyone really well. I’m on a first name basis with my mailman, my trash guys, all of my neighbors, and most of my local customers. We all watch each other’s backs and take care of each other. A group of us even have Taco Tuesday nights. I absolutely love having such a strong community.
Adjusting to OCNJ life was a challenge at first. I lived in Manayunk for six years, then moved to a new community with few connections. Luckily, having the store helped me adjust quickly. The only thing I have yet to adjust to (and don’t think I ever will) is the lack of diverse food options. Oh man, I miss Philly foods the most. It seems like we’re overwhelmed by pizza and ice cream in summer, which doesn’t help the beach bod! Though we have a few great year-round restaurants, which are lifesavers.
PPRG: Since Bowfish Studios is extremely family-friendly, do you have events or activities coming up for Mother’s Day? How can guests reserve their spot?
CQ: Absolutely! Every second Friday of the month, Bowfish has a different event geared toward all different ages. This month’s event has a Mother’s Day theme and is a perfect gift to give to a mom. It’s a Mother’s Day Spa Experience for moms and their little ones (ages 3+) to spend quality time together. The experience includes face mask making, manicures, photo-booth polaroids, and light refreshments with a pairing of Timber and Vine. The event is $50 per pair and takes place Friday, May 10 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Guests can learn more and book their time slots at https://bowfishstudios.com/events/.
PPRG: We love keeping up with your work and passions through your Instagram! It’s inspiring how hands-on you are with every project. How have you learned your carpentry (among other) skills to build your businesses?
CQ: I learned the concept of carpentry through my background in fashion design. I spent four years learning how to construct, pattern and produce apparel. Believe it or not, the process is exactly the same…except for the fact that I get to use more exciting equipment now. The rest I’ve learned by being extremely confident in my abilities and a lot of trial and error.
PPRG: What advice would you give to those aspiring to start their own business?
CQ: My advice to anyone starting any type of business is: to believe in yourself fiercely and be prepared to fail on a constant basis. You will be told that your idea is crazy — and be told “no” even more. The only way you’ll to success is by not giving into failure. My all-time favorite person to follow is Adam Grant. In his research, he shows that the only difference between a successful business and a failed one is resilience.
PPRG: Aside from being a boss babe, what else are you passionate about? Where can we find you on the weekends?
CQ: I’m really passionate about the environment and love spending as much time as possible outdoors. I even try to work it into my daily work week. My all-time favorite activities include riding my bike on the boardwalk, doing yoga on the beach, and snuggling on my porch with my boyfriend Drew and our two cats.
PPRG: What can we expect to see next from you? Can you share any exciting projects in the works?
CQ: I hope to be opening my newest venture, DriftSpaces, in late 2019! Fingers crossed! DriftSpaces is my take on — and a reboot of — the traditional local community center. Think of a mix between WeWork & the public library. It’ll be a space where members will find a collaborative working environment that professionals crave. There will also be an inclusive outlet for experiencing the kind of active, outdoors-oriented community our town is famous for. You can check our more information on the website at https://driftspaces.com/.
