Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Boyle.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The dream of owning a boutique started long before Destination Asbury opened it’s doors. Growing up some of my favorite memories were spent shopping with my mom, Tracey, and my grandmother, Annie. While we loved supporting small, locally owned businesses, we often struggled to find a boutique that offered something for all three generations, both in style and price point. That experience planted a seed for what would eventually become Destination Asbury.
My passion for retail began at just 13 years old and eventually led me to Johnson & Wales University, where I earned my degree in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Marketing. I spent more than a decade away from “The Motherland of NJ”. While gone, I spent time in different states across the country and gained experience through various retail management and training programs. I also worked as a wholesale brand manager for a clothing line that, in full-circle moment we now carry in the store.
In August 2022, my mom and I turned that longtime dream into a reality, opening Destination Asbury Boutique in the heart of vibrant downtown Asbury Park. Our vision was simple: to create a safe, welcoming space where women of all ages and sizes could shop together, feel part of a community, discover their personal style, and hopefully leave feeling a little better than when they walked in.
What began as three generations of women shopping together became the inspiration for a business we’re incredibly proud to call our own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a small business is certainly not for the faint of heart! We opened Destination Asbury with the mentality of “we don’t know what we don’t know” and more than four years later I can confidently say we’ve learned A LOT (and still don’t know everything). As first-time business owners, we’ve made mistakes, learned lessons the hard way, and figured plenty of things out as we went. Navigating an unpredictable economy certainly hasn’t made things easier, but we do our best to adapt, get creative and keep moving forward with a healthy dose of stubborn optimism.
Of course, there’s also a unique experience of owning a business with your mother! As much as we are close and love each other, navigating the balances between being business partners and being mother and daughter comes with it’s own set of challenges. We don’t always agree, we have different approaches at times, and sometimes it’s difficult to leave work at work. Learning when to put on our business partner hats and when to just be mom and daughter has been an ongoing lesson in itself. However, I wouldn’t want to go on this journey with anyone else.
One of the biggest challenges is something people don’t always see, the personal sacrifices that comes with business ownership. There are missed family gatherings, important celebratory moments, trips with friends, and countless moments where we would rather be somewhere else other than behind the register. When it’s your business, it’s incredibly difficult to ever fully clock out and find that work/ life balance. The mental load is constant, and burnout is very real.
We’re still learning how to find that balance, and I don’t think we’ll ever have it completely figured out. But we are incredibly proud of what we’re building, even on the days when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering what on earth we have signed ourselves up for!
We’ve been impressed with Destination Asbury Boutique , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Destination Asbury, we believe in outfits that start conversation, expressing yourself unapologetically, and that feeling when you put something on and just KNOW it’s you. Around here “too much” doesn’t exist! We carefully hand pick and curate a collection of clothing and accessories that’s fun, unique, affordable, and constantly evolving. Our goal isn’t to tell women what they should wear, but to help them discover what makes them feel like the most confident version of themselves. Fashion should be fun, personal, and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, size, or budget.
But the clothes are only part of what we do! We offer complimentary styling appointments, helping women explore new styles, step outside of their comfort zones, or simply rediscover their love for getting ready in the morning. Beyond the racks, we’re always finding an excuse to bring people together, whether it’s a themed shopping event, a collaboration with another business or organization, or throw a good old-fashioned party (and trust me, we LOVE an excuse to throw a party). We try not to take ourselves too seriously (there’s enough of that in the world), and I think that energy is reflected in everything we do.
Being part of downtown Asbury Park also means being a part of something much bigger than our four walls. We’re passionate about supporting our fellow small businesses, collaborating with local organizations, and finding opportunities to give back as much as we can. I often jokingly refer to Asbury Park as “Sesame Street” because of the colorful personalities, familiar faces, and genuine sense of community you experience just walking down the street. It’s a city full of creativity, individuality, and people who aren’t afraid to be themselves, and we feel incredibly lucky to contribute to that energy. We believe that when small businesses support one another the entire community benefits.
We are so grateful to witness and be part of the magic that this funky little city by the sea carries and we’re so lucky to call it home.
How do you think about happiness?
Opening Destination Asbury has truly been everything I ever dreamed of, but somehow, it’s given me so much more than I could have imagined. Getting to bring this longtime dream to life alongside my mom has been one of the greatest joys of my life. We’ve always shared a love for fashion and dreamed of owning a clothing store of our own, but I never imagined this experience could bring us even closer than we already were. Through the highs, the lows, and everything in between, we’ve built something together that I know we’ll cherish forever.
Some of the greatest happiness has come from the relationships we’ve built along the way. Our little Destination Asbury tribe has grown into something so special, from our incredible team and fellow business owners to customers who have turned into familiar faces, friends, and even chosen family. Our customers are quite literally the reason we get to be here every day, and that’s something we will never take for granted.
There’s also an incredible sense of fulfillment in knowing that even the smallest gestures can create a positive ripple effect. Whether it’s hosting a community event, collaborating with organizations like Blue Dot Community and Mary’s Place by the Sea, or simply finding a way to brighten someone’s day, being able to use our little boutique as a platform to make a difference has brought us so much joy.
On a more personal level, what I never could have anticipated was just how healing this business would be for me. Destination Asbury has given me a huge sense of purpose, confidence, and fulfillment that goes far behind owning a clothing store. I hold so much pride in our story, in the community we’ve become part of, and in the life we’ve built around this dream. I genuinely couldn’t imagine my life without it now.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey, it’s that the right people and the right place can make you feel completely comfortable being exactly who you are. To our Destination Asbury tribe, thank you for embracing us, believing in us, and allowing us to be unapologetically ourselves. You’ve made this dream bigger than we ever imagined, and we can’t wait to see how far we can take it and how many destinations we can reach.
We may have been the ones who opened the doors, but you’re the ones who made Destination Asbury what it is today. We are forever grateful.
Pricing:
- Affordable pricing (almost everything under $100)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopdestinationasbury.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop__destinationasbury/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopDestinationAsbury/
