💻 The Truth Behind Building J. Dayton’s: Balancing Motherhood, Work, and a Dream
When I first had the idea for J. Dayton’s, I imagined it would be all fun and creativity — picking cute outfits, designing packaging, dreaming up the perfect boys’ boutique brand. And while that is part of it, the truth is… it’s also a lot of late nights, coffee-fueled website edits, and learning as I go.
I wanted to share a little transparency about what it’s really like to build a Knoxville-based online boys’ boutique from the ground up — especially as a mom who’s doing most of it during nap times and rare quiet moments.
💙 The Reality of Being a One-Woman Show
Right now, J. Dayton’s is powered by a whole lot of heart, determination, and maybe a little chaos. I’m a sole proprietor, which means I’m handling almost everything — from designing the website and setting up Shopify, to creating email campaigns, researching suppliers, managing social media, and writing blog posts like this one.
My husband, Jon, and a few close friends help when they can (and I’m so thankful for that), but most of this is being built independently in the spare moments between work and motherhood. My nine-month-old son, JD, keeps me busy, and he’s the biggest reason I push forward — he’s the heart behind this dream.
🧵 The Challenges (and Lessons) of Starting Small
Starting a business as a small, mom-owned boutique isn’t easy. There are moments of excitement — like when I find the perfect product line or finish a design I love — and moments of frustration when the tech side feels overwhelming.
Building a Shopify website, setting up emails, planning launches, and figuring out marketing... it’s all been a learning curve. But each step is worth it, because I know J. Dayton’s is something special — a place that will make shopping for boys’ boutique clothing easier and more enjoyable for moms like me.
☕️ What Keeps Me Going
Even on the hard days, I remind myself why I started: to give moms a space where boys’ fashion feels thoughtful, fun, and affordable. And to show my son, JD, that dreams are built one small step (and maybe one nap time) at a time.
This brand isn’t just a business — it’s a reflection of my family, our community here in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the beautiful chaos of mom life.
🤍 Thank You for Being Here
If you’ve been following along, thank you for your patience and support as I build this from scratch. When we finally launch, I hope you’ll see all the love and effort that went into every detail — from the website design to the clothes themselves.
Until then, follow along on Instagram and Facebook @JDaytons for updates, sneak peeks, and honest moments from our journey.
With love and gratitude,
Miranda Grimes
Founder, J. Dayton’s Boutique