If you survey all the holdings of her micro corporate empire, you may come away with the impression that Kelly Jansens Boos is getting rich.
She's not, and that's just fine with her for right now.
"My goal is to pay my bills, number one, and just to be happy in what I do," says Boos, who owns and operates a special events company, a business that makes recycled and eco-friendly pet accessories, a European trunk show company and is now launching From Paris With Love, a show that aims to bring fashion, live mannequins, French wines and food to metro Grand Rapids.
"I cannot see myself being happy sitting at a desk job eight hours a day," says Boos, a 43-year-old dynamo who started her first business with a friend five years ago. "I just can't do it anymore. I really love getting out. I love having my own schedule, commanding my own jobs."
At home in Europe
If someone were to pick two common themes running through all her businesses, it would be fashion and dogs.
She comes by her interest in fashion honestly, inspired by her mother, Diane Jansens, who would make clothes for Boos, her brother Kevin and sister Kerry as they were growing up in the Jansens household.
At one point, fashion designer was on her list of potential careers before she settled on studying advertising and public relations at Grand Valley State University. "I tried sewing, and my mother has the patience, and I don't," she says. "I have more of the creative eye, and maybe I could've drawn some things, but you have to be able to sew as well when you're a fashion designer."
Now that Boos is an adult, she has embraced a style that's her own -- taken largely from fashion in Europe that appeals to her eye.
Her interest in fashion prompted Boos to launch Blush European Clothing and Adventure five years ago with her friend, Ann Swanson. Boos and Swanson will select clothing from fashion centers in Europe, then bring samples back to Grand Rapids for small intimate gatherings of fashion-forward buyers who can order the clothing through Blush.
In August, Boos is branching out on a new venture that she describes as a "European experience" -- From Paris With Love. She's co-collaborating with Jimmy Le of Social Dragon and Cara Essick Ontiveros of Sexy Cara Productions on the event to be held at Bar Divani in Grand Rapids on Aug. 31. "We're going to transport people to the streets of Paris," Boos says of the event.
Boos, Le and Ontiveros contacted acquaintances in Paris and hired them to do the shopping for From Paris With Love. "The shoppers have a fabulous eye," said Ontiveros, 34, who currently lives in Grand Rapids, but spent part of her childhood in Louisville, Ky. Ontiveros is a project manager for various events and also does consulting for various non-profit organizations.
Boos has invested her money in the overseas clothing and hired Jocelyne Gomes and John Christian as the shoppers for From Paris With Love. Boos met French natives Gomes and Christian a couple years ago while traveling for Blush, and she met up with them in Amsterdam this past September.
Instead of tailored clothing, the shoppers will display clothes in small,medium and large sizes, making it easier for people of all sizes to find a unique piece. There will also be scarves, handbags, jewelry and other accessories.
The event, however, is not only about French art and fashion. Organizers are putting a local spin on From Paris With Love by inviting area artists such as Richard App and jewelry maker Lisa Lehmann to show their pieces as well. George Aquino from the JW Marriott will be the DJ, and Boos has invited guest hosts who have either lived in France, or have an affiliation with fashion.
One of those guest hosts is Brittany Fowler, a 22-year-old who recently moved to Grand Rapids from California, and who created the Grand Rapids fashion blog, Grand Rapids Style Stalker.
"I was so excited when Kelly got in touch with me to work on this event with her," Fowler says. "Fashion is a big part of my life, so I am thrilled to be working on an event that brings international fashion to Grand Rapids."
Tickets for the events are $15, and if attendees bring in a gently used item of clothing, they get $10 for a drink the next time they visit Bar Divani.
"Kelly is so detailed and organized," Ontiveros says. "Any fires to put out, we'd know in advance."
Going to the dogs
Fashion isn't Boos' only passion. Her love of dogs has inspired names for her other two businesses -- Black Dog Productions and Green Dog Pet Accessories. Boos credits black lab, Bodie, as an inspiration for a lot of things she does.
"I've rescued three black dogs, because black dogs are the ones that get put down before the other dogs because they don't photograph well," she says. "So that says something about people."
Black Dog Productions, which has been operating for three years, specializes in trade shows, show rooms and special events. She started the company when she was laid off from her previous job, which also specialized in trade shows and show rooms. She admits starting her own company was a big step, but she decided to take a risk..
"You have to make your own opportunity," Boos says. "You have to be creative, and you can't give up. You just have to be positive."'
Her latest business is Green Dog Pet Accessories, which is in its eighth month and specializes in recycled and eco-friendly pet accessories.
Boos credits her parents for instilling a hard work ethic in her. Her father, Bill Jansens, is an immigrant from the Netherlands who learned flooring as a skill in order to make a living. He currently owns his own commercial flooring business.
"He came over here and made a good business for himself, and when times were really tough, he picked up two more jobs," Boos says. "So I've always known that it's a risk, and it wasn't always pleasant in our house – times were tight – but I learned that hard work ethic from him."
It's that work ethic that comes out to those who collaborate with her as well.
"She's very real," Ontiveros says. "There are no pretensions, she's very kind and says what she's going to do. She never blows you off, and people are just not like that."
Lindsay Patton-Carson moved to West Michigan seven years ago to pursue a journalism degree at Grand Valley State University. She is an associate editor for Revue magazine, a West Michigan entertainment guide.
Photos:
Kelly Boos (5)
Photographs by Brian Kelly -All Rights Reserved