Queen of Sports

NASCAR’s Deborah Renshaw Parker Opening Clothing Boutique

August 26th, 2010 | Posted by Queen of Sports in Couples,Fashion,NASCAR

Former NASCAR driver Deborah Renshaw Parker is getting ready to open up her own fashion boutique in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In November 2006, Deborah married NASCAR crew chief Shawn Parker. The couple met at the Daytona International Speedway in February of 2004.

We had the opportunity to ask Deborah a couple questions about her new business venture while she was in Los Angeles selecting brands to carry in her new store. Sounds like so much fun!

Queen Of Sports: Have you always been interested in fashion and retail?

Deborah: Absolutely, fashion has always interested me because of the ever changing looks that have evolved over time.   I’m so excited about having the opportunity to bring the latest trends and styles to Bowling Green after being at the MAGIC [Men's Apparel Guild of Southern California - clothing convention] show in Vegas and being shown around the LA Mart this week. I think growing up around the automotive retail business (family business), truly helped shape my future in the retail industry…whether it’s the automotive or fashion industry.

Queen Of Sports: How did you encounter this opportunity?

Deborah: After my husband and I had our second child, I had this desire to start my own business. I ended up staying home after giving birth to our daughter and found lots of time to start drawing up my business plan. We ended up going out for breakfast one morning and went into this boutique named Apricot Lane. They had just opened and me being so interested in how beautiful the store was… I struck up a conversation with one of the associates. She ended up being the owner and shared with me her story of opening their boutique. That’s when I found out it was a franchise. To sum it all up, I was on the phone with the apricot lane headquarters within an hour after leaving their store. That was roughly 7 months ago and my store will be opening Oct 15th!!! We are so excited and were already looking at a 2nd and third location!

Queen Of Sports: What similarities have you found in being a professional race car driver and opening your own fashion boutique?

Deborah: They are both such a fast pace industry. If your not keeping up with the trends, whether it’s new set ups at a race track or a new safety feature in your racecar OR what’s the newest trend for the upcoming season… You WILL be left behind and not be successful! Also, if you don’t have the right “team” surrounding you in either industry you will not be able to keep up. I personally feel that in any industry you must surround yourself with amazing people. You should always empower the ones around you giving them the ability to help you make the important decisions. Being successful is NEVER the work of one individual… It is your “team” that makes it happen!

Queen Of Sports: What is your favorite item that your store will carry?

Deborah: Probably will be our premium denim lines. I’m such a jeans girl! Some of my favorites are: Miss Me, Joe’s Jeans and Rock Revival. Oh… And I love to pair them up with a great funky belt!

Queen Of Sports: What does your husband Shawn think about your new business venture?

Deborah: He is 100% supportive on this adventure. For example, while I’ve been at MAGIC in Vegas and out here in LA for buying merchandise for two weeks, he truly stepped up to ease my mind about our children. He’s been at home doing all the duties of raising two children. Putting them both to bed every night etc…. I’ve never been away from home this long and he has made it very easy for me.

*Big thank you to Deborah Renshaw Parker for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions and also to her publicist Stacey Graham for coordinating!

Photos: Stacey Graham