Jun 7

Jun 7 Compendium Moves West, But Maintains Outpost at H.O.M.

“Little kids make forts in their rooms; I made stores in my room,” said Emily Scott, owner of Compendium Boutique. “I would make bracelets and stuff, then put up a ‘sale’ sign on my bedroom door when I was ready to be open. My parents and brother would come in and buy my things.”

Scott’s passion for running a business led her to attend business school at Arcadia University, and at age 24 in 2012, to open Compendium Boutique in at 6 Park Avenue in Swarthmore Town Center. Her driving mission in the store is “to show that beautiful clothing can be accessible,” said Scott. “You can get these beautiful American-made pieces and not spend $300, but $50.”

Over the past seven years, Scott’s business model has built a successful enterprise, and developed relationships with designers and manufacturers across the country. Nonetheless, Compendium Boutique has closed the 6 Park Avenue location, and on May 1 opened a new main location at 134 East Market Street in West Chester, Pa. “Swarthmore was a really good place for me to start, but not necessarily a place to grow,” Scott explained. “I have a lot of great followers, and am very thankful for them, but in order for the business to expand I needed to find a bigger market … with more foot traffic.”

Determined not to abandon her Swarthmore customers, Scott in January began talking with Harvey Oak Mercantile owner Shannon Elliott. The two saw a potential for synergy, and now, a section of H.O.M. is dedicated to a Compendium Boutique collection.

H.O.M. owner Shannon Elliot sees Compendium as a perfect fit with H.O.M., which she describes as a shop providing access to local talent and emerging makers of jewelry, clothing, specialty décor, and gifts. She said: “In Compendium, I am carrying another brand that we believe in, so we are dedicating a good amount of space to the line within the store. We will feature a collection of Compendium products exclusive to our location, and not available online,” said Elliott.

Scott agreed: “H.O.M. and Compendium were a good fit with complementing styles and aesthetics, so I selected a line of my private label to offer exclusive to Swarthmore. After seven years in Swarthmore I have seen the styles that sell and what people loved. Those offerings will be available at the H.O.M. location.”

The Compendium Boutique at H.O.M. grand opening will take place next Saturday, June 15, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. H.O.M. is located at 102 Park Avenue.