Worcester’s Women Entrepreneurs: Ashley Troy

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

George Charles Allen, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Ashley Troy, sole proprietor of Trunk & Disorderly, exemplifies Worcester's growing entrepreneurial spirit.

Worcester’s entrepreneurial scene is showing more than just signs of life. It thrives with imagination, creativity, and small business owners pursuing big dreams. Ashley Troy, sole proprietor of Trunk & Disorderly, a consignment shop located on Main Street since September 2012, exemplifies the city’s growing entrepreneurial spirit.

Studying three different majors in four and a half years while a student in Boston, Troy unexpectedly discovered her true passion while working a college job at a Newbury Street consignment shop. Though she had no experience in consignment, and knew less than half the styles and brands scattered around the shop, Troy knew she found her calling.

“I had never worked with it before,” Troy said, “but the only thing I knew was that I loved to do work with consignment!”

Trunk & Disorderly

Troy is no stranger to entrepreneurship and an unflagging work ethic. Her father, a veteran business owner, specialized in opening and selling small businesses. “I looked up to him because he was always giving one million percent into whatever it was he chose to invest in,” she said.

After college Troy moved to Worcester to live with her boyfriend who already had firm roots in the community with his own small business. Introduced to and impressed by the close-knit community of entrepreneurs, Troy decided Worcester was the right place to open shop. “The creativity in Worcester is out of this world,” she said. “It inspired me to go for what I had always dreamed of doing. When I saw the tight strings and support in this community, I realized this was where I would want to begin Trunk & Disorderly's story!”

Trunk & Disorderly specializes in acquiring and selling an eclectic choice of attire from classy vintage women’s clothing to men’s punk skater gear and everything in between. Troy’s favorite aspects of the business are both dealing in unique and vintage apparel, as well as meeting a fascinating crowd of collectors.

“I find it so interesting how every single item of inventory is different,” Troy said. “You get to meet amazing people who collected these pieces over time, and sell individuals awesome garments that they wouldn't be able to find at any other shop.”

Keeping ‘Disorderly’ organized and growing

When the storefront first opened, Troy faced several challenges and wore many hats. She described keeping up with sales and marketing, consignment appointments, inventory processing and merchandising as sole proprietor and sole employee as overwhelming and quickly tried to discover an effective routine.

“When I first opened I lacked employees which definitely made every day that much more challenging,” Troy said. “What has helped me overcome this obstacle was just getting a routine going that would help to keep me killing it while staying organized!”

After a year of vigorous word-of-mouth marketing, Trunk & Disorderly is steadily growing. Starting with just 3 clothing racks, the shop now maintains over 14 racks and Troy is looking to take her store on the road.

On the road to national recognition

The shop regularly sells its wares at local flea markets, but Troy has big dreams to eventually take Trunk & Disorderly national. She feels her Worcester shop creates a “funky vibe” that would be compelling to a much wider audience.

Troy hopes to open additional shops and operate a mobile flea market. She is planning to expand her staff and employ interns in the near future to help run and promote the store locally and across the nation.

“I am setting a goal to begin taking interns so that I can travel and spread the word about Trunk & Disorderly all over the country! We love the funky vibe of it all and feel that a ton more people could appreciate what we're doing too!”

Giving back to Worcester

Troy is spellbound by the community support she receives. “I feel we do something very different at our store,” Troy said, “and our customers recognize that as well.” Despite her enthusiastic plans for growth, Troy passionately gives back to the Worcester community that has nurtured her business. She supports local events from fundraisers to fashion shows.

“If there's a fundraiser: we want to donate gift certificates for a good cause. Toni & Guy student fashion show? Count on us to lend clothing for the runway!" Troy said.

Troy also has some words of advice for budding entrepreneurs in and around Worcester. “Go for whatever you dream of doing,” she said. “As long as you are passionate people will see the beauty in it!”