Effortless Style, Unscripted Success: A Conversation with Boem’s Founder
If you walk into Boem on a busy Saturday afternoon, you might assume that its founder, Megan Orrell, has always had it all figured out.
She runs three thriving retail locations in one of America’s fastest-growing cities, an online store, and a warehouse with a dedicated team behind it all. She has a keen eye for fashion — sharpened through decades of retail experience — and an effortless warmth that quickly converts customers into new friends.
She seems like a natural-born entrepreneur, confidently building a brand and doing it all in style.
But Megan will be the first to tell you that the path hasn’t always been so clear. She had to learn it all herself — and still is. “People think that anyone who starts a business knows exactly what they’re doing,” she says. “The truth is, we don’t. We’re taking it day by day, figuring it out on the job, Googling things we don’t know.”
It was initially what she didn’t know that gave her a running start. When Megan first opened Boem in 2008 — originally as a Scout & Molly’s franchise before rebranding it as her own — the country was in the middle of a financial crisis. “Everyone around me called me brave, and I was like, ‘For what?’” Failure never even crossed her mind.
In hindsight, her naiveté was a gift. Had she known then how hard launching a business would be, she might never have taken the leap. Instead, that risk became a brand still growing seventeen years later.
"I made a lot of mistakes. But I have learned that if I mess up, I learn from it, and do better the next time. I love to say — there isn’t failure, only learning.”
In many ways, Boem is a reflection of Megan herself: cool, genuine, and effortlessly stylish. Raised in Charlotte, Megan’s upbringing centered around strong communication and work ethic. Naturally curious and always willing to chat, Megan had no trouble answering phones at her father’s office at just fourteen years old. From there, she tried nearly every job imaginable: retail, lifeguarding, bank telling, yoga instructing — even earning her real estate license. “You name it, I’ve tried it,” she laughs.
Megan credits these experiences on the job, not her degree in PR and Marketing, with her success. "A job will teach you a lot of things that school just doesn't. How to problem-solve in the moment, how to talk to people. If anyone asks me what to study in school, my advice is always the same — it doesn't really matter, just make sure you get a job."
That curiousity, paired with a deep love of fashion and customer-facing talent, led her to take a risk in opening her own boutique at 27. It was exactly the new, challenging experience that she had been searching for, but only after she dove in headfirst did she realize just how challenging it would be. “I was learning as I went, and I made a lot of mistakes,” Megan says. “But I have learned that if I mess up, I pick myself back up, learn from it, and do better the next time. I love to say — there isn’t failure, only learning.”
As with many new businesses, it took years for the store to gain real traction. Progress wasn’t linear even after the business began to grow; high sales one year did not guarantee they would be the next. As she navigated the unpredictability of business for the first time, Megan often questioned if the choice to open Boem was the right one.
Thankfully, her parents and boyfriend served as a strong support system. “They believed in me and trusted me when they had no proof I would succeed — other than knowing who I am as a person,” says Megan. “Even when I couldn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, they could see it for me.”
They knew Megan’s tireless work ethic would pay off eventually. They were right.
“I just want to make people feel good. They may not remember the dress they bought years from now, but they’ll remember how we made them feel.”
Over time, Boem’s flagship store built a loyal following — not just for the clothes, but the energy. Megan set out to create a space that felt more like a best friend’s living room than a typical storefront. It’s fun, dynamic, and welcoming. In a post-pandemic world, the atmosphere may even feel nostalgic for some, buzzing from the lost art of spontaneous, face-to-face connection. “My approach has always been a little different — I’m not trying to make sales, I just want to make people feel good,” Megan says. “They may not remember the dress they bought years from now, but they’ll remember how we made them feel.” From the start, that’s been the goal: for customers to leave feeling better than when they walked in.
Boem’s commitment to that original mission has earned the trust of a loyal, multi-generational customer base. “I have moms who started shopping with me in South Park when their little girls were five, and now those girls are in their 20s – and they shop at Boem too.” While many retailers struggle to connect with more than one age group, Boem hits the mark with three generations at once. Thoughtfully curated clothing draws new customers in, but it’s the way the team treats them that keeps them coming back.
When Megan reflects on her journey, she is thoughtful, realistic, and full of gratitude. Her ultimate goal was never to make money or be the next major retailer. She just wanted to wake up every day and do something she loves — a common goal, yet one many don’t reach. Young women often ask her what the secret is. Megan’s answer lies in the lessons learned through each chapter of her life: work hard, be kind, and savor every step of the way — the successes and the failures.
And Boem — like her first job, her college days, or her early twenties — is just another chapter. For now, the store’s future looks bright, as it continues to expand its customer base throughout Charlotte. Megan doesn’t quite know what’s next, but if running her boutique has taught her anything, it’s this: she'll figure it out, and she'll do it well.
Thank you for reading! In conjunction with this post, we have 21 Questions with our Founder over on Instagram - go check it out!