WGN Spotlight on Mount Greenwood Business Drives 50% Sales Increase—with a Helping Hand From Queen Latifah
When you get noticed by Queen Latifah and make it onto WGN, you know you’re doing something right. Pretty Spirit Palace, a creative and fashion-focused space for young girls in Mount Greenwood, was recently featured on WGN’s “Around Town,” leading to a surge in bookings and widespread recognition for the fledgling business. But for its owner, Juanysha Payton, the road to success started long before she made it to Chicago television.
Like so many others, Payton became jobless during the 2020 pandemic. “My main motivation behind creating this business was when I was pregnant with my daughter,” Payton recalls. “My fiancé and my mom were like, it’s okay, don’t stress, it’s going to be okay.”
Payton’s mother uttered those magic words: “When one door closes, another one opens.”
Picking up the pieces amid chaos, Payton began laying the groundwork for Pretty Spirit Palace. “I still have the binder of all my ideas,” she says. Her creativity and passion for fashion and beauty naturally flowed into her business idea. “I wanted to bring those two ideas together and offer them to little girls, creating a space where they can be creative, tap into their self-identity and self-worth, and realize that they are beautiful, regardless of any struggles or situations at home.”
Payton, who didn’t have a mentor or anyone who knew the last thing about business to guide her, had to teach herself everything she knew. But her persistence paid off. “I created my social media platforms, my Instagram and Facebook. I also design websites, which helped generate traffic,” she says.
She built it and the traffic came. Her social media skills didn’t go unnoticed—and neither did her voice. “I went on radio promotions and put myself in positions to reach consumers,” Payton adds. “Great customer service always brings customers.”
It brought customers—and Queen Latifah, the Grammy award-winning actress who partnered with Lenovo for small business initiatives. Pretty Spirit Palace is Chicago’s 2024 Evolve Small Platinum Grant recipient. The grant recognizes small businesses for their contributions to their home cities and for supporting underprivileged communities. That was just the beginning of a cascade of media attention. Soon after, Pretty Spirit Palace was on WGN.
As a result, Payton said sales spiked over 50%. Meanwhile, the grant money was put to good use. She said it allowed her to expand and improve her offerings. She also used the 2023 City Trends grant to implement travel services and payroll. Additional grant money was used to recruit a larger team and relocate to the Mount Greenwood location—another winning move. “Most of my customers actually didn’t live in Chicago. I had customers traveling from suburban areas and even out of state,” Payton explains. The new location has been well received.
Payton credits a significant part of her success to her partnership with Jamie Makuch, a relationship manager at the Southland Development Authority (SDA). Makuch’s support has brought numerous opportunities to Pretty Spirit Palace. “Jamie has been a huge help. She found me on Facebook, and we’ve accomplished so much together,” Payton says.
Beyond media exposure, Makuch is also working to help Pretty Spirit Palace become certified with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This certification will open new doors for Pretty Spirit Palace. With it comes a wider network of resources and support for women-owned businesses. Payton said Makuch has been “an angel,” especially in planning the future.
Meeting
That future also involves more community involvement. To date, Payton has connected with local libraries from Oak Lawn to Palos Heights and Mount Greenwood to donate gift cards and gifts for summer reading programs. Pretty Spirit Palace is also planning a back-to-school giveaway event for August 3rd. Payton’s team also volunteers with The Love Fridge. The partnership sees Pretty Spirit Palace donating food and cleaning local refrigerators once a month.
Payton hopes to make Pretty Spirit Palace a franchise with multiple locations beyond Illinois. Makuch and the SDA will be there every step of the way. “We talk about my plans for franchising and Jamie has been helping me with putting the action behind it.”
The Pretty Spirit Palace offers monthly workshops open to the public for registration. For more information, click here.
”I love the idea and concept behind The Pretty Spirit Palace. Payton is truly passionate about the business and wants to engage with the community. I have enjoyed guiding and helping her with the business and look forward to assisting more along the way. I see great things for her!”
If you’re a business hoping to start building your own media exposure or need help putting the pieces in place for success, the SDA is here to help. The SDA is a one-stop partner for growing businesses, investors, developers, workers and residents of the Southland. Click here to learn more.
About Business Growth Services (BGS)
Business Growth Services (BGS) is an initiative of the Southland Development Authority, supported by Cook County, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). BGS is committed to assisting small businesses in the Southland region, with a particular focus on disadvantaged entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Our services include expert consulting, financial resource research, assistance with obtaining government contracts, networking opportunities, business education, and strategic business insights, all designed to help businesses flourish.
About Southland Development Authority
The Southland Development Authority is a nonprofit business organization launched in 2019 by business, civic, and political leaders from around the Southland who recognize the potential of the region’s people, businesses, and real estate. Our mission is to bring the resources and capacity needed to achieve transformative, inclusive economic growth for the south suburbs with a focus on investments in the Southland’s communities, industry, housing, and workforce.
We work steadfastly to connect Southland business owners, investors, and individuals with key resources to operate and thrive in the region, from equipping mid-size and small businesses in our Business Growth services Program with customized advice and consulting services, to helping local residents access the tools needed to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. With a deep institutional knowledge of the Southland’s people, markets, and history and our multifaceted, experienced team, the Southland Development Authority is a powerful partner for any individual, business, or investor.
