Meet Matty Parson | Owner of the Velvet Ghost Boutique

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matty Parson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matty, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
After spending years working as a boudoir photographer with a dark and moody aesthetic, I reached a point of burnout and realized I needed a career change. In April 2022, I began thinking about businesses that I would love to see in our area and realized that there were no boutiques that catered to consumers who appreciated a dark, spooky, and macabre aesthetic in the greater area of Clarksville. Over the next few days, I worked on coming up with a name for the boutique, deciding what kind of products I would carry, and determining how much it would cost to start. This process motivated me immensely and brought everything together.

In June, I was able to find a small retail space to start the boutique out of and we opened our doors on August 13, 2022.

What should our readers know about your business?
Velvet Ghost is a boutique in Clarksville, TN that offers goth and alternative-style clothing, accessories, and home decor. We embrace unique styles and offer size-inclusive unisex clothing from XS to 5XL. Our store is a hub for creativity and community. We host exciting events like animal bone art classes and the annual Clarksville Halloween Market, which I’m particularly proud of. What started as just an idea turned into a full-on community event with 60+ vendors, food trucks, and trunk or treat. We’re excited to bring the community together to celebrate our favorite season and we’re already looking forward to the market in 2024.

Starting and growing a small business is never easy. We’ve encountered a few roadblocks along the way, like getting our name and brand out there. Marketing alone is a full-time job, and since we don’t have a big corporation behind us with an unlimited budget, our growth is slower. But, we stay persistent and do the work.

Running Velvet Ghost has taught me that everyone has a community. As a kid, it can be hard to navigate the social world when you feel different and don’t fit in. I went through that personally, and I wish I could tell all the “weirdos” and “misfits” that the mainstream might not understand or accept you, but in the spooky community, you’ll always have a place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are situated in Clarksville, TN, which is approximately 40 minutes away from Nashville. If you’re looking for good food and drinks, I suggest visiting The Mailroom on 2nd Street or The Mad Herbalist on Madison Street. Both places have a great atmosphere, and their food and drinks are amazing.

I would also recommend visiting Dunbar Cave State Park to see the prehistoric Mississippian Native American cave art. If you’re interested in something spooky, I suggest exploring the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, TN.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There have been many people who have supported me and my business since I first came up with the idea. My husband and business partner, Dustin, has been the biggest supporter of all. I am grateful to him for putting up with my occasional craziness and for always being there to listen to my ideas. He saw the potential of a “spooky” store in Clarksville and how much I was committed to making it happen. He now co-runs the store with me, helps organize events, and takes care of anything I need. Without him, Velvet Ghost would not exist.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to my friends Rachael and Brittney, who encouraged me to go for it and not give up on my dream. Whenever I have doubts, I turn to them for support. I couldn’t have done all this without them by my side.

I also want to express my gratitude to Taylor Lin, a realtor with Byers & Harvey. She is not only great at her job but also puts in a lot of effort for her clients. Without her help, we would never have found our retail space.

Finally, I would like to give a big shoutout to all our customers, class participants, and event visitors! Since we opened in 2022, the response from the community has been amazing. They welcomed us with open arms and continue to show their support.

Website: velvetghostshop.com

Instagram: instagram.com/velvetghostshop

Facebook: facebook.com/velvetghostshop