Marmalade Boutique

Marie Widmyer transformed her experience in foster care into a mission to support and empower women through Marmalade, a mother-daughter boutique with locations in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Savannah, Georgia, Brooklyn, New York, and Spokane, Washington.

Widmyer founded the business more than 25 years ago after completing her journey through the foster care system. Her personal background shaped the company’s commitment to women’s empowerment, which extends beyond retail into community engagement and advocacy.

The boutique regularly sponsors women-owned organizations and gives back to local communities across all five locations. During a recent “Pink Friday” initiative — a shop-small movement aligned with Black Friday — Marmalade donated proceeds to three women-owned charities, one local to each boutique location.

“At Marmalade, they are constantly giving back to the local community and sponsoring many women-owned organizations,” said Caylie Shelton, director of public relations at Tuuti Agency.

Widmyer shares her personal story through speaking engagements at events, on podcasts and in classrooms to inspire others who face similar challenges. Her approach combines entrepreneurship with advocacy, using her platform to demonstrate how women can overcome adversity and build successful businesses.

The company’s commitment to women’s empowerment spans its business practices, community partnerships and founder-led initiatives. Through philanthropy, mentorship and authentic storytelling, Marmalade creates opportunities for women while supporting organizations dedicated to women’s advancement across its various markets across the country.

Marmalade also supports working mothers by encouraging employees to bring their young children to work, offers flexibility for college students, and encourages older women to re-enter the workforce.

“We strive to create a workplace that supports women and celebrates their contributions, fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can thrive,” Widmyer said.