When a mutual friend introduced Teri Allen and Raquel Jarjoura to each other at a vendor event at Southfork Ranch, they immediately knew they were on to something good. Two entrepreneurs with similar visions for their small businesses, Teri and Raquel became fast friends and shortly after, business partners. Today, they run the newly rebranded Ballard Boutique and Bakery, a quaint little shop located in historic downtown Wylie that sells homemade baked goods, unique gift items, and on-trend women’s clothing.
Getting Started
Teri and Raquel both live in the Wylie area and knew from the start they wanted their business to be in the heart of Wylie. They were in luck - when they started searching for a location, the perfect space just happened to open up downtown. They found a home in a historic building chock-full of charm. They knew it was the perfect place. Teri says, “Our building was part of the Ladylike Shop, which was destroyed by the downtown fire in 1998. After the fire, Bob Heath purchased our building and several others to rebuild them.”
After adding their own touches to the space, they opened their doors to the public in 2022 as The Blend on Ballard. The store includes Teri and Raquel’s products (Teri is a baker/caterer and Raquel owns the clothing boutique) and showcases products from other local businesses.
While many businesses take some time to ramp up, that was not the case for Teri and Raquel, whose business hit the ground running. In 2024, the business underwent a rebrand and a store renovation. The new business, called Ballard Boutique and Bakery, focuses heavily on Teri’s popular cookies and lunch items, along with Raquel’s expanding clothing boutique.
“For our first two years, we developed a steady customer base. Now that we have rebranded, we are continuing to grow and reach new customers daily,” says Raquel. “We are a women-owned business that also features other local small businesses.”
Collaborating with Local Businesses
Teri and Raquel have hearts for their community and love collaboration with local entrepreneurs. The shelves of Ballard Boutique and Bakery are stocked with a carefully curated selection of hand-picked items, many of which are made by local small businesses. A few of the local businesses showcased include Bella Blaise, The Wreath Fairy, and Fused Linx.
Raquel says, “Bella Blaise is our jewelry line, owned by Kimberly Verity. She also designs and makes some of the wooden signs that we carry. Fused Linx, owned by Raquel and Kimberly, is our in-house permanent jewelry brand.”
In addition to offering products from local businesses, the boutique also offers occasional classes or fun after-hours activities, like painting parties.
Teri and Raquel can always be counted on to support local organizations and participate in Wylie’s most popular events. They are active members of the Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, holding seats on several WDMA committees, and are members of the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce. Many Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce functions are catered by Teri’s catering company, Baked Right In.
Teri also brings her tasty treats to Wylie’s biggest foodie event, Taste of Wylie, a community-wide lunchtime event held each May that benefits local food pantries. Raquel’s brand, Hannah Mae Boutique, sponsored space at the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce’s East Collin County Women’s Conference. And the boutique is always open to passersby, offering air conditioning and a friendly place to rest during Wylie’s most popular events, Boo on Ballard and Bluegrass on Ballard.
“We are 100% a team effort,” says Teri. Teri and Raquel know they can’t do it alone, though. “It starts with the two of us, but we could not do any of this without the unending support of our families and amazing vendors. Also, we are so thankful that the other downtown merchants have welcomed us with open arms.”
Doing Business in Wylie
When asked what they love best about doing business in this town, their answer rings true and mirrors what many other small business owners say about setting up shop in Wylie. “We love the community and the small-town vibe. We also love being able to develop personal relationships with our customers, as well as our downtown family.”
Ballard Boutique and Bakery has become a favorite spot for locals to shop. Their Facebook page is a popular daily check-in for people wondering what soup of the day Teri has created, or what cute new “can’t live without it” item Raquel has brought into the store. With its friendly atmosphere, welcoming vibe, and coveted selection of products, it’s no surprise their Facebook page has a 100% recommendation rate or a nearly perfect rating on Google reviews.
One Google reviewer said, “I love this shop! My favorite things here are the baked goods, food and jams by Teri, aka Baked Right In. Teri is amazing and all her items are made with love and care. My favorite catering! Secondly, the high-quality clothing and items always make me smile. Be sure to check out all the fun special events, too.”
While their inventory is full of local favorites, a few items stand out. “In the Bakery, we are known for our Strawberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies and, in the Boutique, people come back for our Knockin’ Boots Candle.”
Raquel, who has her finger on the pulse of what’s trendy and travels around Texas to find the latest and greatest, says that her favorite part of the business is “being able to provide women with trendy, affordable clothing that makes them feel good about themselves. Getting to know my customers personally gives me great insights when buying for the boutique.”
Teri also loves to see her customers happy. She says that what she loves most about her job is “the look on someone’s face when they taste something I made. I love knowing that I brought them those few seconds of happiness.”
Ballard Boutique and Bakery values its strong relationship with the Wylie Economic Development Corporation. “The EDC has been instrumental to our growth from the very beginning,” shares Raquel. “The Social Media Rescue classes and the Entrepreneur Expos were amazing tools that we definitely took advantage of. They have also given us a huge spotlight by allowing us to cater several of their events.”
