Malibu & Co. offers cute and affordable products. Photo: Provided.

Shop the Malibu & Co. store on the Alleghenies Marketplace

With grit and grace, a hobby can turn into a successful business. Entrepreneur Nicole Kerr started making framed signs for herself and her friends in her garage. What started as a sign business, Just a Girl in the Garage, has expanded into an online boutique newly branded as Malibu & Co.

With the expansion, Kerr said she knew it was time for rebranding. “I realized it was time to rebrand my business. It started as sign making and has grown into an online boutique. I couldn’t give up Just a Girl in the Garage, so I created Malibu & Co. named after my granddaughter, Everleigh Malibu… she is our little ray of sunshine,” she said.

Kerr said that her success would not be possible without the help of Startup Alleghenies. “Christa McGeary has been a wonderful coach, so much of this wouldn’t have happened without her. I was awarded the step-up grant that has helped with my rebranding. With this grant I have been able to buy everything from a square register to business cards to earring cards and hang tags and so much more,” she said.

Read more about Malibu & Co. here.

Malibu’s name was inspired by owner Nicole Kerr’s granddaughter, Everleigh Malibu. Photo: Provided.

Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.