Kathy Link Rewrites Her Fashion Story With a Second Act at Tequesta Exchange

Written by: John Pacenti
Photography by: Elizabeth Palace

Kathy Link’s business, Tequesta Exchange Boutique, is one of her “bucket list” items, and she’s living it in Jupiter, her dream place.

“I moved here in 1981. From Cleveland, Ohio, not a hard place to give up, to be honest with you,” she said.

Kathy and Jaclyn carefully curate their collection, which includes shoes, purses, and accessories (sampling below). They specialize in Lilly Pulitzer

“I came to Palm Beach for a job. I was going to spend one season working on Worth Avenue, and ended up staying.”

The sun, surf – and yearlong resort wear – were the draws.

A fashion marketer who gained most of her experience working for Ocean Pacific Sunwear, Link bought the business formerly called Tequesta Stock Exchange two years ago.

A resume from the 1980s and ‘90s that included big names in fashion such as Gucci, and exposure to international marketing and retailing earned her a rounded education in the industry.

“I learned a lot,” she said. “I got to work with some talented people. Designers back then were making things themselves.” They participated in the execution of their designs.

Now, most clothing is “fast fashion.” It’s not the industry she knew. “It was an exciting time to be in fashion.”

A long career with Ocean Pacific after her Worth Avenue days had her leaning into a brand with an innovative, sustainable business plan.

It was after new owners changed the Ocean Pacific business model that she left the company. She heard an investor from Texas say, “The next Laguna Beach is Jupiter, Fla.”

With her spouse, she’s reared two children and has five grandkids who also live in Jupiter.

Link started a company of her own, Imagination Creations. Out of that came Shebop Beach, a children’s swimwear company, which has grown from a business in her garage to a multi-warehouse company in Jupiter.

The process is traditional, all the patterns are cut by hand. But to avoid fabric waste, she recycles the extra material from the swimsuits into hair scrunchies, and includes them for an extra dollar with each matching suit.

The idea has taken off, as shoppers are becoming more environmentally conscious, she said. “So we ran with that ball.”

With that business going smoothly, Link bought the Tequesta Stock Exchange. It took minimal work to take over the 27-year-old, thriving consignment shop.

Link realigned the shop’s merchandise to include all ages, seeing more young buyers shopping alongside older relatives. The consignment world has found a new audience in teens and young women going for retro looks, and quality without the retail pricing.

The shop in the newly refurbished Tequesta Fashion Mall plaza “has been way more fun than I expected,” she said.

Specializing in Lilly Pulitzer, she stocks the shop with a curator’s eye and a nod toward the coastal lifestyle her shoppers lead. “We have a big selection of Lilly, both vintage and modern. We take several other better brands. We also have shoes, purses and accessories. Customers bring us great merchandise.”

Customers bring up to 25 items, cleaned and ready for display, by appointment. Once something is accepted, the items are put out on the floor. The sale money is split 60-40, with 60 percent of the sale going to the shop. The 40 percent is given to the consignee in store credit that never expires. Lilly brings a 50-50 split.

Items have 90 days to sell, with markdowns taken monthly until the 90 days are up. Then they’re moved to a clearance rack, and if not sold, are picked up or if the consignee agrees, donated.

Her shoppers are her best resource for good-quality consigned clothing.

But she has more merchandise than she can handle, she says, so is selective and turns away much more than is offered.

“We only take wearables, and those that fit South Florida. Brands such as Tommy Bahama, Vineyard Vines, Johnny Was.”

Ten years ago, her daughter Jaclyn Link-Griffin joined her in the business after college graduation.

They’re expanding into repurposed clothing under another label she’s calling Vintage Reimagined.

“We’re thinking of bringing in more repurposed items, we’re making pillows, and cute utility kits for reusable straws. Upcycling jean jackets. There are so many places you can go with that.”

The mission now, she said, is to help make fashion friendlier to the environment in all ways, but especially by recycling – and keeping clothing out of landfills.

She’s slowly gaining attention with her swimwear. Customers for her Shebop Beach lines are taking notice of what she’s doing. “Even people like Disney were interested that it’s made in this country.”

It’s icing on the cake, she said.