On Friday, April 1, in conjunction with Vancouver’s Downtown Association First Friday, The Difference welcomed over 100 guests into the store to help celebrate their 3rd anniversary in the location with music, drinks, visiting and lots of shopping. Thank you to all who made this event a huge success.
The Difference’s story started more than 30 years ago when Cheryl LeDoux wanted to fill a fashion gap for women. As she and her friends started to move into the next stage of life: marriage, motherhood, new career milestones, etc., she started to notice that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find clothing that worked for women. As Cheryl says, “there was a need for women to find clothes that liked them, not just clothes that were in style.”
Cheryl put together a team and started offering personal shopping services, leading educational events, and helping women transition gracefully to the next stage of life by helping find clothing, accessories and makeup that worked for their specific situation. And the Lake Oswego storefront was born.
Business continued to flourish as The Difference helped more women feel comfortable and confident in what they wore. One day, Heidi Johnson Bixby, a young financial planner came to The Difference in her mid-20s with the desire to look professional in the financial industry yet still dress like a 27-year-old. Cheryl guided her to success and Heidi was hooked.
After being a devoted client for 25 years, Heidi bought the business from Cheryl in 2016. In 2019, The Difference opened their second location in Vancouver, expanding their footprint to help more women.
Now, three years later, the Difference has embraced the digital space, connecting to clients wherever they are. They’ve taken social media by storm, posting tips, tricks and hosting a weekly virtual event called “What to Wear Wednesday”. The Difference has brought in brands from all over the world to provide a curated clothing experience by sourcing sustainable unique designs.
Being active in the community is also one of their greatest accomplishments. They have partnered with other businesses such as Suburban Succulents, White Raven Jewelry and A Little Grey Bird to allow businesses without storefronts to connect with the public.
“For me it’s a dream come true. I absolutely love helping people find their own light and shine brighter. The synergy of the clothing options that we carry, the environment that we foster, and the unique space that we have for styling makes that possible.”
– Daron Deonier-Clemons
