Ankeny Boutique Takes Funky, Fun Style to Urbandale

Even if you are not now, nor will you ever be funky, you might enjoy Urbandale's newest shop for trendy women's clothing and accessories.

opened early in April in the Cedar Ridge shopping center, right next to .

This marks the second Funky Zebras to open in the Des Moines metro. The boutique originated in March 2011 at its Ankeny location at 305 S.E. Oralabor Rd. This store just underwent an expansion which nearly doubled the boutique's size.

Both The Funky Zebras and Things on Douglas share a common clientele — women 30 and older — said store manager Stacy Sullivan, a lifelong Urbandale resident and former owner of the Sisters clothing shop in the Cedar Ridge shopping center.

The Funky Zebras bills itself as carrying trendy clothing, accessories and shoes, said owner Cheryl Hayes.

"I think it's really taking off," said Hayes about opening the second store in Urbandale. "We would love to open more." 

Seven Stores in One

Funky Zebras operate on a different business model. One store hosts several different vendors or businesses. They share the rent and overhead, but each vendor is responsible for stocking and managing her own inventory, said Sullivan.

The Urbandale store carries merchandise from three shops in central Iowa: Cornerstone in Pella, Bella Boutique in West Des Moines, and Fusion in Clive.

In addition, the store also carries jewelry and handbags from VOB (Vision of Beauty), GG Marie of Kansas City for "our really, really blingy jewelry," and shoes through Pin Oak Galleries in Waukee.

Sullivan said the Ankeny and Urbandale stores carry different merchandise and appeal to different shoppers. The Ankeny store offers more merchanidise that would appeal to teenagers and younger women, she said.

"We don't really want to carry the same look, so people can shop at different stores," she said.

The business model "works because we have different taste levels. Different price ranges. Different looks altogether," said Sullivan.

After Hours

The other thing the stores offer are after-hours "diva" parties. Someone can book the store for a couple of hours after regular business hours. The store provides appetizers and drinks and the women can come and shop and socialize.

Sullivan said a percentage of the sale either goes to the party organizer to spend at the store, or to a charity of their choice.

Many women are booking such parties to raise money for their favorite cause, she said.