RADCLIFF, Ky. (WDRB)-- One of the fastest growing companies in Kentucky might not be what you'd expect. It's Hardin County based Ruffle Girl, a company specializing in brightly colored clothes for kids.
Wendy Bellew is CEO of the multi-million dollar fashion empire. Ruffle Girl made the annual Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies coming in at number 1324. It's also listed as the fourth fastest growing company in Kentucky and number one when it comes to Kentucky retailers. Not bad for a business she started in her basement.
"We went from probably 200 square feet to 1300 to 15,000. We knew we needed 30,000 and we said let's just go ahead and get the 65,000," said Bellew.
The company specializes in a colorful, kids clothing line that's gained a huge following and now occupies a 65,000 square foot warehouse.
Bellew doesn't have a background in fashion design or merchandising. In fact, she was working in the corporate world back in 2013 when she noticed a trend on Facebook.
"Scrolling through my newsfeed, everything was like overnight millionaire, overnight millionaire," said Bellew.
Bellew says the key to their success appeared to be frilly little girls clothing. There was only one problem.
"I don't have a little girl and I don't sew," said Bellew.
But that didn't stop her. Instead, she launched Ruffle Girl and never looked back.
"That first year we were like halfway through the year and we did about $50,000 and the next year we were up to $1.3 million. It was just insane," she said.
Over the last three years the company has grown 362 percent, but keeping it in the community is important to Bellew even with the growth. The models are all local kids and moms.
 "My youngest daughter was the very first little girl to wear Ruffle Girl I like to tell everyone," said neighbor turned vice-president Amanda Williams.
Since the company was born on Facebook they continue to grown online. They don't have a brick and mortar location, they operate solely through their website and social media.
"We'll sell to one spot in Oklahoma and then all of a sudden Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma. It spreads like wildfire," said Bellew.
She says that's the secret to their success; word of mouth sparked by excellent customer service and believing nothing is impossible.
"Don't let anybody tell you you can't do it. You can't have a fashion empire in Kentucky because we're doing it," said Bellew.
Ruffle Girl is online here.
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