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Monkee’s Franchising Celebrates 30 years of Fashion

By: Monkee's® Franchising |  5 Shares     220 Reads

March 28, 2025 // Franchising.com // WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Founded in Wilmington, North Carolina, Monkee’s has grown from a single store to a thriving franchise with locations across the country. Over the past three decades, Monkee’s has remained dedicated to offering an exceptional shopping experience, building strong relationships with customers, and supporting female entrepreneurs in the retail industry.

Deedee Shaw, the founder and President of Monkee’s Franchising, initially opened a shoe boutique, naming the store after the phrase her mother used to call her four children – her “bunch of monkeys.”

Years later, Brenda Maready, a loyal customer of Deedee's store, fell in love with the Monkee's brand. Over a cocktail napkin, she signed a contract to open a second location in Winston-Salem. Together, Deedee, Brenda, and Brenda’s daughter, Brenn, dedicated countless hours to growing their small business and nurturing the expanding corporation.

“I started a collaboration with Deedee and my daughter later in life, in my early 50s, when I opened the second Monkee’s, and then we formed the franchise. It has been pure joy working with them for 30 years and with our incredible team at Monkee’s Franchising. It’s been an honor and privilege to help and get to know all the beautiful, intelligent, goal-oriented women who have opened their own Monkee’s and become successful. My life is beyond blessed,” said Maready.

Our longstanding relationships with top-tier vendors have been crucial in offering the best in fashion and elevating the Monkee’s experience. The brands we carry define the "Monkee's girl"—a confident, stylish, and empowered woman who embodies the essence of Monkee's.

As we look toward the next 30 years, our vision is to expand our presence, remain at the forefront of emerging trends, and offer an unrivaled shopping experience that exceeds our customers' expectations. We are steadfast in our commitment to nurturing enduring partnerships with our esteemed vendors, cultivating meaningful collaborations, and remaining true to our core mission of empowering women through fashion that allows them to feel confident, beautiful, and their very best.

“As I reflect on the past three decades of Monkee’s, I can genuinely say it has been a true love affair. The name was inspired by my mother, the concept of franchising by my husband, and my business partner and I have always prioritized the collective success of our organization with a shared philosophy of 'we agree to agree.’ As a wise person once said, ‘When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.’ That has certainly been true for us. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue growing the brand and expanding our footprint across the nation. Today, we proudly have 64 stores, and we are eager to see where the next chapter will take us,” said Shaw.

Monkee’s continues to flourish by providing an exceptional shopping experience and fostering a tight-knit community of passionate customers and franchise owners. Through long-standing relationships with premium vendors, we deliver the latest styles to confident, fashion-forward women across the country. With Deedee Shaw, Brenda Maready and the Monkee’s team at the helm, we look forward to the next 30 years of growth, innovation, and staying true to our mission of inspiring women to look and feel their absolute best.

SOURCE Monkee’s Franchising LLC

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