Owned and operated by Central alumna Megan West, Claim Clothing is a successful local business with an impressive array of garments. Recently, West was the recipient of Kittitas County’s fifth annual Enterprise Challenge business plan award.

Two years after graduating in 2013, West began plans for what would become Claim Clothing. After only one year of planning, at the age of 23, West opened her store.

“I worked on the business plan for a year solid, 8 to 5 p.m. a day,” West said.

It took a lot of hard work for her to start her business.

“I met with entrepreneurs, attorneys and a business development center and also did a lot of research before opening Claim Clothing,” West said.

There were various challenges West faced when opening her store. She said the biggest hurdle was her age.

“A lot of people had questions and concerns because of how young I was,” West said. “I had to convince them that I was serious about what I was doing.”
When Claim Clothing won the business plan contest, West received $10,000 as prize. The money was dedicated to the improvement her business. West has big plans on how she is going to do this.

“We are working on an online shop along with revamping our back room and getting necessary equipment for the online shop,” West said.
Along with the business plan award, West also received Washington Main Street Program’s Entrepreneur of the Year award after being nominated by the Ellensburg Downtown Association.

Ashley Walking, employee for Ellensburg Downtown Association, said they thought she was a great nominee because of her unique story.
“We were very impressed that Megan reached her first year’s store goal in her first six months of opening it,” Walker said.
The Ellensburg Downtown Association also nominated her because they appreciated West’s desire to make downtown Ellensburg a special place, especially in regards to the historic Geddis building she’s leased.

“We were impressed how Megan wanted to keep the historic side of the building and went for a more rustic look for Claim Clothing, which we liked because it holds true to the original historic building,” Walker said.

West has inspired many Central students with her success at such a young age and so soon after graduating.

“It is always inspiring to hear success stories about graduates of Central who have succeeded in the real world in a big way,” junior sociology major Desiree Mix said.