The Faces Behind the Storefront: Sharon Welch Clark – The Heart Behind Pepperberries

As a little girl, Sharon loved wandering through charming gift shops the kind filled with personality, thoughtful treasures, and that unmistakable feeling of discovering something special. Even then, she dreamed of one day opening a shop of her own. That dream would eventually become Pepperberries, a beloved boutique in the heart of downtown Culpeper but the journey there was anything but predictable.

Born and raised in Falls Church, Virginia, she always imagined she would spend her life there. But one evening, while having dinner with her family at It’s About Thyme in Culpeper, something shifted. In that moment, she felt a sense of belonging she couldn’t ignore. Culpeper wasn’t just charming it would become home. It was where her childhood dream would finally take shape.

From Corporate Leadership to Entrepreneurship

Before opening Pepperberries, she spent 23 years at Canon USA, building a successful career in sales, client relations, and business development. One of her proudest accomplishments was securing and managing office equipment sales to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. a role that required professionalism, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to customer service.

That experience didn’t just sharpen her leadership skills it strengthened her confidence and ultimately inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship. But she didn’t wait until she “knew everything.” Instead, she chose action. That willingness to learn through doing became the foundation of Pepperberries.

Building a Boutique with Purpose

Early on, she realized retail success comes down to the details. It’s not about doing everything it’s about doing the right things well. She took time to understand what Culpeper wanted and needed, carefully curating products other stores didn’t carry while respectfully avoiding duplication of what neighboring shops already offered. Her goal wasn’t just to grow her own store it was to contribute to making Culpeper a true destination. That collaborative mindset has helped Pepperberries flourish while strengthening the downtown business community as a whole.

Leadership Rooted in Growth

Her leadership journey has been shaped by resilience and personal growth. As a teenager, she often sought approval and hesitated to step fully into her voice. Over time through life’s trials and triumphs she grew into a strong, independent woman who learned to rely on herself and make hard decisions. Today, she leads with resilience, accountability, and courage. But she also understands something deeper: true leadership includes vulnerability. She created a simple principle she calls STS: Stop. Think. Speak. Stop before reacting. Think about impact and intention. Speak with clarity and purpose.

A Business That Gives Back

For her, entrepreneurship has always been about more than sales. It’s about relationships and responsibility. She feels deeply blessed by the relationships built through Pepperberries customers who feel like family and staff who have become an extended family. Giving back is central to her mission. One of her proudest accomplishments is Pamper Me Pink, celebrating 22 years of partnership with UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center to provide mammograms for men and women in need. Pepperberries also donates door prizes to local charities and schools, collaborates with downtown businesses for events and fashion shows, and employs community members ranging from high school students to seniors. Philanthropy, she believes, strengthens both business and community.

Advice for Women Entrepreneurs

Her advice to women considering starting a business is both practical and honest: understand the commitment it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Research your market, present yourself professionally, build reliable hours, track your finances carefully, connect with mentors, and stay adaptable while remaining true to your values. Entrepreneurship requires courage, planning, and persistence but it also requires heart.

Looking Ahead

The future of Pepperberries includes continually refreshing products, growing its online presence, supporting and developing staff, embracing new technology, and creating meaningful experiences that keep customers coming back. When she’s not at the shop, Sharon enjoys spending time with family, especially her great nephews and nieces, attending Hot Rod car shows, and finding peace in the pool.

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Sharon Welch Clark, the woman behind Pepperberries, a leader shaped by resilience, guided by values, and committed to strengthening the community she now proudly calls home.