Henderson shoppers can find shoes and more in mobile store

Henderson resident Angelique Daniels isn’t afraid to take big steps.

With the help of her shoe business, the Michigan transplant is determined to touch “souls with soles.”

For years, Daniels has owned The Shoe Chick, a mobile shoe, purse and accessory store. She recently agreed to donate a percentage of each sale to the opening of Mariah’s House, a safe house for victims of sex trafficking.

“My mission has grown bigger than the truck, and it’s a 20-foot truck, so it’s pretty big,” Daniels said. “I’ve learned that it’s all about relationships and the community.”

The idea of a mobile store came to Daniels after she saw an infomercial advertising Onesole, a sandal that has more than 100 interchangeable patterns.

“I wear a size 13 shoe, so shoes have always been a problem for me,” Daniels said. “Once I heard they had sizes up to 13, I built a business around the interchangeable shoe.”

For two years, Daniels conducted her shoe-selling business out of two suitcases.

“I called myself ‘mobile’ because I had the suitcases, but setting up and tearing everything down was exhausting,” Daniels said. “Then one day I saw the UPS guy in the back of his truck, and I had the vision to run my business out of the truck.”

In 2012, Daniels bought an old UPS truck off Craigslist and transformed it into her “girl cave.” She scrapped the rust off the inside, painted the outside and added a customized sign.

“It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I just love my truck,” Daniels said.

After some difficulties with Onesole, Daniels transformed her business into selling resale shoes, purses and accessories.

“I go around everywhere and I look for bargains,” she said. “I like sourcing the products myself because that’s half of the fun. You have to infuse your passion into your business, and I finally think I have the winning combination.”

Daniels also receives donations from a women’s empowerment meetup called Defining: Women, where she serves as chapter president. Through the group, Daniels met Kathlyn Jaramillo, founder of Mariah’s House,

“The black and white side of it is that we’ve identified a need in Southern Nevada for a home specifically designed for victims or survivors of human trafficking,” Jaramillo said. “However, it also came out of an emotional compulsion and personal journey of own niece Mariah, who got sober and her life back through a house in Chicago.”

Jaramillo plans to have the house operational within the next year, providing food, shelter, clothing, legal assistance, job training and other social services through the organization and its partners.

“(Jaramillo) has taught me so much about being more compassionate,” Daniels said. “I have a big connection with her, and I want to see her and the organization succeed. I want to significantly contribute to the opening of Mariah’s House.”

In addition to the business, Daniels is passionate about empowering women to follow their dreams.

“My passion is talking to women about stepping out of their comfort zone,” Daniels said. “I just really want to encourage them because there’s so many who are lost, and this truck is a vehicle to attract these women to me.”

Daniels speaks for the Las Vegas Convention Speakers Bureau and has written two motivational books.

“Your gifts and talents are God’s gift to you, and you using them is your gift back to God,” Daniels said. “I really feel like you’re born with your talents, and it’s your responsibility to use them.”

Daniels operates her mobile store from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays off Windmill Lane between Eastern Avenue and Pecos Road. Customers are encouraged to follow posted signs to the address. She also is available for events and parties.

For more information, visit facebook.com/theshoechickstore or mariahshouse.com.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.