April’s Business Spotlight shines on a local gem of a business and business owner that residents of Westchester and surrounding communities should get to know if they have not already. Meet Toyiah Marquis, the talented and visionary owner of CAG Wholesale and founder of Patch Party Club. The Economic Development Committee (EDC) had the pleasure of speaking with Toyiah to learn more about her inspiring journey and her business, located at 10311 W. Roosevelt Road, in the heart of our community right across from Village Hall and the Police Department.
Toyiah’s first business was a boutique clothing shop in neighboring Hillside that was open from 2006-2009. While Toyiah was disappointed she had to close the boutique she did not want give up on being an entrepreneur and business owner. Toyiah had an existing customer base and was able to quickly pivot to a new business idea that would become CAG Wholesale. CAG stands for “Creative Alliance Group” and Wholesale comes from the idea of how Toyiah wanted to serve her customers: offering high-quality products at a great value, wholesale style. CAG Wholesale is the creative side of the business, offering custom apparel, sublimation blanks, loose rhinestones, vinyl, and everything you need to create your own custom apparel. The other side of the business is the Patch Party Club venture. This is the international accessories brand that specializes in creating exclusive patches and custom patches. Toyiah’s goal is to have a creative or unique solution for anyone who is looking to scratch their creative itch, saying, “Whether you're looking to craft something unique or spice up your clothing, we have you covered!”
One of the reasons Toyiah loves her Westchester location and intends to stay and grow is the same reason many other local businesses have given for loving Westchester: “location, location, location.” Toyiah’s original Westchester location was at 1127 Mannheim when she opened CAG Wholesale in 2009, she then moved around the corner to 10311 W. Roosevelt Road in 2019. Toyiah believes Westchester is the perfect location for her business because it is a central location to many surrounding areas, accessible, safe, and just an overall great place to operate your business.
Any customer of CAG Wholesale knows firsthand the large variety of items and services offered, but there is also a uniqueness to their products and services that is hard to find elsewhere. Toyiah explained that CAG delivers top-quality products that are difficult to find elsewhere, while also offering great value. Some products they sell may be hard to find, cost significantly more, or be of a lesser quality. “We’re all about making sure the customer gets the best of the best without breaking the bank,” Toyiah said. CAG Wholesale provides everything from custom apparel and accessories to hosting crafting classes. They also have a DIY craft space where people can come in and use their equipment. The Patch Party Club aspect of the business focuses on creating custom patches and hosting patch parties. “It’s all about bringing people together to create something special and unique,” says Toyiah. An interesting fun fact about Toyiah is that she has designed patches for several popular 90s musical groups such as Do or Die, Crucial Conflict, and Female Trio- SWV!
As her business has grown, so has CAG’s space. “We started with 2,500 square feet, and now we occupy 5,000 square feet. The expansion has allowed us to increase our product offerings and grow our community,” Toyiah explained. CAG has expanded their product selection and continues to grow the business. CAG Wholesale & Patch Party Club’s mission is clear: “We’re committed to empowering creators by offering the best tools, supplies, and inspiration for all your crafting needs. Whether you’re a DIYer, a business owner, or just someone passionate about custom designs, we’ve got the resources to bring your vision to life.”
Please do not hesitate to visit Toyiah at CAG Wholesale and find out how her business can help your next DIY craft, apparel order, or any other creative venture you can think of!
CAG Wholesale
10311 W. Roosevelt Road
(708) 441-9256
Website: https://patchpartyclub.com/