Boutique shopping is your answer, Greer SC Family Photographer, opinion
Summer Sandal on the shelf in Talloni, a shoe salon in Greer SC
You need a few new summer pieces for your wardrobe. Do you:
a) browse amazon for far too long?
b) throw something in the cart at target?
c) spend hours at the mall or in large department stores?
d) order a “custom” surprise box from a mail-order service, like stitch fix?
If you chose any of the above options, I’d like to propose a better solution. Its fast, personal, and you can’t make a bad decision. The customer service cannot be beat, and it is FUN.
A basket of clutches, handmade from recycled materials, pictured at Southern Sisters Boutique
Locally owned, small business, BOUTIQUE shopping!
Imagine a friend with fantastic taste curated an enormous closet for you. You spend a few minutes pulling from her selections, trying things on, and asking her advice. She solves problems for you on how to style things or make them work for you and with your current wardrobe. You walk out in less than an hour with items that are fresh and everyone hasn’t already seen on everyone else. A week later your friend calls to say they got some pants in that you would probably love and would go with the top you couldn’t find anything for. She offers to drop them in the mail, or hold them for you until you can get back in to try them on.
This is what its like shopping at a locally owned boutique store. More often than not, I find that the owner is in the shop when I drop in. This is key, because no one cares about their customers like the person who was passionate enough to start the business. Entrepreneurs are motivated by a whole lot more than money- they get out of bed early in the morning, stay long hours into the night, and work tirelessly every hour between because they have a drive to see their products and services work for you. They know their inventory front to back, and they’re good at assessing people’s needs to find solutions. In fact, they listen and adapt much faster than big chains can. They have their finger on the pulse of their clients’ wishes, and you’ll find new items in every week.
If your first thought upon hearing “boutique” is “expensive,” stop and consider the value you’re getting in exchange. What is your time worth? Is quality or quantity important? In addition, you may be surprised to find that prices start at a very comfortable range, and move up with the brands and quality. Add to that the sales that happen seasonally at minimum, and this may be a better option than you give it credit for. I’ve found though, that even if I pay a little more, I’d rather splurge on a sweater from a shop owned by a neighbor than give a big corporation my money, and i’m happier with it in the long run too. Wouldn’t you rather contribute to your local economy and have a more efficient wardrobe?
Earrings on display at Chelsea’s.
The cutest outfits, ready to go at Chelsea’s. This dress was a very close second.
Just today, I needed something specific and decided to run over to Chelsea’s to see if they had it in stock. I knew I’d seen something that would work on their instagram. I was greeted by Tara, the owner, who was happy to help me. As it turned out, they had several options that I was able to try on. She pointed out new earrings that would go great with the dress I’d picked, and she was excited to show them to me because they are handmade in NC from upcycled artwork- what a perfect recommendation for me! We got to talking, and she shared about how yesterday she was able to help 4 generations of women shop in her store at once (and she gifted the great-grandma a necklace, because it was her 90th birthday. How great is that?) I have heard the same sorts of stories from others in Greer- these boutiques are the kinds of places where mothers and daughters and grandmas can all shop together, because their style is a balance of trendy and classic. I left feeling great about my purchases, and looking forward to the next time I could visit.
It should be no surprise that the boutique model is my favorite way to shop, because its the model my business adheres to as well. When you hire Handful and Hustle, you get personal attention, fantastic style, custom artwork, and a long-term relationship. If you haven’t experienced service from a boutique photographer, you are truly missing out. I create iconic family artwork for your home, with a skill and creativity that’s miles above the DIY disc-of-images model that most of my industry serves up. Check out what people are saying about me on my review page, see more about my process, and please reach out if you have a specific question for me!
If you haven’t given local boutiques a try for your clothing needs, check out my list of favorites below, and if you’re free on 4/27/21, don’t miss the progressive lunch happening on Trade Street! Grab a girl friend or your mom and come to lunch with the Greer community!
Super cute local T’s, featured at Southern Sister’s Boutique
A chartreuse summer booty catches this shoppers eye.
Today it was the owner’s shop dog that greeted me at Talloni’s!
Handful and Hustle Favorites
If you are local to Upstate, SC, I’d like to recommend a visit to Greer for the best boutique experience. Here’s a list of 5 of my favorite locally-owned ladies’ clothing shops to frequent, each with different flair, and they are close enough together to walk to!
Event Invitation!
On Tuesday, April 27th, 2021, you have a chance to take a walking tour of 10 of Greer’s best boutiques via an event called “Greer Station Ladies Who Lunch (and shop!) Derby Edition. If you’d like an introduction to our cute downtown over a progressive lunch, this is your perfect opportunity. Purchase a ticket at this link, find your derby hat if you please, and get ready for a great time!
To stay up to date on what’s happening in Greer, subscribe to our blog, or check out the Greer Station Website.
About the Author
Becka Rodgers is the owner of Handful and Hustle. She’s been a photographer for 15 years, and opened her studio in the Greer center for the arts in fall of 2019. She is passionate about creating artwork for her client’s homes and championing the success of her fellow entrepreneurs. Becka enjoys being an active member of the Greer community, as a neighbor and small business owner.
Danielle, of Southern Sisters Boutique, works from the couch in her store in Greer, SC