How and Why I Bought a Mobile Boutique
Some of you know that The Farmer's Daughter Designs recently bought a mobile boutique.
The crazy thing is, this was not part of my plan AT ALL.
Sometimes opportunities are presented in front of us...even when we are not looking for them.
This was one of those opportunities and once I caught a glimpse of it I RAN WITH IT. Let me tell you how it all started.
It was a normal day. I was sitting in my office about to produce a few shirt designs. I usually listen to some sort of podcast or video while I'm working to get my daily personal development in. That day, I decided I wanted to learn more about growing my boutique business so I visited a Facebook group by Emily Benson, an amazing boutique educator and former boutique owner. I initially went to the group to find a video to listen to while working but the very first thing I found in the group was a for sale post for a Mobile Boutique Trailer in New York. SHE WAS PERFECT. Pink walls, racks already up, hardwood floor, heat/air, and a dressing room! DID I MENTION SHE WAS PERFECT?!
Immediately, I knew I needed this. She needed me. My customers and I needed her. I DIDN'T THINK TWICE and I called my bank to see if I could get a loan. They were excited to help and great to work with. I never had to get a loan before besides my car so I wasn't really sure what I needed to do especially because this was a business loan. A lot of praying and A LOT of paperwork later...I got the loan.
A couple days later Cole and I left for New York! Lets just say he wasn't super excited to be driving over 24 hours to go pick up a mobile boutique. He was a trooper though! Due to the fact that I did not know how to haul a trailer (and he doesn't like my driving skills), he ended up driving the entire way there and back.
BLESS HIM.
We got to Albany, NY on Saturday evening and I booked a hotel for us to stay in for the night. The next morning we went to pick up the trailer. Jen, the woman I was buying it from showed us around and told us how everything worked. She was so nice and helpful throughout the entire process! Jen used the mobile boutique for a couple of months before she opened her store. It was still in perfect condition and I knew I had found a steal! When we left with the trailer it still had not hit me that I actually bought the thing. I kept saying to Cole, "I can't believe we are doing this."
So why did I do it? I just knew it was what I needed to do.
I thought about opening a store many times before. I even looked at spaces to open one in my town. It just didn't feel right. At this point in my life I do not want to be tied down with store hours. Plus, I still want to have the freedom to work when I want. It's safe to say, this mobile boutique was the perfect solution.
What is my plan? People keep asking me this question. The truth is, when I bought it, I didn't have much of a plan. Now, I plan to pop-up at several local businesses in order to collaborate and drive traffic to not only my boutique but their place of business. I also just announced that we will be doing pop-up parties in which we will travel to your home/workplace for you and your friends to shop. I've even set up a plan where hosts can earn FREE CLOTHES based on their party sales. Besides these two amazing things, I also plan to travel to several festivals and markets around the state.
Below are photos of what I have done with the trailer so far. I plan to get a wrap with our logo on the outside as soon as possible.
Buying this trailer is a perfect example of how some of the best things in life come to you unexpectedly. I had zero plans of owning a mobile boutique let alone taking out a loan right after graduating college and quitting my bank job. Did I know what I was doing? No. Did I know that it was the beginning of something amazing? Heck yes.