Statement Boutique is Coming!!

Kim Smith, owner of Statement Boutique,  comes on and tells her story and what we can expect from her new business in the Smyrna Market Village.  We talk fashion, we talk life and we talk booze!  

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:07

What's up, Smyrna? Today I have a really cool guest on Kim Smith. She is the owner of Statement Boutique, a new clothing store just about to open in the Smyrna Market Village. Kim is a business leader with a mission to provide high-quality products, variety, and world-class customer service. For her, it's not just about shopping, it's about celebrating who you are, gaining confidence, and creating a connection with her customer. Kim, thanks for coming on the show.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Thanks for having me. So excited.

SPEAKER_03 0:37

So I want to talk, uh I want to talk about your background. I'm going to dive into that, how you became the owner and whatnot. But first, just tell us what Statement Boutique is. I feel like every boutique store kind of has like a its own vibe. How would you describe what it is and what the vibe uh we can expect?

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Yeah, what I love about uh what I've created at Statement is everything is very bright. When you walk in, you feel this connection with not only the employees, but I want you to feel it, smell it, look at it, and it's just be happy in a peaceful place. And so have bright colors, fun. The clothing will range from I have an age demographic, sometimes from high school all the way to older women in their 70s and beyond. And we have uh wonderful uh dresses, tops, jeans. I have a lot of different brands that I carry as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:27

Oh, that's great. So, yeah, I was just telling you, um, because I know you're not open yet, you're still getting, you know, all your stuff together. My daughter just walked by your store and was like, um, hey, I really want to check this place out. So I I know that you're tapping in because I'm looking at your Instagram, I see you know, um, a variety of ages. But for my for my daughter, who's like insanely picky, she was like, Oh, this place is really cool. I want to check it out. So um nothing for men though.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

No, not yet.

SPEAKER_03 1:52

I mean, I have like three things, so I may just need some like personal guidance at some point. But uh most of it's like sweaty tennis clothes.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

But yeah, I've had people ask if I was gonna do that. I haven't haven't uh figured if that was my niche yet over there.

SPEAKER_03 2:04

Yeah. No, I I mean I I think it's great to kind of hone in and just say, no, this is the space I own. Men, you're on your own. Go to goodwill, whatever. That's fine. Um let's take it back to the beginning. Um, as I understand it, you started out as an employee of statement, and then you just had the opportunity one day to just kind of take it over. Tell us that.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

I did, yeah. So a little bit about me. Um, I was actually a stay-home mom for about 21 years. Prior to that, you know, early late 20s, um, I did work in retail, but then uh met my husband, and we had two kids. I stayed home. He was actually a Cobb PD officer when I met him, and he was uh there for 25 years, retired in 2019, then went on to work at uh as school police at Osborne High School for two and a half years. And so then in 2021, um he had contracted COVID and uh in about 14 days it took his life. That is oh my gosh, I can't imagine. Yes, it was it was um just hard, the hard thing. You just you everything was ripped out from underneath me, and I had um my daughter was a senior in high school at the time, and we lived in North Paulding, and I, you know, trying to just deal with grief and the pain of having to pick all the pieces up, and he did everything, like everything, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Right, right. He was a rock.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Yeah, he was my safety, he was my provider, all the things. So um, I knew the type of person that I am. I just knew it was gonna take me a minute to get there again. And uh, of course, being widowed and just dealing with grief, I never wanted to be home. Home was too painful for me, right? And so I wanted to our our uh road up there, Cedar Crest Road, they have a lot of different things you can do, nails, hair, restaurants, right, statement boutique had been there for a few years, and I would go in and again just the feeling of going in and being able to, it was almost my uh just place to go to feel um happy in a way. That other place. Yeah, like the people that work there, they would listen, and I want I wanted that same, like I loved that, like I wanted just to be out. Friends would take me to dinner, I just needed to be out. And uh almost a year after that, uh they were hiring, and I walked in one day and I said, Hey, I might not be who you're looking for, but I would love to work here. And they said, No, you were actually the person we thought of. Wow, cool. Yes, and so I started working there and I worked there for almost another year, and the owner was ready to sell it, and she asked me, She's like, Hey, would you like to buy it? And I was like, No, aren't you crazy? No, who asked? I've never, oh my word, I've never, that's a huge undertaking. Right. And the way I am is if I can't see if it's gonna be successful, I don't want to do something. I'm more of so this is a huge faith thing for me. And so I ended up um just kind of praying about it, and I was like, okay, I think this is the direction I want to go.

SPEAKER_03 5:11

Leap, right? Yeah. Yeah. Had you had any fashion like background before that, or you mentioned retail, but it was just like no, I knew I loved it.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

I knew I I love community, I love relationships, and I had established such a great uh friendship with so many of the customers that were already there since I'd been there a year. And um, and I just I felt at peace about taking this leap of faith. And so yeah, I I did, and it was incredible the feedback that I got, and I what I wanted to have in the shop clothing-wise, I felt like okay, if it's something that I like, we'll see if that translates to the community as well. And it did, and I had so many people say thank you for offering even more options for all ages, all sizes, and all that, and so um yeah, it was it's it was pretty awesome, and I just love the feeling of and I would have people come in and say to me, just to the feeling that they feel when they walk in is peace, right? And I and they're like, I I've had a hard day, a hard week. Just I'm like, just come in. I have a couch. If you don't you don't even have to buy anything, just come and hang out.

SPEAKER_03 6:23

That does kind of seem like the vibe. I'm you know, I'm just reading some background and kind of how some of the way you've ordered things, it's it does seem kind of um it's more than just like a place to go. It's you really are uh about empowering women and confidence and giving that um and giving that uh advice or whether it be clothing selections or just no sit on the couch, let's just talk. It does have that feel, which I think is pretty cool, especially now as people try and cut through the noise of like Amazon and these big boxes you know, you don't get that. So I think that's really cool to have a place like that in Smyrna where you can kind of just come in, like cheers. Remember the show cheers. You kind of go in, set up at the bar, and we just talk, and then we're gonna, you know, you're my customer, but you're my friend too. That's really cool. Um Smyrna is so you okay, so the the location that you were in was at Ackworth, but you're now relocating to Smyrna.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Smyrna is such a tight-knit supportive community. What made you choose that for your business? Because there are other little pockets that are similar, but what in particular draw drew you to Smyrna?

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Um, well, I actually was born and raised over in the on the side of Cobb County. Okay, went to South Cobb High School and born at Cobb Hospital. And so this was kind of home for me. Um uh a year ago, I actually uh had met uh a widower that lives here in Smyrna, and so we've been together for a year, and uh just being back over here in Smyrna Market Village and just seeing the amount of foot traffic over here, uh my lease is uh the end of May, and that end of this year of the month, and uh I needed to make a decision, and because uh the way the economy has gotten the last year and a half, uh if you're not in a high foot traffic area, you're done. You're yeah, you're you're pretty toast. Um and for the the first year and a half that I had statement, it was amazing. But then after that, I could see it kind of starting to decline. And even though we have a busy road with cars, we don't have a lot of foot traffic. Interesting, right? Right. It's more I'm in a strip center up there, and people would have to drive to me knowing that they needed something specifically. And I which I have the best customers, very loyal, that would want to come, you know, and shop small instead of the easy way of Amazon and other places like that that you can do online, and um, and so I had to make a decision, and being over here with Jeffrey and his family, I just felt like okay, let me just I'm just gonna put it again a leap of faith. Right, and I was just gonna make the shop go online and just see what I could do.

SPEAKER_01 9:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

And I had called a couple of the property managers over at Smarter Market Village, and nothing was available. So one day it was actually St. Patty's Day weekend. I would we were walking from parking to the new brewery over there, and we looked to the left and we were like, oh my gosh, there's a space for lease. And found out they had just put the sign in the window on Thursday. We were walking by on Saturday. I called on Monday and I took it. Wow. And again, I just feel like God just here's like, here you go. Right, right. Here's the breadcrumbs. Here's the next step for you. That's so cool. Um, and so uh, and it's just been the best feedback since. And the reason why I did choose Smyrna, not only for my location now that I'm over here, is I did look at other small city like downtown fields, and it just didn't have the same. The city of Smyrna does an incredible job of activities, they really are small business focused, and they try to bring in the foot traffic for all of us. And we the feedback that I've heard for that that area, they they wanted the customers and the residents wanted more shoppable places. And they they've they said to me, We've been needing a women's boutique over here, but that's right there. I know there's a few that are more standalone that are near like Spring Street and other places, but nothing like right there.

SPEAKER_03 10:32

Where you're gonna get that real foot traffic and just like poke my head in and say, Yes, I need to be here.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

Yes, and then like you know, people want to walk around after they've eaten dinner or at have a glass of wine at the wine market or you know, and all that, and um, or even go into the brewery and Stouts Brothers, all those, all those businesses right there are so supportive of each other, and they really were all trying to help each other, and it's just an amazing feel.

SPEAKER_03 10:56

It is kind of a unique vibe, that whole area down there, what it's become over the years. Paint us the picture. Where is where is your location? So I'm walking down the Smyrna Market Village. Where am I gonna see you? What are you next to? Just to give people an idea.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

If you're coming from where the fountain is, okay, and straight down uh uh West Spring Street, you'll go past Atkins Park and then the whole next so not that road, but the next road.

SPEAKER_02 11:20

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Um the there's like a spectral on the corner, the wine markets across the street from it. So I'm on that building. You have the wine market and then uh then the bourbon bar and then me.

SPEAKER_03 11:31

So it sounds like what you're recommending is um people have a glass of wine. Absolutely, have a glass of bourbon, and then come shop.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Okay, so this is a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 11:39

So now you're getting a little fast and loose with my money now. Come on in, I feel good. Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

Well, and um, and there's just other places too that they yeah, that they can go to, but um but I've actually heard from customers before I closed the Ackworth location. Um, I would tell them, hey, definitely calm. There's events there you can do, even though y'all live up here, you could please come see me in Smyrna. And they were like, Oh, we'll follow you anywhere. Cool. Okay, awesome. I said, and the plus thing is bring your husbands, they can have a drink at the bourbon bar.

SPEAKER_03 12:11

You figured it out.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

You figured out we don't want to come inside shopping.

SPEAKER_03 12:14

We don't want to come inside the store. That's right. We want to, we wanna, hey, what's that over there? Did somebody say bourbon bar hunting? Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_00 12:21

So I had a customer go out, her her husband, she came in specifically just to say goodbye to me at the Ackworth location. And um she ended up saying to me, she messaged me, she said, I got in the truck and told my husband, and he said, We'll see you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 12:37

Yes, good, good, good. So where are you at now with the opening? Because you've got the store.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 12:42

Um, your grand's open. When we talk about the grand opening, it's not, it's happening soon, but where are I mean, are there are the lights on? Are like where are we starting to stock? Where are you at with all the processes?

SPEAKER_00 12:53

So the Ackworth location is is closed for shopping, and so we can transition everything from up there down to Smyrna. And uh so that's still a transition as we speak. And my hope is to have my final walkthrough with the fire marshal by the 27th.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

Um and then uh June 3rd is the ribbon cutting. So y'all can everyone can still walk by, see me. They can't come in and shop, but they can at least experience. And if I'm in there, I'd love to meet anybody that wants to walk by. I've had I've had um residents and customers um that are just kind of walking around and they would say, We're so excited, we can't wait for you to open.

SPEAKER_02 13:36

Cool.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

So, and then the grand opening is the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, the fifth, sixth, and seventh of June. Okay. So the ribbon cutting third. I'm probably gonna take a pause on Thursday to kind of recoup and do the grand opening on the fifth, sixth, and seventh of that weekend.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Oh, that's great.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

And that's a huge weekend for Smyrna with um the World Cup coming and uh Smyrna's really doing a lot in that department.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

Right.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Um, and so and then that Saturday night, there's actually the first concert on the green. So that's it's gonna be a lot of people.

SPEAKER_03 14:06

Okay, so it's interesting because um what will the hours be? Because I I when I think Smyrna Market Village, I think I do I do think evening. Like a lot of traffic in the evening.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Are you gonna have that overlap or like so um we'll be closed on Mondays? Okay, most everything over there is closed, and I'll kind of play it by ear because I know the wine market, they do have events at night that I might be open. Um we'll see. But mainly Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 to 7. Okay, and then Friday, Saturday, 10 to 8. And depending on events, I might could hang out a little bit longer after that. And then Sunday, right now with the farmer's market, I'll be 10 to 5.

SPEAKER_03 14:43

Okay, all right, good. So there's lots of opportunities for people to, you know, like you say, sample the bourbon, go out to Adkins, and then still like walk around because that's what people like to do. They like to, you know, kind of walk and digest, and then they can start, you know, like, oh, what's that? What's that over there?

SPEAKER_00 14:58

Uh and I know like my back door is at King Street back there at the stop sign, and so right across Dagley is all the green space. So I know in the mornings, early afternoons, and maybe even more so now it's summer, uh, like moms with their kids are coming in. And so just to just to have the visibility on that side um of my building to be able to come. No, I'm yeah, I gotta come around to the front door to come in.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

But yeah, yeah, that's great. So it's such a great location. It's like um I feel like it's so highly covered. Like if you had waited an extra day before walking by that, it might have been gone. It was just such a prime location.

SPEAKER_00 15:41

Incredible how things have just happened, worked out for me. Very excited.

SPEAKER_03 15:47

So let's talk fashion for a minute because obviously I need some help. Um curating a collection uh to me, to me, is like art. It's like an art form because I wouldn't have the first clue, but how do you go about selecting pieces for your store? Like, does it come come from you? Are you analyzing trends or what what do you what's your process?

SPEAKER_00 16:07

All of that actually. Um, I will look at the brands that I know a lot of the customers um love, and I always love feedback, especially now going from Ackworth to Smyrna. Will it transition the same?

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:21

It'll be kind of trial and error for me with the customers, but from what I've heard, they they love everything that I have up, you know, that I'm bringing down from Ackworth. Um, but yeah, I look at trends. The funny thing is about our area, we're we're way behind the actual trends.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:40

Yeah, usually what you see like New York, LA, and other places, it might take a year or so for like a trickle down, especially, you know, maybe not so much for CA, but definitely we're in Pauldon County. There's just certain pockets um that people aren't quite ready for certain things. Interesting.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

Okay, all right.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Um, so what has always worked with that I had mentioned earlier is if it's something that I that kind of catches my eye and it has worked for the Aquirth location, that's usually what will sell. Um and I try to broaden that because obviously not everyone is gonna like what I like.

SPEAKER_02 17:16

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

And the different like age, the age demographics, I think in Smyrna might be just a hair younger than what they were in Ackworth. So I want to be, and I know there's a lot of excuse me, teenagers too. And so, but my space that I went, I'm I'm going from Ackworth 2,700 square feet to Smyrna 1100. Okay. So it's a smaller square footage. So there's I have to be a little bit more a bit pickier on what I'm putting in the shop. So um definitely try to do um, you know, obviously short options and jeans, and that's a whole nother thing too, because there's a million different styles. So I I definitely want feedback from customers, you know. You know, I'll do what I can, obviously. Sure. I um yeah, I mean, fashion is, you know, everybody has an opinion and different style and all. So I have to it's gonna be, like I said, trial and error to see how it works in smart enough.

SPEAKER_03 18:12

Well, that's refreshing to hear you say feedback because I think a lot of times business owners they can get kind of an ego and you know, this is kind of my way, yeah. But to be able to adapt to the market and uh and say, Oh, I really like that's a good idea, you know. I think that um you know it creates more of that uh customer connection.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

And what I what I've heard too, and most people, this is why they lot love shopping boutiques, is um you're not gonna see it anywhere.

SPEAKER_03 18:36

Right. Oh, that's huge.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

So I mean, because basically the way and I think people don't realize too what what we buy is pre-package sizes. So I get two small, two medium, two large, sometimes an extra large, sometimes an extra small. Um, and different brands run smaller than others and run bigger. So um, but yeah, it's and once I purchase to I can't if I could choose all smalls or all mediums or larges, I would, but you know, knowing, you know, different places in this, you know, Akruth or Smarna e to one, most of my smalls go first. Okay, you know, kind of thing. But to restock, I try not to do that because you don't want to have too many of the same floating around everywhere.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

Yeah, yeah. That's a big thing. That's a big thing. Yeah, um so based on kind of what I'm hearing from you and just my kind of general fashion knowledge, it's uh fashion is so tied to how you feel.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

Are you able to share a story of a customer who like walked into the fitting room feeling unsure and then walked out feeling like completely different? Was there any one particular connection that you made that was like so many of those, so many.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

And um I it makes my heart so happy when someone will come in, and I've had a quite a few women have lost like a lot of weight, and you have this mindset almost like body dysmorphia. You think you are still bigger and you're not, and so my philosophy is always like just try it on. You never know what something that um is on the hanger is gonna look completely different on anyone, right? Um, and I've had so many stories of that where women were would come in and they're like, I don't know, I need I hate trying to figure out what to wear. Can you help? And so then I'll start pulling stuff. I'm just trying it on, just see what you think. And they're like, Oh, I didn't know I could actually fit in that.

SPEAKER_03 20:35

Right.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

And so, oh yeah, there's so many stories that have that.

SPEAKER_03 20:39

Uh all right, so what is the and again this is probably gonna change uh over the next uh however many times uh people listen to this over the next couple months. What is the one staple piece? What is the trend for this season that you think every woman uh needs in their closet right now?

SPEAKER_00 20:55

Um everyone what is what is so popular right now are like just mini dresses. Okay. Whether it's your like your black dress um or a floral or um we have these actually I'm wearing one right now. These a pleated romper. Um, and I have them in black, a royal, uh like a cobalt blue, and a hot pink. And they're easy, you don't have to think of a whole outfit. You just put it on, and it is it's like put some sandals with it, tennis shoes, boots, whatever.

SPEAKER_03 21:32

And you're good to go.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

Denim jacket. Yeah. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:35

Um looking ahead, what are you most excited for about the boutique over the next year? Any fun events, collaborations, any exclusive uh lines, anything like that on the horizon?

SPEAKER_00 21:46

I what I did in Ackworth is uh usually once a month. Um I would have I'll have what's called sippin' shops where I can bring in Alcohol is a theme, I've noticed.

SPEAKER_03 21:58

For all of my podcasts. Yes, actually. I wonder why gravitating.

SPEAKER_00 22:02

Oh my gosh, I know, right? Um, but yeah, uh usually sip in shops and then I'll have different vendors, local vendors, come in and like sell. Um, you know, I have a girl that uh has lotions that she makes and things like that, or permanent jewelry is really big, um, and are doing people that have create trucker hats and different things like that. And then usually once a quarter, I'm really big on give backs. I and Ackworth I always did a 20% give back to a ministry, an organization. Um, because again, it's not about me, it's about again the community and what what statement can do to help and connect, you know, with the community and do and do that.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

I think that's so uh that's so great. You I I've seen these companies do things like this before where it's like really um it's not just us, it's community. And you do get a really uh from my understanding, a loyal customer base when they feel like man, this is actually going to uh uh a cause, not just supporting a local business, not just getting a great product, but now it's it's doubling up and doing other things.

SPEAKER_00 23:10

Well, and I just feel too, I mean, um I I feel very grateful and thankful just being when I was widowed and people wanting to help me and do whatever. And but I just feel like at the heart of who I am, I want to make sure that if if God's blessed me, I want to be able to with statement, I want to be able to give back to a ministry organization. And I've done that uh I did like with widows ministries, I've done that with special needs ministry, I've done that with uh a company that she uh it's um that she helps other moms who have special needs and like retreats and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_03 23:53

So I try to do a lot. Oh well done, well done. All right, so now we're gonna enter uh just a rapid fire round. Okay, oh my gosh. All right, so um there's no wrong answers. Uh all right, so just fashion related real quick. Okay, dressed up and glamorous or elevated casual?

SPEAKER_00 24:09

Oh, dressed up and glamorous.

SPEAKER_03 24:11

Okay. Um, your absolute favorite go-to accessory right now?

SPEAKER_00 24:16

Bracelets.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

Okay. And you sell all of all of those. Okay, cool. All right, good. Um, what's the one word to describe the Smyrna community? Um just say crazy. I think she said crazy. No.

SPEAKER_00 24:30

Um warm.

SPEAKER_03 24:33

Good one, okay. And what's the playlist you you you got in your shop right now?

SPEAKER_00 24:37

Actually, so uh I I've had the best feedback up in Ackworth for this, and um I play worship music, actually.

SPEAKER_03 24:47

Okay, all right, cool.

SPEAKER_00 24:48

And uh I I love it, and I think that's part of the atmosphere, the feeling of like people just want to come and hang out.

SPEAKER_02 24:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:57

And I have heard different voices as customers are coming in singing as well, and like just singing along with songs. I'm like, I that makes my heart so happy that's cool to hear that. That's cool. So yeah, yep.

SPEAKER_03 25:11

Well, it sounds like um you've got everything lined up to be a very successful business. Um, so glad you could come on the podcast. I just love highlighting like all of these stories that that you just might not know. You know, if I see you standing at Publix, I might not know your story. So just so cool that you could come on and tell us what to expect. Um, give us your final thoughts on uh what what does the audience need to know? What's when's your grand opening? Tell us the dates for that. What can we expect in the future, and then um what's the best way to find you on social and all of that?

SPEAKER_00 25:42

Okay, so the ribbon cutting, if anyone wants to join and be a part of that, is uh Wednesday, June 3rd at 11 a.m. And then uh grand opening is June 5th, 6th, and 7th, which is a Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Um, and we'll be open again Friday, Saturday from 10 to 8, Sunday, 10 to 5. And uh I'm on uh Instagram under statement underscore boutique, and then on Facebook with statement boutique, and then also on TikTok. And so I do all the social media. Okay, cool. Do it all, and uh and that's another thing too, is up at the Ackward location, I would have customers come in, they're like, Oh my gosh, we saw your reel. And I always say the dumber the better. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That gets everyone's attention. I don't like to be serious on reels ever.

SPEAKER_03 26:28

That's not why I'm here.

SPEAKER_00 26:29

Yeah, no, and that because that's just my heart. I want to have fun and I want, you know, just to connect with people and also yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:35

Well, that's exciting. So uh we're really excited for you. Glad you're opening up this really cool shop. And I won't be a customer, but I'm gonna tell people to come check it out. And I think there's a bourbon bar nearby, too. I think maybe maybe me and the wife should go absolutely uh divide and conquer over there. Yeah, thanks for coming on. Uh wish you all the success in the in the future. Thanks for coming on.