- April 24, 2024
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New business owner says it’s a labor of love
Patty Alexander, of Ormond Beach, has found true love. She believes her customers will too, at her new women’s boutique at 370 W. Granada Blvd. She sells both new and resale clothing, shoes and accessories.
A grand opening for True Love Boutique is planned from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 20 with door prizes, including a Coach handbag.
The name comes from one of her favorite phrases, “find what you love; love what you find.” In other words, she hopes customers will find what they are looking for when they visit, and also love something they find unexpectedly.
“A lady came in looking for a formal dress and ended up buying a bathing suit,” she said.
When Alexander found that the domain name “trueloveboutique” was available, that finalized the decision for the name.
Before starting the business, she raised her three children, who in a few years will likely be flown from the nest.
“I’m glad I did that, but I’m ready to work outside the house,” she said. “When my kids are gone, I want to have something that is mine.”
It’s a little different than most consignment shops. She purchases used clothing, rather than selling them on consignment. She also has new clothing, because she works with a company that buys end-of-season items from major stores. This allows her to sell new bathing suits.
Alexander said it’s been a labor of love in opening and running the shop, a business venture she thought about a year ago.
“It’s been great for me. I’ve learned so much,” she said.
Alexander has a background as a certified public accountant, and she’s also always been interested in art. Both talents have been useful.
She’s used artistic skills for the window displays, cutting plastic flowers out of bottles for spring, and arranging books and a black board for a school theme.
Her window displays were almost too attractive. She had customers who saw the display and thought it was an upscale shop, so she put “50 to 70% off” on a sign in the window.
She’s also enjoyed getting to know her customers.
“Ormond Beach is such a small town,” she said. “If you talk to anybody for a while, you find out you know people in common. It’s been so nice.”
She has been open for a few months, but is just now getting around to having a grand opening. She was busy for a while in the summer traveling with Seabreeze students on the international trip that is scheduled every two years. They traveled to Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales.
“My daughter let me be a chaperone,” she said. “That was a big deal.”
She said it was great for the students to get to know other students they don’t normally hang out with, as well as learn about the other countries.
She likes her location in the shopping plaza. She gets a lot of people who are waiting for a companion at other businesses or strolling by.
“I get a lot of people who didn’t know we were here,” she said.
Before opening, she worked for months, making sure everything was just right.
“The owner of the mall was wondering when I was going to open,” she said.
Call 872-7848.
