Boem Boutique, a store in Charlotte NC is one of my favorites and here’s why it should be yours, too. When the owner, Megan Orrell, worked in retail during college, she always had a passion for fashion. After school at NC State, she entered the corporate world for five years. She grew tired of sitting in a cubicle all day and decided to go back to retail with the hopes of opening her own boutique one day. Eleven months later she did and Boem was born. Boem Boutique is a high fashion woman’s clothing boutique in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is centered around customer service and the store environment reflects that well. The gray and white walls provide an inviting, bright and well-lit environment. Various Pandora stations are played at a comfortable level and when you enter the store you pick up the aroma of fresh linen wafting from a candle located at the front desk. This helps provide a relaxing, pleasant environment that makes your shopping experience easy, enjoyable and welcoming. The store recently made some interior improvements, updating shelving, racks, dressing rooms and other furniture that maintain a modern and bohemian look. The stores décor incorporates tie dye, grays and tasteful furniture to create an updated yet whimsical feel. Mirrors, art and dream catchers decorate the walls. People are smiling and browsing through the clothes.
Boem offers an array of women’s clothing and accessories. You can find tops, dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, shoes, jewelry, handbags, socks, hats, swimwear (seasonal), jackets, sweaters, active wear, sunglasses, candles, undergarments, key chains, bedazzled pepper spray and much more. Prices of accessories range from $2-$105. Clothing ranges from $40-$250 and shoes from $30-$200. They have an extremely wide variety and you’re sure to find something to match your style and budget.
Boem also has a large social media presence. A large number of the product is sold through Instagram and they have a huge following. They also use Facebook and send out email blasts weekly. In the past year, they have created an incredible website that is not only super chic but also easy to navigate.
Another thing I love about Boem is that it is oriented around customer service. It is their number one priority as a local business to make customers feel welcome and loved in order to create customer loyalty. Immediately when you walk into the store you are greeted and asked if you are looking for anything specific or if there is something you can be assisted with. While undergoing their training, employees are taught to say “Hi, welcome to Boem! Is there anything I can help you with today?” The customer is checked on just enough but not too much in order to make sure that they do not need any further help but also do not feel pressured to buy anything. Employees come in on trial days to learn the ins and outs of the store. Employees offer bottled waters to customers and wrapping is a free service for all gifts no matter the amount spent.
Moral of the story (or review) is that a store with good values and even better customer service is what makes local businesses so much better than large, monster chain stores. Always try to shop local when you can, and next time you’re in Charlotte, check out Boem!
Website: www.shopboem.com
Instagram: @shopboem
