Category Archives: Franchise

Fashion Week

The Style Edit 

Hello my fellow shopaholics, and welcome back to the Apricot Lane Blog! My name is Katie and today we are going to deep dive into the latest trends in fashion, beauty and retail! From Spring fashion, New York Fashion Week, to dewy skin and shopping local! If that sounds like a good read then stay tuned!

 

First off, welcome back and thank you for stopping by! This blog is here to keep in touch and let you know that everything we do here at Apricot Lane Boutique is for you! If you like what you see, make sure to like/follow us on social media!

 

Back to business! Trends trends trends, hard to follow? Sometimes. Cute? Not always. But I am here to help you out! So far going into spring we are seeing some trends roll over from last season. Denim, denim, denim. Still loving the raw hems, flare edges, distressed and rock washed. Trenches and oversized outerwear are still pushing through Spring, so pull out those puffy jackets that your mom made you wear to go sledding and steal your aunt’s camel trench because you are on trend girl!

Fashion Week

New and now, we are seeing a lot of upcoming trends come out of New York Fashion Week 2018.  Pattern! This is a major one, from florals to muted plaids, to Disco Fever vibes from Tom Ford. Don’t be afraid to mix those mediums and you’ll be on trend, so throw on that gingham jumpsuit and pair it with a fur vest for the perfect Spring funk. Lastly color! Play with color, don’t be scared to get a bold jacket with pale blue fur trim, or a hunter green moto jacket, or even a bold hot pink mule(thank you Gucci)!

From these trends, we are seeing different techniques coming from retailers. Consumers want that unique, one of a kind look, and it’s much easier to achieve with online retailers or shopping small. Some of the best, one of a kind finds come from local boutiques who are buying current and buying on trend. Not to toot our own horn, but boutique shopping is the easiest way to get a curated, blogger look, without breaking the bank.

 

The Style Edit 

Moving on to the make up edit! Now, ladies I want to make one thing clear… Skin. Is. In. Say it with me! The days of high coverage, matte, caked on foundation are behind us! Sidenote, if you are a full coverage queen, keep on doing you! However, the evolution of skincare and cosmetics has merged to give us bands like Glossier, and The Ordinary who are all about skincare, and makeup combined. So, embrace the face and get that skin glowing girl! Apricot Lane always has sheet masks in stock, so we are your one stop shop.

 

Now that we have brought it full circle, we can talk shopping local. Apricot lane is a franchised boutique, and every time you shop you are supporting a someone’s means, promoting what is often a dream of these store owners, and you are giving back to your community. These owners are so passionate about their stores and nothing means more to them than customer happiness, driving business, supporting their town. So find your local Apricot Lane Boutique on social media today! Support your local business owners!

 

Life’s too short, buy the outfit!

 

Until next time.

Leather Jacket Layers

3 Fun Ways To Layer For Fall

It's getting a bit chillier out now so it's the perfect time for layers! Here are three cozy but not bulky layering ideas for this Fall. Layer up on bottom! Wool, suede and leather are warm textures on their own but you can combine them for an nice ruffle flare by opening up a button-down skirt over leather legging. Try putting tights under frayed or ripped jeans for a super cute and edgy look. denim jeans woman in grey long sleeves woman in black turtle neck woman in brown coat woman in brown boots Dress up your boots with layers of all black makes them a little bit more sophisticated and wearable just look for pieces of different texture like a knit turtleneck, blouse or t-shirt with a blazer or leather jacket. woman in black jacket woman in black outfit woman in black turtle neck Lastly, try layering different thinner pieces together. You can go really short or really long. woman in blue jacket woman in black skirt woman in striped shirt stripped jeans stripped jeans brown top Image Source: Pinterest
store interior 6

Wichita Mom Boss

headshot-2016

Meet Kami

Before starting Apricot Lane, I was a hair stylist in a small Kansas town.  I think that’s how my passion for helping women feel good about themselves started.  Styling hair allowed me the opportunity to give women the boost of confidence they desired.  It was in that same small town that I met my husband, Mark.  After we were married, his work moved us out of state.  I was a stay-at-home mom raising two boys, but Mark and I had always dreamed of starting up our own business – we just didn’t know when or how.

Why Apricot Lane

Mark and I finally decided it was time to move forward with our dream.  My desire to help women feel good about themselves was still strong, and I had always loved anything to do with fashion.  We both knew we wanted to be closer to home, so we made the move back to Wichita, Kansas.  Wichita was not only a lot closer to home, but it also offered us the perfect market for a trendy and affordable clothing store. store front Once we discovered Apricot Lane, we knew we had made the right decision.  This franchise took out all of the guesswork for us, and made our transition to “boutique owners” so much easier.  We loved having the support of a large franchise, but even more than that we loved how Apricot Lane allowed us the flexibility to truly make the store our own.  Not only did we receive support from the franchisor, but also from the network of other Apricot Lane Boutique franchisees, which helped us create a solid foundation. store interior"Our lives are hectic managing three children and a business but we wouldn’t trade it for anything!"

Where We Are Now

Mark and I are approaching our fourth holiday season in the retail business.  Just like any other new adventure, there have been ups and downs along the way, but each year we find ourselves more organized and more excited.  Having an amazing sales team is of utmost importance in making sure our store is running smoothly.  I’ve always loved working with women and young girls, so having the opportunity to manage our sales team has been such a great time – and definitely never boring!  Building and maintaining relationships with customers is Apricot Lane Wichita’s number one goal.  We love our “regulars” and make it a point to welcome each and every person into our store with a smile and a greeting.  It is our goal to make every single customer feel appreciated.

clothes flat lay clothes flat lay 2 As a husband-and-wife business team, we make every important decision for the store together.  Mark, in addition to his full time job in commercial banking, handles the hiring and accounting end, while I take care of store merchandising, employee management, and all of the buying.  Opening the store has strengthened our relationship in ways we could not have imagined.  Since making the move back to Kansas and opening Apricot Lane Wichita, our family has grown.  We now have the two boys, Aidan and Cooper, and a little diva, Madeleine.  Our lives are hectic managing three children and a business but we wouldn’t trade it for anything! family photo Originally posted in City Moms Blog

A Family Affair. {Apricot Lane Florida}

family affair {Meet the Shapiros} If you were to ask Phyllis, husband Barry, or son Matthew if they could change their careers and do something different, the hands-down answer would be a very sincere, “No.” How It All Began In high school, Barry started out working in domestics at Macy’s where he met Phyllis, who worked in the cosmetics department. They married in 1979, moved a few times along the way for Barry’s retail career growth in operations at Ann Taylor and Chicos, and eventually landed in Fort Myers, Florida. During that time, Phyllis raised their two sons – Matthew, now 34 and Jeff, now 31. While working as President of Perry Ellis retail, Barry stumbled across Apricot Lane at a trade show in Las Vegas where Ken Peterson, the CEO of Apricot Lane Franchise was a featured speaker. He had always thought about owning his own business and thought of this opportunity, and the support that Apricot Lane Franchises offers, as a way to start a business with his wife and son. Phyllis and Barry opened their first store in Coconut Creek, Florida in November of 2008. Matthew joined his parents shortly after, first as a store manager, to learn the ins and outs of the business. As of two years ago, Matthew is the buyer for all of their stores. Present Day The Shapiros currently have their Coconut Creek store, added their DelRay Beach store to the family business in 2013, and will soon open a third location in Wellington, Florida. Phyllis still keeps an eye on the Coconut Creek store while running back and forth to the DelRay Beach location, which is close to their residence. When asked what the best thing about the Apricot Lane stores is, Phyllis replied, “The stores allow me the opportunity to work alongside my family. It gives me those few extra days a week to be with my son, which I love!” Working together as a family affords them the time to travel to the different trade shows across the United States, as well as talk shop. The Shapiros emphasize their love of the fact that their stores are part of the community in which they reside. They pride themselves on their warm and friendly team of associates who are part of their extended family. phyllis-barry-and-matt-outside Originally posted in City Moms Blog.

Mom. Daughter. Bosses. {Apricot Lane Omaha}

Meet Karen & Janee :: Mom Bosses mom daughter boss My mother Karen and I have always been very close. She owned a few hair care product salons at a few malls in Nebraska (while still working a full time corporate job). The day she got released from the hospital after having me, she actually brought me into the store to check on things. You could literally say I was born to shop – born on Saturday, shopping by Monday. Mother/Daughter Business Plan Fast forward 24 years. I was living in Chicago working at a law firm and needed a change of pace. I wanted to be back at home in Omaha so I could be with family and friends. About the same time, Karen was ready to retire from her corporate job. We had always wanted to open a business together and started looking for opportunities. A friend from college was managing an Apricot Lane in Missouri at the time and was always talking about how much she loved her job. Karen and I decided to go check it out, and the rest was history. We loved everything about it. Apricot Lane sat down with us to share their life experiences that brought them to the world of women’s boutiques. The whole company is founded upon giving back to those in need and creating awareness. We decided then that we were going to turn our passion into a mother/daughter business. We could be a part of a supporting franchise, yet still bring in our own styles and personalities into the business. Let me tell you: it’s been a crazy ride! We furnished our boutique similarly to what I would do in my own home, to create a relaxed and fun shopping environment. We want women to feel like they are shopping with friends in the comfort of our home. We have all ages of women that shop with us: from teenagers to women in their 70s. We have been so blessed to get to know so many different women with completely different styles. The variety in the products in the store is amazing. I love leggings and trendy tops and dresses with booties or heels that I can easily turn the look from day to night. My mother loves a great pair of denim and a nice classic top or sweater. We work hard to bring in items that we would both wear. omaha interior "We decided ­­­that we were going to turn our passion into a mother/daughter business." Living the Dream It’s been over three years, and the experience has been so rewarding. Working with family is fun and exciting, but not without challenges. Our mother/daughter bond goes deeper than a typical relationship because we are also partners. The most challenging part is also the most rewarding: we are in business for ourselves but we don’t always agree on everything. We complete and complement each other, which makes the business successful. Karen: “Working with my daughter is rewarding on so many levels. Not only do I have a front-row seat to her growth and success in the fashion industry, but I have her companionship and am able to share in her life to a degree that would make many mothers envious.” Janee: “My mother is a very driven, successful, and kind woman. She’s been such an inspiration to me and is such a strong woman. I honestly don’t know how she does it all. Learning how to run a business from her is a priceless experience that most people never have the chance to do.” We have literally shopped every single weekend that we’ve spent together to this day – and wouldn’t have it any other way. We can’t wait to see how our journey unfolds in the future. Make sure to to check out more about Karen and Janee’s Omaha store AND shop all of the seasons most popular styles from Apricot Lane! Stay tuned as we highlight more Apricot Lane stores around the country and the hardworking #MomBoss that is behind each one. Originally posted in City Moms Blog