Tag Archives: retail

Apricot Lane St. Armands Circle Featured in City Mom’s Blog

apricot_lane_fashion_engaged-featured-9-16-16 Meet Ginger – mom, grammies, fashion lover, and business owner.  She’s been known to spoil her fabulous four grandchildren first with love, then with goodies! After 31 years of wedded bliss to her high school sweetheart and three beautiful daughters, family is everything to her.  Crafts, art, and the designing of anything always peaked her interest, but it’s the small things in life that really embrace her – smiling, laughing, loving, being a little crazy (okay, a lot crazy!), making memories, and family devotion. Her family is the real reason she wanted to start a business. Ginger knows succeeding at her own business brings in extra money to treat her family to enjoyable trips, delectable dinners, fun outings, and ultimately having something of value to leave behind for her offspring. Ginger also wanted to set a good example for her children and g-kids by teaching them that you truly can do or be anything you want in life if you really go after it.  And today, City Moms Blog Network is thrilled to share her story and successes with Apricot Lane.
If we were going to make a colossal life change, I wanted it to be different this time around.  I wanted to do something fun.  I wanted to get up in the morning and actually want to go to work.  This earth is supposed to be life’s playground after all, right?  If I was to succeed both in business and spiritually, I knew I had to make work fun!  I always loved playing dress up as most little and big girls do, I always loved make-up, purses, jewelry and let’s not forget shoes!  So there it was, fashion was part of our destination! ginger

Read Ginger's Story.

Visiting the warm, sunny south as our family annually did, we fell in love with tropical birds, dancing palm trees, aqua crystal waters, white sandy beaches and cheerful hellos from passersby as we browsed our favorite shopping destination.  Everything was so bright, upbeat, enjoyable and alive at St. Armands Circle!  We had found our haven, we just had to put the rest of the pieces together of life’s journey. If we were going to make a colossal life change, I wanted it to be different this time around.  I wanted to do something fun.  I wanted to get up in the morning and actually want to go to work.  This earth is supposed to be life’s playground after all, right?  If I was to succeed both in business and spiritually, I knew I had to make work fun!  I always loved playing dress up as most little and big girls do, I always loved make-up, purses, jewelry and let’s not forget shoes!  So there it was, fashion was part of our destination!

Why Apricot Lane.

While researching the merchant and fashion field, I stumbled across the franchise Apricot Lane Boutique.  They were the perfect opportunity, as I had never worked in retail before (I sure had lots of experience on the other side of the cash register though!).  The next question was, how? I once read, you don’t need to have all the answers up front, just start taking the steps forward and you will figure it out as you go along.  As the old saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained!”  Anxiousness and fear of starting your own business are real, but once you look deep inside yourself, confidence overcomes and turns your dreams into reality. women
Anxiousness and fear of starting your own business are real, but once you look deep inside yourself, confidence overcomes and turns your dreams into reality.

The American Dream.

One by one they’ve joined me.  My family, my husband, my girls, two pups and myself have relocated to sunny Sarasota.  We’ve had quite the journey, we’ve flown across the country a few times meeting new people, making new friends, learning new things and experiencing a whole new life.  These are all wonderful things we never would have encountered without the courage to just “start”.  My journey has brought my family closer together, not only geographically but respectfully.  We rely on each other, we laugh together, we each step up to the plate as needed and we really are enjoying each other along the way!  We are having fun!  Our store, Apricot Lane Boutique St. Armands Circle, is family owned and operated.  We created something from nothing.  We truly are living the American dream and you can, too! Make sure to to check out more about Ginger’s Sarasota 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. store front
Originally posted in City Moms Blog

Bomber Jackets: The Must-Have Essential For Fall

This lightweight jacket is the kind of staple you can always throw on during that weird, in-between weather. Below, you will find some inspiration on how to incorporate bomber jackets into your fall looks! 04-topshop-bomber-jacket-trousers-prints-totebag-lulus-coach-booties-winter-ootd-nyfw1 Image Source: Fake Leather woman in black jacket Image Source: Pinterest woman in green jacket Image Source: Pinterest allergic-to-vanilla-style-blog-zara-light-blue-oxford-short-curly-hair Image Source: Allergic To Vanilla blog_waystowearthebomber-recovered_03 Image Source: Explife.Express woman posing Image Source: Fashion Forte le-fashion-blog-blogger-style-ombre-hair-embroidered-green-bomber-coat-white-flare-sleeved-shirt-clutch-cuffed-denim-via-nina-suess Image Source: Le Fashion le-fashion-blog-blogger-style-sunglasses-green-bomber-jacket-white-top-ripped-jeans-mesh-socks-black-wide-strap-heels-via-lisa-rvd Image Source: Blog Lovin le-fashion-blog-model-off-duty-style-megan-irwin-ray-ban-round-sunglasses-green-bomber-jacket-givenchy-bag-black-jeans-boots-via-carolines-mode-1 Image Source: Le Fashion le-fashion-blog-spring-blogger-style-top-knot-embroidered-floral-bomber-jacket-black-crop-top-brown-bag-wide-leg-pants-platform-sandals-via-the-fashion-through-my-eyes Image Source: Le Fashion mia-mia-mine-bomber-jacket-650x975 Image Source: Mia Mia Mine woman posing 2 Image Source: Romalos Blog woman posing 3 Image Source: OPI rihanna-bomber-jacket-fashion-trend-glamazons-blog2 Image Source: Glamazons Blog blog_waystowearthebomber-recovered_05 Image Source: Explife blog_waystowearthebomber-recovered_08 Image Source: ExpLife

New Emerging Fashion Trends For Summer & Fall

Chokers and off-the-shoulder tops. blogger-off-the-shoulder-top-choker-necklace Image Source: Linaeroute.com off shoulder Image Source: lookbook off shoulder 2 Image Source: Pinterest Clear detailing on shoes is a major shoe trend that is just emerging. shop-the-next-huge-shoe-trend-before-its-played-out-1837097-1468531198.640x0c Image Source: Whowhatwear.com  shop-the-next-huge-shoe-trend-before-its-played-out-1837098-1468531198.640x0c Image Source: Image Source: Whowhatwear.com  We are already seeing models wearing fall's number one piece: the varsity jacket. trending-this-will-be-falls-it-jacket-1838193-1468596616.600x0c Image Source: WhoWhatWear.com trending-this-will-be-falls-it-jacket-1838197-1468596617.600x0c Image Source: Whowhatwear.com The one new denim trend to take the fashion world by storm this season? Two-tone denim. Lily-Aldridge-look-culottes-over-knee-boots-1a Image Source: Pinterest nikki-reed-blank2-e1410399042630 Image Source: DenimBlog.com the-one-denim-trend-were-going-to-see-a-lot-more-of-1817006-1466792403.640x0c Image Source: WhoWhatWear.com Cropped flares have officially become the It denim style of 2016, now it's time to transition them into fall by adding ankle boots. Madewell-High-Rise-Ankle-Bootcut-Jeans-1 Image Source: Sarahstylesseattle.com  main.original.640x0c Image Source: Pinterest this-shoes-and-jeans-combo-is-going-to-be-huge-1845858-1469219742.600x0c Image Source: WhoWhatWear.com  Maxi dresses with slightly richer colors and that contain longer sleeves, not to mention the occasional ruffle are will be hot for fall. You can still wear your floral maxis that you have now with turtlenecks or a light jacket to create the fall version too. the-fall-trend-you-already-have-hanging-in-your-closet-1848106-1469486981.640x0c Image Source: Imaxtree the-fall-trend-you-already-have-hanging-in-your-closet-1848107-1469486981.640x0c Image Source: Imaxtree the-fall-trend-you-already-have-hanging-in-your-closet-1848108-1469486981.640x0c Image Source: Imaxtree

15 Gingham Looks For You To Try This Summer

Gingham is still hanging on as a top trend this summer. This is one of those prints that never really disappears. The stars have hit the streets this summer in various ways showing off this pretty, preppy and playful style. Below are some inspiration for you to get out there and try! Taylor-Swift-gingham Image Source: Glamour Magazine Vanessa-Hudgens-gingham- Image Source: Glamour Magazine Street-Style-Constance-Jablonski-Gingham Image Source: Bea Hive Blog Street-Style-gingum Image Source: Pinterest Woman Posing Image Source: Pinterest Woman Posing 2 Image Source: Glamour Magazine Woman Posing 3 Image Source: Pinterest Gingham-Clothes-Street-Style-Chics-1 Image Source: Fashion Gum Gingham-Clothes-Street-Style-Chics-5 Image Source: Fashion Gum Gingham-Clothes-Street-Style-Chics-13 Image Source: Fashion Gum Gingham-Clothes-Street-Style-Chics-14 Image Source: Fashion Gum Gingham-Clothes-Street-Style-Chics-18 Image Source: Fashion Gum coachella-street-style-2014-16_113821864813 Image Source: The LT Blog Alexa-Chung-gingham Image Source: Glamour Magazine Woman Posing 5 Image Source: Gold Coast Girl Blog

Mother-daughter duo opens Apricot Lane Boutique on St. Armands

Apricot Lane Boutique in St. Armand's Circle.  STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS
Apricot Lane Boutique in St. Armand’s Circle. STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS

Meet the new millennial friendly boutique on St. Armands Circle.

What’s millennial friendly, you might ask? (As one of newsroom’s gen xers did.)

  1. I would shop there.
  2. My credit card wouldn’t be too furious that I shopped there.
  3. I’d still look great even without my credit card screaming.
  4. I caught myself eyeing the merchandise (specifically, this very textured, mauve dress) looming in the background as I was interviewing the shop owners.
  5. I’m really thinking about going back and trying it on.
  6. As in, I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon.
  7. (You know, like when you see a doughnut, and you want a doughnut, and don’t take the doughnut, but then still think about the doughnut all day?)
  8. That dress and this boutique is my doughnut.

OK. On to the real story.

Ginger O’Connor launched an Apricot Lane Boutique this weekend at 464 John Ringling Blvd. near Naples Soap Company and the Blue Dolphin Café.

She’s outfitted the 1,700-square-foot shop with racks of brightly colored, chic but fun clothing and tables of accessories. The goal is to appeal to a variety of ages and price points, and she’s teamed up with her 25-year-old daughter, Melanie, the store’s manager, to make it happen.

(No wonder it’s millennial friendly, a millennial is part of the team running the show.)

Ginger O'Connor and her daughter, Melanie, left, opened Apricot Lane Boutique in St. Armand's Circle.  STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS
Ginger O’Connor and her daughter, Melanie, left, opened Apricot Lane Boutique in St. Armand’s Circle. STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS

They’ve searched the markets in New York, Los Angeles and Miami and sought-out up-and-coming designers.

The emphasis is on quality and affordability whether it’s for a day at the beach, a night at the club or a morning yoga class.

The O’Connors have some names on their shelves that shoppers will recognize, such as analili, but many of their labels are new finds, and in a true boutique fashion they’ve only purchased a few of each style.

Apricot Lane Boutique has a few dresses that reach upwards of $100, but she can also outfit her customers with a whole outfit — including shoes and accessories — for about that same price.

See I told you my credit card wouldn’t be too mad at me.

And that dress I’m dreaming about (or, as I’m now affectionately calling it — my doughnut) was only $66.

Originally posted in Unravel