Tag Archives: women

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

New Apricot Lane Boutique – St. Armand’s Circle Featured in YourObserver.com

Ginger O’Connor and her daughter, Melanie, will open Apricot Lane Boutique just off St. Armand’s Circle. Ginger, an 8-year resident of Longboat Key purchased 464 John Ringling Blvd., a one-story retail building, for $1.2 million on Feb. 9. The current tenant, Touch of Africa, will move out in one month, according to O’Connor, to make way for the new boutique. Ginger O'Connor in front of Touch of Africa Apricot Lane, a 23-year-old franchise based in California, is unique, O’Connor said. Each store is tailored to its location and the needs of local consumers. She said half of the merchandise in Apricot Lane will be recognizable brands such as Good Works jewelry, Tom’s shoes and analili clothing. The remainder, she said, will be items and brands that appeal to women of all ages. “The store will be a mother-daughter shopping experience,” she said. She said she hopes to open in May. “I’ve been shopping on the circle since I was 12,” O’Connor said. “I know there are a lot of boutiques on the circle. I think each … is a little bit different. I’m going to bring in a lot of different items – something for everyone.” Touch De L'Afrique Written by Jack Short Staff Writer Originally posted in YourObserver.com

BOUTIQUE TARGETS UNEXPECTED CUSTOMERS: MEN

There’s finally help for men unable to define “crop top,” “camisole” and “Boho-chic.”

For many modern males, the words aren’t necessary vocabulary additions. Unless, of course, the holidays have arrived and you’re shopping for a wife or girlfriend.

That’s why Apricot Lane, a women’s clothing boutique at Folsom’s Palladio at Broadstone, will host its first “men’s night” tonight. It’s designed to help men navigate the process of buying clothing gifts for women. And yes, snacks will be provided.

But the food assortment will be slightly different than what you might see at events geared toward women at the store, according to manager and buyer Sasha Nunley. Chocolate helps women shop. Men might prefer potato chips, Nunley said.

A promise of salty snacks isn’t the only thing lessening male shoppers’ chances of a shirtdress-induced panic attack. Conveniently, Apricot Lane has provided a printable wish list in which women can specify their sizes and favorite brands.

Nunley said some men enter her store with many gift ideas. “Other men kind of need a little more help,” she said.

Does the hand-holding take some of the spontaneity out of exchanging gifts? Is it better to leave things to chance and accept a present that’s ill-fitting, yet selected without direction? We don’t know. Much like faux leather leggings, those questions are a matter of personal taste.

Tonight’s event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. While it’s geared toward men, women will be allowed in the store as well. Vacaville-based Apricot Lane has stores in 29 states. Folsom is the company’s only Sacramento-area location.

Sonya Sorich is social engagement manager and a staff writer at the Sacramento Business Journal. She oversees social media activity and writes about retailing, small business and restaurants.