Beautiful Lives Boutique is a local nonprofit organization that provides clothing, shoes, and accessories to women in need. Profits are shared with organizations such as Ladies Elegant, Global Boutiques, and the James127 Foundation. The mission of Beautiful Lives Boutique is to inspire and help women by providing clothing.
Five years ago, founder Melody Taylor opened a store, Shop My Closet, which was a thrift store that funded mission trips to Africa. After relocating to Northwest Arkansas Taylor opened the first Beautiful Lives Boutique in Fayetteville.
Beautiful Lives Boutiques are also located in Bentonville and Siloam Springs. The dream is to open spaces in all university cities, because university students volunteer, donate and shop thrift stores.
When the global pandemic began in March, Beautiful Lives Boutiques closed all three locations. The organization moved its business online to continue providing clothing to women.
Sarah Bellando, regional manager of marketing and communications, recalled having to adapt to the pandemic after the closure. Two days after closing, they started and ran three online operations.
“We have seen a drop in sales,” Bellando said. “When we did have to shut down in March that was one of the only ways, we could continue selling our clothing.”
After reopening their retail locations, Bellando said they saw a shift in their customers. They have seen an increase in their younger target market.
“Opening our online shopping activity engaged our younger college students,” Bellando said.
Bellando encourages students to volunteer because the locations rely on them to help run the store. Volunteer duties include tagging, steaming, merchandising, and assisting all customers.
Nicole Roberts, regional manager of inventory, sales and merchandising mentioned there are volunteer coordinators at each location, and they can be reached through their Instagram page.
Beautiful Lives Boutique is always accepting gently used items for women. Bellando said they appreciate all items.
The Fayetteville location is partnered with a local women’s prison. Women recently released from the prison can go to Beautiful Lives Boutique and receive a fifty-dollar voucher to shop. They will also help guide them to volunteer opportunities to ease life after prison.
Bellando said they turn down no women in need of help. If they can provide any clothing to help them, they will give them a twenty-five-dollar voucher.
Each store holds a variety of inventory of clothing, shoes, and accessories. Throughout the day, staff and volunteers go through dropped off donations.
Bellando said they are hoping to resume clothing drives and workshops by next year after covid-19.
“Goal number one is to stay open,” Roberts said. Currently, Beautiful Lives Boutique has stopped shipping and is offering curbside pickup