BEST PUBLIC BATHROOM
OnCue
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Best women’s boutique
BEST NEW RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT
Lush Fashion Lounge
Opened in March 2009, Lush Fashion Lounge is designed to combine the variety of a bigger department store with the personalized service of a boutique.
“I think what sets us apart is not only are we a one-stop shop where a girl can grab something for a wedding or a night out or a workday or casual, swimsuits, gifts, game day, shoes — you name it — not only do we have, really, something to offer everyone, but we focus really hard on the customer and the customer’s experience,” said owner Carrie Boevers. “That’s what we strive to do, is really put the customer first, give them that boutique experience and really personalized customer attention, but also our selection is very large, too. So they’re getting a boutique experience combined with almost a very large store experience.” Boevers, a Piedmont native with a degree in fashion marketing, said she started Lush as an affordable alternative
to the higher-end boutiques she saw around Oklahoma City. Though the clothing at Lush is less expensive, she still wanted to offer trendy options and provide a personalized shopping experience. “After Lush had been in business a little bit, I had made good relationships with customers,” Boevers said. “I was the one working the sales floor, and we strove to remember our customers by name. That’s kind of where that all started, and as we grew, we still try and remember our regular customers by name. We just grew into this role and really wanted to keep our customers coming back with good service.” While she still works on floor “every now and then,” Boevers now primarily focuses on “behind-the-scenes creative work.” Lush collaborates with local vendors to provide exclusive clothing options, most notably official game-day fashions for University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and University
2425 N. Walker Ave.
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of Central Oklahoma fans. “When you’re shopping our local section, whether it be game day or just local general Oklahoma stuff, you’re supporting not only Lush, which is locally owned, but other local vendors as well while you’re getting stuff that you can’t find anywhere else,” Boevers said. Remembering customers’ names and preferences is always appreciated, Boevers said, but actually listening to them and responding is crucial to getting them to come back. “We’re always open to feedback,” Boevers said. “We’re always asking our customers what they want to see more of, what they don’t like. I’m definitely openminded when it comes to criticism, too. … We’re flexible with our customers and our policies. They’re spending their hardearned money with us. We want to make sure they’re happy with every purchase.”
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