MARCH 2022 // Quad Cities Business News
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Making Clothing Affordable at BumbleBee Boutique By Stan Bindell, QCBN
from petite to plus for women and she has a section for men, too. To keep prices low, Flickinger buys Paulden single mother of three knows the struggle of clothing liquidation pallets, which contain a family with a limited income. mostly new items from JC Penney, So, Charlene Flickinger decided to do Kmart, Walmart, Gap and other retailers. She decided to get into the something about it. small clothing business after finding On Jan. 22, Flickinger opened an 19 boxes of clothing for sale online affordable clothing store. Her vision for $900. for BumbleBee Boutique became Before her husband died, Flicka reality about four months after inger found it challenging to be her 44-year-old husband died from able to address her children’s needs complications with COVID-19. She during a work day. By owning her used the life insurance funds she received to start the business with the own business, her work life offers more flexibility. “I felt the need to encouragement and support of her daughters: McKenna, 14, MaCee, 13, be in charge of myself and my own schedule.” and Madilyne 10. Her advice to other single moms Flickinger said BumbleBee who are considering going into busiBoutique joined the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce with the hope ness is that life is too short. “If you want to start your own business, then that word will spread and customdon’t hesitate.” ers are slowly discovering her store, Flickinger decided to open a located on Highway 89 next to Bob’s physical store, rather than an online Car Repair. At BumbleBee, clothing is marked store, because she considers it to be more personable.“Customers should at less than half the regular retail be able to come in, touch and try on price. A cashmere sweater that ordinarily would sell for $199 is going something before they buy it. It’s a headache to take something back,” for $25. A dress shirt that might cost she said. $130 is being sold for $10. Wedding In addition to helping stretch dresses are priced at $100 or less. other families’ budgets, BumbleBee Clothing for children also is comBoutique is helping Flickinger cope petitively priced. Her size range goes
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BumbleBee Boutique owner Charlene Fickinger and her daughters help families find clothes below regular retail prices. Fickinger and McKenna, 14, organize and hang clothes in the Chino Valley shop. Photo by Stan Bindell
with her husband’s death. “It gives me a reason to get up in the morning and keep going,” she said. “It’s nice meeting new people and people have been positive.” Her daughters, she says, have been
a huge help, pitching in to paint, organize the store and hang clothes. “The 10-year-old took out the trash,” she said. “I could not have continued without them.” BumbleBee Boutique is open from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 928227-1843 or email flickingercd@ gmail.com. QCBN
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