Style & Beauty
l a i Soc ing l l e S by Kerry Andersen
Social Selling – purchasing directly from a social media app – is a new and effortless way to indulge your inner shopaholic.
A day of shopping once meant driving to the mall or your favorite boutique. Now, buying a new outfit or piece of jewelry is as easy as picking up your cell phone. An estimated 49 percent of businesses now have a social selling program and approximately 28% are making plans to add it to their current strategy. Consumers are engaging with social sellers in great numbers; 68 percent have already purchased directly from social media and nearly all (98%) plan to make at least one purchase through social shopping or an influencer this year. Social selling allows you to shop from the comfort of home, but also to engage with sellers like never before through live sales presentations and social media posts curated to your specific interests. In Southwest Louisiana, these social sellers are thriving – many without a traditional brick and mortar location – and supporting a modern wave of female entrepreneurship.
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Thrive Magazine for Better Living • November 2022
The Brown Bobbin
Lori Miller Brown’s energy bursts through the screen during her live Facebook previews of new clothing and accessories added weekly to her virtual boutique. She exuberantly rattles off details about her fashion finds while interacting with loyal customers known as Bobbin Beauties. Devotees know if they post photos wearing their purchased items or share the live sales presentation on their own social media pages they’ll be rewarded with entries into monthly giveaways or find a prize added to their order. Join Brown’s VIP Facebook group to view inventory and claim an item. Social platforms uniquely allow sellers to connect with buyers through personal stories and passions. Brown founded her business in memory of her mother Patsy as a platform to give back to the community and work closely with her family. The Brown Bobbin offers shipping, but most customers take advantage of ‘porch pickup’ in downtown Lake Charles. @the.brown.bobbin
Wardrobe Mobile Boutique
Ashli Waldrep’s passion for fashion and clothes has been a longtime source of personal expression. Now she helps other women build a wardrobe through her unique ‘boutique to go’. Waldrep retrofitted a vintage camper into a mobile boutique on wheels and hit the road. She sets up her trendy but affordable clothing and accessories at local pop-up’s, festivals, and community events helping women of all sizes (XS-3X) find their own personal style and shares her fashion expertise via stylized Instagram posts. Follow the boutique on social media to find out when her camper will be near you or shop her website. Ashli offers shipping or local pickup at 1711 8th Street in Lake Charles. www.wardrobemobileboutique.com or @ wardrobemobileboutique
Elm Boutique
In 2020, Jenee Wall put her LSU merchandising degree and passion for fashion to work opening her popular social selling business named using the initials of her three children (E-L-M Boutique). Her VIP Facebook group has almost 5,000 loyal customers who connect with her warm personality, eye for detail, and sneak peeks of new trendy items. Elm Boutique thrived and grew into a storefront in Jennings. Customers who order online can pick items up at the store within an hour or have them shipped. A VIP Rewards program and new Text Club keeps Wall connected via technology with customers looking for the latest in affordable fashion and game day looks. www.shopelmboutique.com or @shopelmboutique