Something New Boutique

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The leaves are changing, the weather is changing, our little store is changing; hello change!
Construction is going well! We are so pleased that everything is on track, and moving quite quickly in fact. Everything is on schedule, and we are excited that walls are beginning to go up. Our little empty cavernous space is taking shape!
We are up to our necks in dresses as we are preparing for a bigger space. More space means more inventory and we are so excited as each box is opened and more options are unearthed. Get ready everybody! It wont be long now!

We can hardly believe it! In the blink of an eye, we will be in a beautiful store, with more space than we could imagine; space for more dresses, more accessories, more of everything! More for you all. Which is the most exciting part. We are just thrilled to be offering more options for every person in the bridal party.

You all are the reason why we love what we do. So great ready! Get your creative and bridal juices flowing, because there is so much more in store for you all!

***And just a preview of what is to come. Mindi and Jordan just got back from Chicago, ordering our new inventory. So be prepared. Announcements on dress arrivals will be coming soon!

Calling all Brides! Its Sample Sale time at Something New Boutique! Mark your calendars. November 6 will come quicker than you think! By appointment only, you will have access to current bridal gowns at 10-50% off. Now is the time to buy! Call the store, 719.282.6500 and make your appointment today! There are limited spots, so call now!

WHY WHY WHY! 29. SEPT. 10.
I always love to know about the people I am working with, whether its the barista at a coffee shop or the mechanic working on my car. Personal connection can make or break any experience. To do this, I have found that the easiest question to ask is why. Why do you do what you do? All of us here at Something New Boutique have been asked many a time. I thought it would be fun to tell you a little about the staff here at Something New Boutique, and answer that question. Why are we doing what we do?

All of us have ended up at Something New Boutique through a personal connection, and we have come to discover just how important these connections really are. They are one of our favorite things about the atmosphere here in the shop, and are one of the reasons why we all love what we do. Hands down, every single employee at our store loves to connect with the bride and her family. It is a special little gift to be able to join in with them in celebrating a marriage, and aiding in the process of helping the bride find a dress that she feels most beautiful in. It is such a fun time of life, and something that happens so rarely, that we love to celebrate the bride, making the dress experience so memorable. Your stories are beautiful, and your lives are so rich, and we all wanted to say thank you for letting us join you on your journey to a joyful and exciting marriage! You all are the reason that we do what we love!

In other news, plans for the move are coming along quite smoothly! Construction begins in October, and before we know it, December will be here!

Oh computers. Its really a love hate relationship with them. Cant live with them, cant live without them. A fantastic blog post has just been foiled thanks to this little machine I am currently loathing.

Thank goodness for back up plans! No no. I am not referring to JLos new movie, no babies in this update. No, thank goodness for a wise word from our owner. She shares a little piece of knowledge that could bring huge impact to your world Here is her tale of the bridal gown blues; a story of what not to do.

You step out of bed, stretch, smile to yourself. And start jumping up and down.. today’s the day… you’re going to buy the wedding dress of your dreams.
A consultant greets you, and armed with pictures and your closest girlfriends, you discuss styles and color choices. Walking around the store, your hand sweeps across different gowns, feeling the soft fabrics. You imagine your fiancee’s face when he sees you walking down the aisle.
But wait. Your not in a bridal store. You’re in front of a computer, greeted by a boring, unfriendly screen.

Many of today’s brides are turning to the internet for selection of the most important purchase of their lives. While online retailers boast savings on their “no frills” internet price, what they don’t tell you may end up costing you much MORE. Savings on your online purchase may cost you a lot more in the long run. So what exactly is included in the “no frills” no-service price of online bridal and bridesmaid gowns? Research from top online ordering sites proved hidden costs and a lot of headaches.

Sizing & Alterations:
The most common problem from ordering online is choosing the correct size. One bridal salon told us of a bride who had ordered from the internet, “the gown came in and it was too small… it was a junior’s dress instead of an adult dress! The online store wouldn’t take the dress back, and the bride lost hundreds of dollars. We were both in shock. The wedding was two weeks away. By ordering online, determining exact size can be difficult and the gowns often arrive and don’t fit, thereby forcing alterations that can wind up costing a small fortune. As every designer’s size chart is different, experienced bridal consultants at full service salons understand the sizing and fit of gowns from different manufacturers. A full service salon will order the best size to minimize, or eliminate, alterations costs, or can order the gown to the bride’s exact proportions. Additionally, Many bridal stores don’t allow gowns purchased outside of their salon to utilize their alterations person.

Shipping & Returns:
“Shipping and handling are not included in the gown quote.” Online retailers and shipping charges, and many times expensive rush fees, and bill the credit card without providing options. Our study found that online retailers are unwilling to accept returns on purchased items. Almost all online gowns are final sale, and if they arrive with imperfections or the wrong size, the online retailer will not allow returns of cancellations. After spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a dream dress, if the item arrives with fabric flaws, sizing problems, or you hate the way it looks on you, “final sale, as-is gowns” can leave the bride in quite a dilemma. Many full service bridal salons (FSBS) adopt the same final-sale policy, but all salons we spoke with were more than willing to work with a bride if they were unhappy or the gown arrived with problems. Salons have the ability to call designers with dress problems, flaws, sizing issues, and other problems to offer replacement gowns.

Service from a local salon:
Full Service Bridal Salons (FSBS) provide years of service and experience with gown purchases. We found that working with an experienced bridal counsultant at a local salon can quickly put your mind at ease. With the dozens of options in designers, styles, colors, and choices, a consultant will help you select a gown that will fit your personal style, be flattering to your figure, and fit correctly. Most often, brides choose a style different from the one they originally had in mind. Surveying local salons, we found that many had this experience: “we have worked with brides who ordered dresses online, and were so disappointed with the style/size/color/etc that they ended up buying a dress from us and trying to sell the one they got such a great deal on. Now, they have put out the money for two dresses and are losing money on the internet gown, because…where are they going to get rid of it?” One FSBS told us, “Gowns usually arrive (from online ordering) scrunched up in a tiny plastic bag. Not pretty, and costly to press, because you’ll have to get it pressed once before the fitting in order to get an accurate fit, and then once again to have it ready for the wedding day. Could cost upwards of $300+ for that service in our area, whenif they had bought it from uswe would have included that.”
Pressings and fittings for alterations and the wedding day are almost always included when you purchase from an FSBS, and almost all salons provide a hanging bag for safe storage, which can cost upwards of $35, if the gown isn’t bought at the salon.

Everything, in just one place:
Your local FSBS has immediate access to many resources. Finding the perfect matching veil, jewelry, undergarments, shoes, purses, tuxes, crinolines, bridesmaids dresses and Mother-of-the-Bride dresses are just some of the extras that are readily available inside an FSBS. Most salons have on-sites alterations that will make an necessary changes, and are able to insert bustles and crinolines at a moment’s notice. They can also provide names of other trust professionalssuch as a florist, bakery, or dj.

In addition to the above research, we found that there is high turnover for discount and online retailers, who can shut down their website and turn off their phones without any warning and no recourse for bride, who could be out money and without a dress, with no time to spare. Designers stand behind their products, but most recommend against ordering online because copies of gowns run rampant.

Utilize the experience and services included at a full service salon. What’s the most important day of your life worth? Your local bridal store has a passion for making sure your day is perfect in every way. Who would compromise that?