These past few years have been tough for all, but especially for nurses.
Jillian Tompkins can attest to that, having worked in the nursing profession for 18 years.
“I loved being a nurse,” she said. “I made lifelong friends as a nurse, but I also wanted to be a business owner, and it just felt like the right time for me to try to do something new.”
In this case, “something new” was a local franchise of the California-based Apricot Lane Boutique. The 1,700-square-foot shop, which opened in July, is conveniently located near Camp Hill’s new Trader Joe’s, which has turned into an unexpected blessing.
“Most of our customers come from Trader Joe’s,” Tompkins said. “We ask at checkout.”
The franchise aspect appealed to Tompkins, in part, because of its autonomy.
“Each boutique is individually owned and operated, so each store is completely different from the other,” she said. “The cool thing about the franchise is that they are there for the front end. They helped me build out the store, the ADA fitting room and the computer system.”
Tompkins was on her own picking the furniture, rugs, light fixtures and everything else that went into decorating the space. She also had the opportunity to meet the president of the company, who joined her to choose the location.
“He spent the entire day with me, and we had a list of locations that we visited before settling upon this one,” she said.
The Camp Hill resident said that she felt confident to embark upon the venture when her husband Brian threw his support behind her.
“He’s my biggest cheerleader,” said Tompkins, who’s also busy raising two small children, 3-year-old Isaac and 5-year-old Lucas.
Something for Everybody
Tompkins said that she always loved fashion, but is learning so much more about it as time goes on.
“In the beginning, age 25 to 55 was my main demographic, but that’s changing a bit as I get to know my customers,” she said, adding that her goal now is to dress nearly any woman.
Tompkins ticks off a list of brands that she carries: BuddyLove, Good American, Spanx, Dear John Denim, Another Love Clothing, Flying Monkey, KanCan and Promesa.
“I aim to have a little something for everybody,” she said. “Right now, I am seeing quite a number of students joined by their mothers due to homecoming.”
What Tompkins enjoys the most about the business, other than interacting with customers, are the trade shows. Apricot Lane helped set up her first buying trip.
“Representatives from headquarters took me and two other franchise owners to some of the top brands and showed us six styles that we needed to pick for our stores in the next few months,” she said.
Tompkins values those trips because she likes to touch, look and feel, rather than order online.
“I will probably go three times a year and transition later to online once I become more familiar with the quality and brands,” she said.
There’s also a charitable side to Apricot Lane, according to Tompkins.
“We’ve partnered with Noble Venture to sell bracelets that help provide sustainable job opportunities for survivors of human trafficking,” she said.
Good Mix
Kari Fite of Enola is a regular customer who enjoys the ever-changing inventory.
“You can go twice in one week and see new stuff each time,” she said, adding that most shoppers will find something that aligns with their budget.
Sherri Breneman from Mechanicsburg said that she’s shopping for apparel for both her daughter and herself.
“I like that she has trendy, on-point clothing for the younger generation and things mixed in for older women, like beautiful blouses and soft sweaters,” she said.
Breneman said that she views the selection as a good mix for a wide range of ages, describing it as “a boutique without boutique prices.” She said that it fills a niche in the area, an assessment that Tompkins agrees with.
“For me, right now, it’s about learning who my customer is and pushing the envelope a little bit,” she said. “I know that the women who shop here love beautiful sweaters, but I want them to wear a sequin dress once in a while.”
As a people-person, Tompkins said that she’s really enjoying this new chapter in her life.
“For me, fashion is fun, and I feel so blessed to be a part of this journey in helping customers find exactly what they need to make them feel their best,” she said.
Apricot Lane Boutique is located at 3541 Gettysburg Rd., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.apricotlaneboutique.com/store/camphill or their Facebook page.
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