CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Formed by a sisterhood, Black & Blush Boutique hopes to expand the sense of family to nearby businesses as it settles in to its store on Main Street.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Sam Thrush
January 3, 2020 717-264-7101 ext. 204, sthrush@chambersburg.org
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Formed by a sisterhood, Black & Blush Boutique hopes to expand the sense of family to nearby businesses as it settles in to its store on Main Street.
For the last year, fashion-loving sisters Brittani Black and Cortney Hanks have been selling women’s clothing and shoes online at blackblushboutique.com. They started working out of the basement of Black’s home in Shippensburg, Pa., until a flood forced relocation to the lower level of Hanks’ home in Chambersburg.
“The orders are flying in,” Hanks said Dec. 29, the first day of the boutique’s three-day sale marking its one-year anniversary.
Hanks said she and Black order from wholesalers and keep inventory on hand. When an order is placed, they can typically have it ready later in the day and ship it out the next to the customer’s home. People also can set up appointments to shop at their temporary location and take purchases with them.
After selling women’s fashions for LuLaRoe for two years, Black wanted to do something on her own.
“I like to dress people,” said Black, 29, who enjoys putting together outfits that are modest, yet fashionable. She also works full time as an occupational therapist in Shippensburg.
Hanks offered to be her business partner, bringing with her the knowledge she gained while obtaining a degree in health care administration. She also logs some hours as a surgical technologist. They receive moral support from their husbands and their other sister, Brandi Garber of Chambersburg, who is Black’s twin and an enthusiastic customer while she focuses on raising her four children younger than 4, including triplets.
Two of the wholesalers from whom they get their clothing and shoes are based in California and Alabama. The contemporary clothing for everyday women is made with high-quality fabrics and sold at reasonable prices. The boutique aims to appeal to a range of ages, from young women to senior citizens, and offers sizes small to 3X.
Black & Blush sells limited quantities to ensure high demand, but rotates them constantly to keep the inventory fresh.
“We understand that people want a quality product that they can afford to buy,” said Hanks, 32, the mother of Max, 4, and Raleigh, 2.
The pair have been preparing to open their first storefront, at 81 N. Main St. in downtown Chambersburg, the former home of the Chambersburg Area Council for the Arts. They are hoping to open the 1,000-square-foot space during the borough’s 18th annual IceFest, scheduled for Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.
Hanks and Black intend to showcase the work of local jewelry makers/sellers to accessorize their fashions. They also are teaming up with other businesses to entice more people to shop downtown. For instance, patrons of neighbor Vanity Parlor will be encouraged to visit Black & Blush while they wait, then will be called when the salon is ready to serve them. Bistro 71 will print coupons for Black & Blush on its receipts, and fellow Main Street business Here’s Looking at You will send clients down the street to the new fashion boutique and vice versa.
“I just love the sense of community with keeping it downtown,” Hanks said of Black & Blush. Also, the sisters’ generation is more focused on shopping at small, local businesses than big stores, which she said is a win-win for buyers and sellers.
The boutique will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and might stay open until 7 or 8 p.m. Fridays or Saturdays. Online sales will continue.
For more information, go to blackblushboutique.com; find Black & Blush Boutique on Facebook; call 717-658-2095; or send an email to blackandblushboutique@gmail.com.