Meet Lauren Wallace of Change It Up Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Wallace.

Lauren, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I thought of opening Change It Up Boutique several years ago when I noticed that there was not a kids resale/consignment store in East Cobb. All of the consignment stores were at least 15 – 30 minutes from the East Cobb area. With having an 11-year-old daughter and giving away or donating almost all of the clothes/shoes, etc., that she outgrew, I realized that it would have been nice to get a little money back for all of the items I had since they were barely used or she just outgrew. Clothes can be expensive, and earning a few dollars back on the hundreds I spent could have really helped me out. That’s when I thought everyone else may be in a similar situation.

So, I opened Change It Up and we have now been open for almost 2 years. We take the burden away from trying to sell items yourself online and offer prices customers can easily afford while other customers earn money from those purchases.

Has it been a smooth road?
Since opening Change It Up, it has been a struggle to get my store name “out there” to everyone so they know who we are and what we offer. Being an independently owned small boutique, I do not have funds for large marketing plans, so most of my store marketing has been Facebook referrals and word of mouth.

Another struggle along the way and still has made a huge impact on my business, are the Facebook Groups and Marketplace on Facebook. The mothers have formed groups to sell their kids items between each other, which cuts out the middleman. They’d rather spend time and energy advertising their kid’s items for $1 or $2 more than they would earn in my store if they brought it to me to sell for them. I even have people who purchase items in my store, actually tell me while purchasing, that if the item doesn’t work out, then they will just sell it online themselves. That’s like a stab in the back to me.

All of the person to person buying and selling is really killing the community that we all live in. They don’t realize it, but how can a community survive and offer shopping, food, and entertainment for the consumer, if they don’t support it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Change It Up Boutique – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Change It Up is an East Cobb Gem! We aren’t just a resale & consignment boutique, we offer Upscale Brand Name resale clothing, shoes, and accessories that we all want our kids to wear, but just don’t want to pay a high price for.

We are not a thrift store. Our store has a calm rustic vibe for adults but carries items for the kids. The little ones are welcome and we have a camera monitored playroom, so customers can watch their kids on big screens in the store while they shop. We get hundreds of compliments on that special feature alone!

We offer stress-free shopping, seeing that the kids are safe and paying low prices for brand name items makes it a win/win for everyone. Plus, the opportunity to earn money on clothes children outgrown, is such a bonus.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I do love Atlanta and can’t imagine living anywhere else. In general, there are so many choices on food, shopping, entertainment and the schools are wonderful.

The only thing I do not like about where I live is that we have a lack of “family” oriented activities. Our community is over-run by banks, medical buildings and retirement communities, and that is due to lack of community and economic support.

Pricing:

• Clothing, Shoes and Equipment range from 50% to 70% off of retail pricing
• Monogramming prices starting at $10

Contact Info:

• Address: 4880 Lower Roswell Rd., Suite 635
• Website: www.changeitupboutique.com
• Phone: 770-779-8121
• Email: info@changeitupboutique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changeitupresale/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeItUpBoutique/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CIU_Boutique
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/change-it-up-marietta-2?osq=change+it+up+boutique
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/changeitupboutique/

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.