Today we’d like to introduce you to Chandler Nesbit
Hi Chandler, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started chasing my dream of business ownership through steps that made sense to me. I was fortunate to be given an opportunity to model for several different organizations. Working in the industry as a 5’10” runway and print model with a struggling waistline and appetite wasn’t very fun. While I had plenty of work, I saw and met other women that felt less than, struggled with insecurity, and just wouldn’t own their beauty. The media world would have us believe that as women we are useless unless we are the perfect shape. This is where my dream of an all accepting Boutique started to grow on paper.
My passion is to help every woman, no matter what size she may be, to feel beautiful and confident in her own skin and her own style. This is where my business, The 706, started as an online woman’s boutique in late 2021 and began to begin to blossom through the Southern States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, The Carolina’s and Tennessee. After 9 months in business, we opened our first Brick-and-Mortar location Downtown Calhoun, GA. Since then, we have had the opportunity to not only support just entrepreneurs, but we host events that include the Gordon County Domestic Violence Action Center, Paws Angels, and support anomalously to programs that support our youth, (Police Department, Local High school Athletic Departments, Girl Scouts, FFA, FCCLA, and Christmas Angels). We are so proud to be able to support all who walks through our doors, but also the community who continuously supports us and our local charitable organizations.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While owning a business comes naturally to me, coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it certainly hasn’t been the easiest road I have been down. Like most small businesses, we have hit some bumps in the road trying to learn how to brand ourselves differently from everyone else within our saturated industry. Thankfully, we have been able to set ourselves aside by utilizing our resources by continuously working with Charitable Organizations within our small town and by creating a brand around Body Positivity and Affordable Fashion. That is something that is hard to come by within our industry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The 706 Boutique ?
Here is my story. The Story of Chandler and The 706.
My name is Chandler Nesbit. I was born and raised in Gordon County, Georgia.
When you grow up in a small intimate town, you can’t help knowing the pulse, people, the pageantry, and the hardship that create the fabric that binds the human landscape. Growing up in Gordon County, Georgia wasn’t much different than some other smaller towns. We have a sense of pride and passion for our little piece of the Georgia map. My parents are your typical overreaching and overachieving parents. My mom, a girlie girl was in sales. She has always been stubborn, but determined to show me that girls are powerful and are great leaders. She and my dad had me in some kind of sport or class since the age of four. They would say that learning to work as a team was vital to developing communication skills, responsibility, and humility. I don’t know about that, but I did learn how to genuinely encourage and support others. As I grew as participated in FCA, FCCLA, competitive sports and was part of the cheerleading squad at our Calhoun High School. As a part of these groups, we often supported the community through service, sport camps, and organized donations programs, that supported those that may have just needed an ear to listen, or a helping hand to make things beautiful again, or they could have been part of the less fortunate of our county. This is where my dreams of entrepreneurship started to sink in and take a hold on my heart. I had also taken part in pageants and cotillion classes during those years. Both of my parents thought that learning conversational etiquette, manners, and dancing were important. My dad, He had been a corporate trainer most all his career. He tried to instill in me the value of personal integrity, hard work, and a sense of community. My dad also lost his right leg when I was two years old. So, he didn’t just say things, he showed me that I could accomplish anything that I wanted if I were willing to push myself. He now works with a corporation that sees all the good that most have always seen in him. In our home, there was always time made for conversation and reflection. This time gave me much needed insight from the perspective of what strengths might be, could I make money using my strengths, would I need a degree, could I make a career here or would I need to move beyond this community, what will people know about me from my life’s work. So, I started chasing my dream of business ownership through steps that made sense to me. I was fortunate to be given an opportunity to model for several different organizations. Working in the industry as a 5’10” runway and print model with a struggling waistline and appetite wasn’t very fun. While I had plenty of work, I saw and met other women that felt less than, struggled with insecurity, and just wouldn’t own their beauty. The media world would have us believe that as women we are useless unless we are the perfect shape. This is where my dream of an all accepting Boutique started to grow on paper. My passion is to help every woman, no matter what size she may be, to feel beautiful and confident in her own skin and her own style.
My business, The 706, started as an online woman’s boutique. The 706 offers women ages 15 and up active and business ware, seasonal shoes, jewelry, and personal care items to all women regardless of size. Within the first year of business, I knew that I needed to expand my business to a brick and mortar. Who would want a brick and mortar during these times of uncertainty? A girl with a dream and a growing business that need to serve her community, that’s who. I found a building with curbside appeal and lots of glass to share my wares. The 706 isn’t just an area code. The 706 is my area code. It celebrates the pulse, women, and beauty that live within its reach. I joined the Chamber of Commerce as their youngest member and took the opportunity to be part of the Downtown Development Authority. I haven’t looked back because I know the best is in front of me, but I don’t miss a chance to learn how to be a better community partner through these channels either.
Where much is given, much is required. I have been overwhelmed with the positive response to my boutique and what I am pushing to accomplish. The 706 hasn’t gone unnoticed in my community or surrounding communities. In our first year, Channel 9 Chattanooga recognized our efforts on The Daily Refresh. The 706 was selected to be featured and interviewed on this program. The 706 was also just awarded “Boutique of the Year in Gordon County Georgia.” I am overwhelmed with emotion that my dream of helping others feel accepted and beautiful is being recognized by my community. Nothing else speaks as loudly as the smiles and friendships that have been fostered through The 706. So, what can I do now? Most every ad that I have placed for The 706 has contained women from the area, that shop here at The 706. They come here because they feel served and appreciated. I thought about the women here and I wanted to highlight them in my advertising. So, I provide a professional makeup artist, that teaches them about what kind of makeup is best for them and how to apply it, so they can feel beautiful away from here. I provide a professional photographer, so they can take photos home. My desire is to make sure that they know they are beautiful, accepted here and that everyone within the reach of our advertising understands we are a women’s boutique that serves every woman. I was highly aware that most boutiques in my area only carry a very slim size range. Most turned their noses up to women my height and size. This is what makes me different or is my secret sauce. I don’t and won’t put up with body shaming. WE are an all-accepting shop that loves our community. I keep our prices at a price point that makes self-confidence and beauty attainable.
Along with my dad, I have started mentoring others who’ve ask me how, why, and do you think I could build my own business. They know a bit about my story because I grew up here, again the small-town thing. Our surrounding communities have continually supported us, and we would like to support their communities start into business ownership. Throughout the seasons of the year at The 706 we support not just entrepreneurs, but we host events that include the Gordon County Domestic Violence Action Center, Paws Angels, and support anomalously to programs that support our youth, (Police Department, Girl Scouts, FFA, FCCLA, and Christmas Angels).
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have had SO many wonderful mentors and supporters during my journey of being a business owner, I couldn’t name each and every single one of them off but we are SO thankful for our wonderful customer base, and the community of Gordon County/ Calhoun City. Without our community and the constant support that they have instilled in our business, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
If I had to feature some individuals and organizations that has continuously supported us, I would thank the following:
– The North West Georgia Domestic Violence Outreach Center for the continuous partnerships that they have made to host benefit event nights supporting our local community.
– Valarie Winfrey, former owner of Shop Frey Boutique. Valarie has instilled many valuable lessons and mentorship through our journey of growth being a Small Business who supports ALL women.
_ I most importantly like to thank God, My Family and Friends for continuously supporting my dreams of being a small business owner and all of the good, bad, and ugly that comes with it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopthe706boutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopthe706/
Image Credits
TJ Baker and Blake Johnson
