We’re so excited. Change is in the air at Smitten Boutique! We’re adding a fitting room, widening doors, implementing a Point of Sale system and bringing in new lines and beautiful spring merchandise daily.
We hope you’ll plan a visit to see us, and all the changes we’re making soon. We would love for you to join us on Friday afternoon 3pm to 7pm for our Wine, Cheese, Retail Therapy and The Secret Sale!
In the meantime,
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
I hope this finds everyone rested and recharged for the new year ahead! I am off to NYC this week buying for … early fall. Yes’ it’s true. Before I jump out and begin another frenzied year of buying and selling, I want to pause and thank all of our customers. Without you…we would not be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and friendship.
Here’s to a New Year of happiness, good health and cute clothing (you take care of you…we’ll take care of the cute clothing!)
Come see us soon and in the meantime…
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
Wow…can you believe Christmas is less than 3 weeks away? We can’t either and we also can’t believe this is our third Christmas. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who shop with us. We appreciate your support of us.
We have two more events this season. This Saturday we are proud to participate in the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties Holiday Market. It’s at Durham’s Downtown Marriott 10am to 3pm. We hope to see you there … and we hope to see your significant other at our 3rd Annual SMITTEN MEN’S NIGHT ~ December 15th 5pm to 9pm. Visit us beforehand and fill out your wishlist (we have them available at the counter!) We promise we’ll take care of them and you!
We hope to see you soon …
In the meantime,
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
This week is SUSTAINABULL in Durham. It’s a week that highlights the importance of shopping local. As I write this I want to get up on my soapbox and preach a little more (this is a hot topic for me) We need to live local…eat, shop, entertain ourselves and in general be a part of our community. There is no need for anyone in this great town to shop at the mall, or eat at a chain restaurant. We have a great selection of boutiques, restaurants, art galleries and locally owned businesses that NEED your business to exist. Spend your money local it stays local. Visit our website to see more facts on how shopping local impacts your community.
We hope to see you soon. Our store looks beautiful and we are stocked with gifts for every fashionista on your list.
Don’t forget to visit us Friday afternoons for our Wine, Cheese, Retail Therapy and The Secret Sale … it is a great way to end your week or begin your weekend especially during the holiday season!
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
I love the holidays…yes, they’re crazy and I get exhausted …but I still love them. After I put the Thanksgiving leftovers away, (and swear I am going to start a diet in 2011) I begin getting everything ready for our BLACK FRIDAY BREAKFAST! We open at 8am on Black Friday, and while most stores are chaotic and frustrating, Smitten is fun, relaxed and actually enjoyable! Everyone had so much fun at this event last year and ALL my staff actually asked to be scheduled EARLY!!! (They are the best staff in the world in case you didn’t know!)
Holidays should be about wonderful experiences …we hope shopping with us throughout the holiday season will be one for you!
Don’t forget SustainaBull Shop local and independent Durham week Is November 29 through December 5 visit www.sustainabull.net/ for details. Business owners like myself depend on you … We keep your money in Durham … and that’s a good thing for all of us!
We hope to see you soon if not Friday morning we hope you’ll stop by for our Wine, Cheese, Retail Therapy and yes there will be a GREAT Secret Sale Friday afternoon!
Be Happy, Merry and SMITTEN!!
NCM
This weekend we are participating in our 5th ARTWALK. I am very proud to be a part of such a great event. This fall it is changing a bit in its format. Some have voiced their unhappiness with this change, I on the other hand am happy and hope this will benefit the artists….after all this is an ARTWALK. The artists will be concentrated at the Armory, the Arts Council building, and Golden Belt as well as the traditional business sponsored locations. Exposure for the artists is essential for a successful event such as this.
I hope and encourage everyone to participate in this FREE event. These artists are amazing and there is something for everyone and all pocketbooks!
I’m proud of the Arts Council and Barclay McConnell for putting together such an amazing event. Join me this weekend in celebrating Durham and the Arts!
Plan a visit to see us soon …we kick off ARTWALK early with a preview (Friday evening 5pm to 7pm) of the two talented artists we are hosting Beth Zink with Les Trois Femmes and Anne-Marie Iselin with Chaofaite. These women create beautiful pieces that compliment any jewelry wardrobe.
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
Lately, I have found myself saying those words at least twice daily. Most of you know I am a single (but gloriously happy) mom to two boys 16 and 14, have a lovely mother who depends on me when she needs a hand, and own this fabulous and very busy boutique. Yes, I am very blessed by all of this, and many wonderful friends and supportive, loyal customers. So what is so crazy about my life? Actually nothing more than any of you reading this. However when I’m in it, it seems as though no one else could have a life as busy or harried as mine … guess what? I’m wrong. Maybe life is supposed to be crazy …whatever it is…I have decided to plunder through each day’s craziness and at the end …count up all things I am really thankful for, such as having an insanely busy store, two beautiful children, a mom who still thinks I am her “youngest”, being loved, and all of you who come into Smitten and laugh with me.
I hope to see you very soon …the “holidaze” are my favorite time … I get to see all of you!
Come join us Friday afternoons for our Wine, Cheese, Retail Therapy and The Secret Sale ~ it’s quite the weekly event!
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
We all have reunions…some of us look forward to them with eagerness, others dread them and often choose not to attend. Some, like me, choose to attend, but with mixed emotion. Yes believe it or not I have been out of high school for 30 years. That’s really hard from me to believe.
This weekend was not an inexpensive venture for me but I am very glad I did it. I was able to reconnect with some amazing people, many of whom were good friends …however, many of them I barely knew in high school and had the pleasure of getting to know now.
Sunday when I flew home I felt a mix of emotions. I exchanged business cards with everyone and we promised to keep in touch via Facebook, however I wondered if indeed I would ever see these people face to face again. Facebook is a powerful tool, but nothing replaces the smile and hug of an old friend.
To all my class mates … thank you. It was an amazing weekend I would not have missed for anything.
Come visit us soon and I can give you the indepth details of The Hopewell Valley Class of 1980 reunion. If I do say so myself … we turned out pretty good!
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
Many people come into Smitten and ask me how I make the decision to bring in the merchandise I do. As I get ready to go to NYC this week I felt it only fitting that I give you all a little insight as to how I do what I do. Many of you “regulars” know, I have my favorite lines…Elliott Lauren, Pure, Foxcroft, Kay Celine and several others. There is a lot of BEAUTIFUL clothing out there…these lines are consistent and more importantly the sales reps I work with are good people. I’ve worked with most of the mentioned lines for almost 8 years…wow have I been doing this that long?????
I try to find lines that are beautiful and trendy without being ridiculously priced. Sometimes …every once in a while I buy something simply because I love it and it is risky. Sometimes these items fly out the door … sometimes they end up on the sale rack. That’s all part of the job, and I do my best to buy things I think you my customers will love.
Wish me luck … I’ll be in NYC buying Spring 2011. I don’t really get to enjoy the season I’m in … this week I’ll be thinking about short shorts and pima tees.
We have a lot happening at Smitten … check out our website for the details!
We hope to see you soon and in the meantime …
Be Happy and Be Smitten!
NCM
This week many of us in Durham, myself included, have been mourning, and trying to understand the loss of a child. I imagine none of us could actually come close to mastering that unless we experience it ourselves. The thought of it takes my breath away. Watching children mourn the loss of their friends does not seem fair. My prayers as well many others are with the families of these two young men who tragically had their lives lost in an instant.
Love your children and tell them you love them … everyday.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~Author unknown
