Ginger Bee Boutique, located on Laurens Street in Downtown Aiken, is celebrating two years of business this month. Brooke Thomas is a young entrepreneur that has carved a unique space for herself in the Aiken retail market. She is an Aiken native and is passionate about style and helping women feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. We asked her a few questions about these past two years, what she has learned, how the city of Aiken has been a part of her journey, and what she has planned for the years to come.
Brooke decided to open her boutique because she felt "Aiken needed a local women's clothing store that was trendy and catered to Millennials and Gen Z, and I wanted to fill that void in the community. I always had a passion for fashion, and growing up watching my Mom own her own business inspired me to open up a retail store that I am so passionate about."
Her favorite part of the job is developing relationships with her customers. She remarks that they often feel more like friends. Her desire is to lend a listening ear and connect with her customers as much more than just consumers of a product. Being able to see how confident women look and feel in her clothes is the reward that makes it all worth it.
Aiken has a special place in Brooke's heart. She gushed about all that the city of Aiken has meant to her during her lifetime, but particularly in these past two years, through the support she has received from the community. She loves being able to pass on that love and support through her store.
"When I walked these streets, 10 years ago, I never dreamed I would have my own clothing store on Laurens Street. Our downtown has so much charm and so much to offer from unique restaurants, stores, historical monuments, equine events, and walking trails. I love having visitors come in and ask for references of where they should dine, stay, and what to do for fun activities because Aiken has so much to offer and I love sharing that with them."
She reflects on the important lessons she has learned in staying true to yourself and not letting comparison lead the way. You can see this reflected in the way that she runs her business all the way down to the styles and trends you will see modeled in her store.
Brooke is excited to see what the future holds. "From opening up a new location, introducing new clothing lines, including special occasions, expanding my shoe line and maybe adding some new and even surprising lines in the near future. I know the Aiken community will continue to grow and prosper, and I can't wait to see that for myself and for Ginger Bee."
