Shopping…. That very word sends so many different emotions through so many different types of people. For some, it sends genuine excitement. For some, it’s a complete hassle. Others, it brings on sheer terror. For me, I have always loved it. ALWAYS. I have always enjoyed going in to clothing stores. Even on days I don’t have money, I thoroughly enjoy window shopping. I know that even if I am unable to buy something that day, I may find something I love…and then I’ll be able to come back and purchase it later (or something similar). The shopping experience as a whole is a little more complicated for a plus size girl like me, though. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it. However, it’s much more challenging to find trendy and cute clothes for a girl who has curves. This has forever been the struggle. But, it’s a struggle I’m happy to tackle.
So, you can imagine my absolute disappointment when boutiques started opening in our area…and none of them offered plus size options. How was this even right? We live in a society that accepts all shapes and sizes these days….why were these trendy little boutiques not offering sizes over a Large? It just didn’t make any sense to me. Over time, there were a couple of boutiques that announced that they’d be carrying plus sizes…however, I was even more disappointed after visiting them. Their plus size “selection” would be a simple rack or corner that had MAYBE three or four different styles. And, unfortunately, none of those things would actually fit true to size. One day, I was waiting for a friend of mine at our gym and I saw a flyer on a bulletin board announcing a boutique that would offer a large selection of plus-sized clothing. I took a picture of the flyer, and immediately went home and did my research. Imagine my surprise when I saw actual plus sized girls modeling true to size plus sized clothing! I remember walking into the store for the first time. It was unbelievable. I didn’t have to search for my “rack” or “corner.” My size was EVERYWHERE! Fast forward a few months, and I began working at this place. A few months after that, I was hired on full time. People ask me all the time why on earth I’d walk away from a full-time career in the field of insurance for retail. And this wasn’t just any retail - it was a small business, and those are never guaranteed to last. Answering that question is always easy for me. I enjoyed working in insurance, sure. And I was really good at it. However, when I’m out, I see other plus size women who look completely uncomfortable in their clothes, and even worse – in their own skin. Working at the store, I realized that I could make an actual difference. I realized that I not only enjoyed helping curvy women find clothes that they loved, but that they looked and felt great in. I became passionate about it. It seems silly to some…but let me ask you this – are you comfortable with what you wear most days? Because I know this from the last few years of working at this boutique – most women DO NOT. It’s just heartbreaking to me, the number of women who come in and have no idea where to start or what they want. It took me YEARS to figure out what style I loved and felt comfortable in. This is in part to there being limited options for so long. But now, I refuse to purchase anything that isn’t 100% comfortable AND cute. And I hold those same standards for my customers. I have a saying “Don’t buy it if you don’t love it.” We stick to that strongly in the store. If you’re uncomfortable in what you are wearing, you are more than likely coming across that way. When you like what you’re wearing, you just walk a little taller. If someone asks where you got something, we do NOT want you saying “Hanging City Supply Co” with any doubt in your voice. We want you, and the person asking, to love what you’re wearing. My very first weekend that I worked by myself, I had a customer come in. She wandered around our store for 20 minutes. I asked her several times if I could help her, but she was “just looking.” I finally started chatting with her and realized that she had no idea what she was doing. I began to help her. She told me how she had been shopping everywhere over the last week trying to find the perfect outfit for her family pictures. She was just so upset, and as her eyes welled up with tears, she said: “I just hate the way I look, and I hate everything I put on.” I immediately just started showing her my personal favorites and telling her how things fit me. I even pointed out my own flaws and told her how instead of trying to ignore my flaws, I focus on them. I make sure that the way I dress will flatter those flaws as best as possible. After a while, she finally found the outfit she loved, and even bought another outfit. As I checked her out, her eyes welled up with tears again. She said, “This is been the best shopping experience I’ve ever had. Thank you for being so honest with me, and making shopping fun for the first time in years.” I remember calling my Mom on the way home and saying, “That is EXACTLY why I’m doing what I’m doing, Mom.” She could hear the passion and excitement in my voice. I have SO MANY more stories just like that one. And each time it happens, I still feel that same excitement. It never gets old. It just motivates me to keep trying to help other women. I love Hanging City Supply Co. And even more, I love the vision that the owner, Miranda, has. Why did it take so long for someone to actually care about offering real, true to size options for us plus size gals in the boutique world? I have no idea. But, I’m glad Miranda finally did. She saw a real need for it, and she jumped on it. She still is so driven by focusing on our plus size clients. Even though we added Small-Large clothing last year, it is still so important to Miranda to keep our beautiful curvy ladies happy. We always try to keep both sizing options even. At the end of the day, our plus size customers are why we are here…so we will always do our best to offer them the same trendy and comfy options we always have. Stop dreading shopping, ladies. Stop wondering where to go for the latest plus size clothes. Shop Hanging City Supply Co. You can take my word. Yes, I work there. But, you’ve now heard my story. I was a shopper here first. And it made me such a believer, I walked away from a career that I had been in for 15 years. And I’ve never looked back. Now, quit reading this, and come let me help you get comfortable with our trendy new items today!
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