Boutique shopping is a specialized experience. You can feel the personal touch of a shop owner who wants to make sure you have access to something different. The beauty is in the details. From the design of the shops to the unique pieces within them, boutique shopping is different. There are only so many places where you can get an authentic boutique experience and find a shop owner who handpicks the pieces in their store. At Camel City Boutique in Winston-Salem, that’s precisely what you will find.
Owner Kristen Reid has loved fashion all of her life. For her, it started with a set of fashion plates when she was young. “I had the set of mix and match fashion plates where I could design a look, use a rubbing crayon to outline the look on paper, and then color it in. That progressed into loving clothing and how it made me look and feel. I always knew I wanted to help other people love their look and help them find the pieces that would do that,” said Reid. When the opportunity to open a boutique in Winston-Salem presented itself, she knew she was ready and that she could bring a unique perspective to fashion in this community. Camel City Boutique opened on February 16, 2019.
When you shop at Camel City Boutique, you are more than just a customer. You become part of the family. The staff wants to get to know you, your likes, dislikes, what fits you well and what colors you prefer. They take that knowledge and use it to help you find clothes and accessories that bring you joy. Once they get to know you, you will be on their mind as they look for items that will fit your needs and taste to bring into the store.
And this isn’t a boutique for a particular size of woman. Reid wants every woman to feel represented in her shop. “I am size 14, and I know how frustrating it can be for some women to find clothes that make them feel good. I make it a point to offer clothing for women from sizes small to 3x. I want women of all shapes and sizes to be able to find something that makes them feel beautiful.”
With the stay at home order from March to May, Camel City Boutique had to adapt to meet the needs of their customers. Because of Reid’s drive to create a personalized shopping experience, she was not interested in a website for the shop. Since they have had to switch the way things are done due to COVID-19, they have changed that and now have a website that allows customers to shop online. They also gave customers the option to have curbside pick up at the store or $5 flat rate shipping to their home. They are even hosting live sales on Facebook 2 to 3 times a week. It was crucial to Reid to find a way to meet the needs of her customers and to keep doing what she loves in this community. Reid said, “This is a really hard time for all of us, and we will get through it together. We are so grateful to our loyal customers for their continued support and how they have adapted and adjusted with us. We are here for them, we purchase items with them in mind, and we will continue to do that no matter what happens.”
Camel City Boutique is located at 5009 Country Club Rd in Winston-Salem. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM and on Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can reach the store by phone at (336) 829-5237. For more information or to experience their online shopping options, visit their website at camelcityboutique.com or follow them on FaceBook. You will also find additional information about adjusted hours and shopping protocols as social distancing continues.
