On Monday Kendra Schubert held her 15-month-old daughter, Emma, on one hip as Schubert stood inside the vacant space of her new business, Posh-Mama Boutique, in Sherven Square at 1354 Market St. in downtown Redding.
The shop’s ceilings were a robin’s-egg blue. The back walls were a lovely chocolate brown. The dark plank floors awaited racks and merchandise.
And her store will open tomorrow. No matter what.
Yikes.
But Schubert, who smiled when she said she expects an all-nighter with family and friends to prepare for Posh-Mama Boutique’s first day, was not worried.
This is a mother of three. Plus, she has five years’ retail and business experience as owner of Sally’s Florist on Hilltop in Redding four years back. Also, she’s operated an online version of Posh-Mama Boutique for nearly a year now.
But most of all, the 29-year-old has enthusiasm and excitement on her side. And she has Adam, her husband, who works for her father’s company, Ward’s Concrete. Adam came to Posh-Mama Monday night to help get things ready.
“We’re pretty excited,” Adam said as he took a breath from nailing a counter together. “Everyone says we’re crazy to open a business in this economy. We’d like to prove them wrong. You never know ’til you try.”
Kendra said they’d been interested in downtown for some time.
“Oh my gosh, I’m definitely ready to have my own business here,” she said. “We’ve been looking down here since January and this opened up. I really like downtown’s vibe, and there’s so much happening here now.”
No kidding.
Last week donigreenberg.com broke first one story about The Downtown Eatery, and then another about this most cool-sounding restaurant expected to open in downtown Redding in a few months.
Schubert and her Posh-Mama Boutique look like another perfect fit for downtown Redding, started by yet another young entrepreneur.
In fact, Posh-Mama Boutique and The Downtown Eatery will be next-door neighbors. These businesses fill out that Sherven Square part of the Market Street block that includes KLXR radio station, The Shoe Goddess Boutique, Dandelion Unique Gifts and Clothing, Nathan’s Anthems & Piercings, and now, The Downtown Eatery and Posh-Mama Boutique.
Just think, all the store fronts on that little block are spoken for.
Cool.
Back to Schubert. She said her business will cater to young women, and mothers — like herself — who desire clothes that are both fashionable and youthful. Hence the name: Posh-Mama Boutique.
With her “Fashion.Style.Service” slogan, Schubert said she will push hard for excellent customer service, which will include a small play area to occupy tots while their mothers shop. She calls her boutique a “fashion lounge” – a place that welcomes moms and their kids.
Regarding prices, Schubert said she’s kept Redding’s market in mind, and Posh-Mama Boutique’s items will range from about $50 to $150. She said Posh-Mama merchandise will be sophisticated, “more up-and-coming California casual, lifestyle wear.”
An example of some fashion lines Schubert plans to sell includes LTB, Boy Meets Girl, People’s Liberation, Fortune Denim, Vintage Havana, Be.Ology, Libertas, Matisse Footwear, Mish-Mish, Ooh! La La Coutoure, 3 Pommes and Punkster.
Posh-Mama Boutique store hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
May 1 is Posh-Mama Boutique’s official grand opening. But check it out between now and then and see what you think.
Meanwhile, Schubert will work all night to ready her shop for tomorrow’s opening-day deadline.
That’s OK. She’s young. She can do it.
She’s a posh mama.
