A perfect fit. That's how Christi Whatley and Malka Ivy describe their new partnership.
Ivy recently joined Whatley as her partner in Hot Springs' upscale women's clothing and accessory boutique, Christi's Boutique.
Whatley, a certified public accountant by trade, with an MBA from Henderson State University, had spent nearly two decades working her way up the corporate ladder in the fast paced and high stress field of health care administration. She was the vice president and chief quality officer at CHI St. Vincent when she decided to take a step back to spend more time with her husband, veterinarian Dr. Michael Whatley, and their Yorkie, Sophie.
Yet Christi's Boutique was not only born out of Whatley's desire for a career change, it also came from her increasing frustration with having to travel out of state to find the stylish clothing she craved. "I wanted both classic and trendy styles in a boutique setting," recalls Whatley in the press release.
"Whatley hit the ground running, turning a profit in a field where that is a rare feat for a newcomer. In fact, she was so successful in such a short amount of time, Christi's Boutique was nominated for The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce 2016 Small Business of the Year Award," the release continues.
"The boutique was a huge success its first year, and continuing that growth pattern required more talent," Whatley explains.
That's where Ivy came in. Literally. "Malka came to the store to pick up a gift one afternoon, and we began to talk about future plans and goals. That day we knew a partnership could be a powerful force."
Whatley says she loves the synergistic power of combining unique skill sets to accomplish something. Ivy, an East Coast transplant, is a former television reporter and anchor. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree in journalism from Boston University. "Malka offers talent that is different and refreshing, plus we have other younger team members working in the store, which enables us to round out our product and service and provide the best shopping experience around."
Repeat customer and local community activist Kate Schaffer agrees. "After Christi's opened, it soon became the only local women's clothing store where I would shop. The boutique carries incredibly classy clothing lines at good price points."
The new partners' skill sets are not all that is different about them. "I'd like to say Christi and I are cut from the same cloth," Ivy quips, "but the reality is, we have completely different styles. Christi is a bit trendier, perhaps even edgier in the way she dresses. I tend to have a more conservative, classic look. The boutique is a fabulous reflection of both of us, offering the perfect mix of the two styles."
Both women laugh recalling their first day working together. "We both showed up wearing the same black Clara Sun Woo dress," Ivy recalls. "I was going to run home and change, however, we each had accessorized it so differently, there was really no need!"
The boutique not only accommodates an array of different looks, but also caters to all body types and even ages. Whatley originally thought her customers would be mostly women in their 30s and up, yet she's noticed an interesting trend. Teenagers who want something different from what they are finding in other stores have been popping in.
Lakeside 10th-grader Olivia Dolan recently accompanied her mother, local dentist Dr. Lindsey Dolan, on a shopping trip. "I thought I was just going to help my mom pick out some clothing, but I ended up leaving with as much as her! I love this store!"
And there is a lot to love. "Shopping at Christi's feels more like dropping in to see a friend who is helping you choose an outfit," says Ivy. "In the few weeks that I have been here, I have been struck by how much the customers have bonded with Christi." She gives the example of one lady who recently dropped off Valentine's Day flowers and chocolates for Whatley. Ivy also points out that she and Whatley did not know each other before she began shopping at Christi's.
Ivy says she always felt comfortable shopping in the store, even when she had one of her two sons in tow. "It is that friendly, fun, low-pressure shopping experience that has helped the boutique earn the trust and respect of its shoppers."
Ivy and Whatley train their employees to give only their honest opinions to customers. "We would rather turn down a sale than send a woman out with an outfit that doesn't flatter her figure or make her feel good about herself," says Whatley.
Along with its high-quality clothing lines, Christi's also carries jewelry and gifts ranging from classic to light-hearted. Whatley has been known to keep the store open after hours by appointment, letting women have the ultimate private shopping experience. Ivy says as the boutique continues to grow, the partners welcome input. "We are here to serve our customers and to make their shopping experience pleasant. If there is something different they would like to see in our store, we ask that they please let us know."
Together, Ivy and Whatley will continue to serve the community as Whatley has been doing since the boutique's inception. One of the many ways Christi's Boutique gives back to Hot Springs is through the "Charity of the Month" program where customers submit recommendations for nonprofit organizations to receive 20 percent of the store's sales the first Monday of each month. Past community recipients have included Cooperative Christian Ministries & Clinic, Women's Chamber Scholarship Fund, All Created Equal, or A.C.E., CHI St. Vincent and The Call.
The mission statement of the boutique is painted prominently on its walls. It comes from Colossians 3:12. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." It is the hope of both women that those who visit Christi's Boutique have an experience that is about much more than shopping.
Christi's Boutique is located at 998 Shady Grove Road in Hot Springs, and is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and by appointment by calling 501-547-1384. Christi's is on Facebook and Instagram. The boutique's web address is http://www.christisboutique.com.
Business on 02/20/2017