stores that stand out
One of the hobbies I enjoy most is visiting other small boutiques. It’s interesting to me to see what product lines they carry as well as what makes them stand out from the rest. I believe it is extremely important to support independently owned stores. As a former retailer for 28 years, I try my hardest to avoid big box and stores that undercut the small guys.
I took a drive to St. Francisville to spend the day exploring boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants and of course The Myrtles Plantation. On my boutique exploration, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated as a former boutique owner. All of the shops but one that I entered lacked customer service. They were missing “that something special” regarding inventory & services offered, and while they all have so much potential to rock it, they were just blah.
For example, when I walked into one of the larger shops in town, no one was there to greet me. After several trips around the store, not one person cared to ask if I needed help looking for a gift. I noticed the employees were busy doing inventory and other activities. Don’t get me wrong, I know what it takes to operate a store’s day-to-day. Things need to get done, but there should always be at least one team member dedicated to just customer attention and nothing else.
The Cotton Exchange was a true exception. From the moment I walked in, I could tell the lady who greeted me was the owner. She was sweet, welcoming and made me feel at home. I had not yet had the chance to see the inventory offered and instantly fell in love with this little gem. The Cotton Exchange had THAT “something special” that most boutiques lack. Before I get into that, let me share that owner Lauren Field took the time to give me a map of the town, offered recommendations to visit other retail shops and didn’t make me feel like I had to make a purchase to make a friend. THAT is what makes a store special. THAT is what makes a store memorable.
Read more about them:
cotton exchange
Cotton Exchange was founded by Owner + Buyer Lauren Field and is the sister company to the original Upland Cotton, Inc. started in St. Francisville in 1992.
Featuring a carefully curated collection of women's clothing, accessories & specialty gifts sourced or produced in the southern and New England states, Cotton Exchange is the perfect destination to find classic, statement pieces that last year over year.
"Our focus is on stylish, wardrobe building, not novelty trends that quickly go out of style." ~Lauren Field
When I coach my retail clients, one of the first topics we cover is what they believe separates them from the rest. We go over product lines, services offered, customer service, team culture and several other things. All of these elements together if wrapped up nicely with a sweet bow on top will keep your customers coming back for more. In Lauren’s case, the Cotton Exchange had way less inventory than the bigger store next door and still made a much bigger impression. Most retailers believe that have THAT something special, but if carefully coached they soon realize the huge opportunities for growth in revenue, repeat customers and a more enjoyable shopping experience.
So often stores want to monopolize the “hot” lines, copy their neighbors, steal ideas, and avoid sending referrals to neighboring retailers. Their vision is clearly missing and instead of focusing on being customer centric, they just sell “stuff” and hope people buy it. This strategy is a recipe for disaster. I will be sure to return to this sweet little town again soon to visit Lauren’s shop and have lunch at The Mag!
visiting st francisville, la
Per Lauren’s recommendations, here are some great places to visit if you make the day trip to St. Francisville, LA.
Have coffee & breakfast at Birdman Coffee & Books & see the precious cabins at Magnolia Cafe
Make reservations for dinner at The Saint inside the St. Francisville Inn
Drive thru historic downtown and hop around to visit the local retail stores (make sure to tell Lauren hello at Cotton Exchange)
Have lunch at The Myrtles - Restaurant 1796 (crab & artichoke dip is amazing)
The Mag occasionally features live music so be sure to check this out before visiting
Afton Villa Gardens is a short drive from The Myrtles and worth the time if you love flowers
There’s a number of plantation homes to visit, but I didn’t stop at any on this day trip
225-635-4224 | www.stfrancisville.net
