Nov 2, 2008

Clothing store owner enjoys giving special attention to help customers look their bestBy Paul W. SullivanMontgomeryAdvertiser.com

AL — Clothing and gift store owner Candace Love takes pride in the appearance of her clients. She believes that customers of Bou Cou, located just off East Boulevard, want the special attention to their wardrobe that Love offers.

Clients enter the shop located across from Home Depot in The Courtyard to look over the latest from New York designer Worth, and to hear Love’s opinion of how the fashions would fit on them.

While she has spent a majority of her working life in the com puter field, the Arizona State University graduate said she has always enjoyed clothing, and knows how important it is for women to look their best.

“Making a good first impression does count,” she said. “The culture expects a woman to look different more than men — to be more varied. That can be challenging if on a limited budget.”

To help her clients make the first look a winner, she holds trunk shows and also is open daily to make sure her custom ers can select from the latest fashions. All the work and dedication pays off for her clientele, she said.

“The outfits that I help put together are the ones they reach for time and time again in the closet,” she said.

“They get compliments, and I also show them different ways to wear different pieces together.”

Bou Cou, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers both the designer shows and daily advice from Love. She can show women what new looks are available using DVDs of runway shows, as well as from the pages of fabric books.

Love started her business in 2002 by holding trunk shows at her home, or at the home of then-partner Carol Ballard. After several years, she needed more room and wanted to be more accessible to her clients.

In August of 2007, the wife and mother of two opened Bou Cou, which offers much more than just clothing options and counsel. Love shared more about her business’ growth and plans:

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