Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Adams.
Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since I was in High School, opening a boutique has been my dream. I always knew I wanted to do it and didn’t know where or when, but it was always the goal. I moved to Huntsville in late 2010 over New Year’s Eve for a marketing job and immediately began exploring the city. What I noticed most was the lack of shopping in the area at the time. There was a customer who should have been served better. When I spoke to others about where they shopped, they always said online, Birmingham, or Nashville. This was when I knew Huntsville was the place to open up Elitaire Boutique.
The name “Elitaire” means “Elite” in French and comes from the phrase “La Table Elitaire,” which translates to The Elite Table. We aren’t “Elite” in the sense that. It’s unattainable, but all our brands are new to Huntsville. We do this for two reasons: 1) it makes us unique as a small business, and 2) it creates shopping synergy, which is what every growing city should strive for. Nothing is worse than showing up to an event locally wearing the same outfit as someone else, nor is it a good idea to have the same items in each store you shop at while perusing a city. This is why we make sure our brands are committed to this effort before buying.
Fast forward a few years to 2016, and this dream finally became reality. My husband and I opened Elitaire in the heart of Downtown Huntsville on October 22nd, 2016, just as the city was revitalizing. Since then, we have watched this city flourish into the number one place to live in the country, and we love meeting so many who travel here to visit. We are so thankful to our loyal local customers who helped make Elitaire a shopping destination in Huntsville. I have never lived in a city that prioritized shopping locally as much as Huntsville does. In October 2021, we opened our sister store, Elitaire Petite, serving moms and babies from age Newborn to 3 years. It has been such a joy to meet new mamas and their sweet babies in a shop filled with new brands not currently in Huntsville, staying true to the Elitaire name.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Opening a small business has been anything but easy. Many look at stores, specifically boutiques, as a “hobby.” Still, until you open a business, no one truly knows the blood, sweat, and tears that go into opening something like Elitiare. Multiple stores have tried to copy our business model, even down to the same brands. Then in March 2020, Covid happened, and the government shut us down. Thankfully, our entire store was already online, so we could quickly adapt to an online boutique until we could open back up in May 2020. Again, the loyalty of our customers is 100% why we are still open because they showed up for us when we were closed and beyond, and it was so humbling to watch. I know we will face more challenges in the future, but our fantastic team, combined with a city that truly does shop locally, will always help us come through. Plus, when you want something bad enough, you will do everything to make it work, and that’s how I feel about Elitaire. I can’t imagine ever giving up on this dream that is now a reality.
As you know, we’re big fans of Elitaire Boutique. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
We are a French-inspired women’s boutique serving women ages 25-55 in Huntsville, Alabama, and surrounding areas with the best local brands! Our brands are new to Huntsville, meaning you can only find them in the city, which sets us apart. We don’t follow trends but buy for a customer who wants to build a timeless wardrobe. “Perfecting the Art of Timeless Fashion for Today’s Modern Women” is our motto, and we will always strive to bring timeless elegance to our store. We offer personal shopping and styling but also create a welcoming environment for shopping. As a shopper, I know how intimidating it can sometimes be to walk into a store like ours, especially if you are not comfortable shopping regularly. So the customer service we provide is our number one priority always!
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Stay true to who you are as a business and for your customer. Don’t try to serve a customer someone else is currently serving. Your customer is coming to you for a reason, and that should always be your top priority: making sure you always strive to serve your customer in the best possible way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elitaireboutique.com
- Instagram: @elitaireboutique and @elitairepetite
- Facebook: Elitaire Boutique
