After operating online for five months, Courtney Murley decided to secure a storefront for Hot Mess Mama Boutique in February of 2019. She leased space at Avenue 54 and managed to open her doors for one day before the pandemic made its presence felt.
“We were literally open for one day before we were shut down,” she said. “It’s unfortunate because we were brand new and received no help.”
The store managed to stay afloat by continuing to increase their online sales and social media presence.
“If you’re not active on social media, you’re not making money,” she said. “We relied heavily on our Facebook live sales and offered curbside pick-up.”
On May 23, the boutique opened its doors once more.
Before opening the storefront, Murley traveled to various ‘pop-up’ shows to conduct sales, most notably at the Owensboro Convention Center and Preservation Station. As she ventures into a permanent location, Murley is forced to overcome the many obstacles associated with the pandemic.
“We are limiting the number of people in the store and taking several precautions,” she said. “Our dressing rooms are open and we sanitize them and steam the clothes after every use. We also steam the clothes on display regularly — this is what stores should be doing anyway.”
As a stay-at-home mother of three children for the past decade, Murley believes she has found her niche. In addition to a passion for fashion, she was dissatisfied with the fact that there were no boutiques in the area that offered plus sizes.
“I started on Poshmark and Etsy and began to develop a passion for it,” she said. “There is no boutique in this area that offers every size. I saw a need, and I wanted to cater to every woman — bodies change, but everyone still wants to be cute.”
More information on the boutique can be found on their Facebook or Instagram page or by visiting their website here https://hotmessmamashop.com/.
Outfits and accessories are available online or by shopping in person at the Avenue 54 shopping center located on KY 54. They offer in-store pick-up and free shipping on all purchases.
“You can be a hot mess and still be beautiful,” Murley added. “We have sizes for all body types — not focusing on one body type. We truly want every woman to look as beautiful on the outside as they feel on the inside.”
