2 /5 Sarah Dexter: Stopped at the boutique yesterday (a Wednesday) at 1:15pm for the annual new shoes trip (been coming here for years with up to three girls, spending hundreds each August; they dance elsewhere though). Open sign wasn’t lit, blinds were drawn, door was locked. Two signs on the door and window stated summer hours were 10-4. Google says the hours are 2-7…. Came back just after 2:00, nothing’s changed. I was pulling up the number to call and the boutique gal came out the main academy door and asked if we needed something? I said yes let me get my daughter and turned around to wave to her at the car to come up. When she came up the boutique gal had disappeared inside. We went in the main doors, found our way around into the boutique, and I told her my daughter needed new pointe shoes. We showed her the old ones so we could get the same ones. She said she didn’t have any but she could try on different widths or styles? I declined. She said she could order some, but could take a week or so. I said I’d call if I was interested. Went home, found a major dancewear/shoes website, found the shoes are backordered 2-4 weeks. I’d guess it would be the same ordering from the boutique so I’ll just order online and get them shipped to my door for free rather than waste more gas/time and risk it not being open at a convenient time for pickup anyways. I’m glad I don’t need my daughters’ shoes fitted anymore but sad this is the state of a brick and mortar store. I did not feel welcomed/invited in, especially with a locked door, blinds drawn, and conflicting hours posted, nor were there shoes available for us to purchase. To compete with online retailers, it takes a bit more finesse (which should’ve always been there in the first place, to be a good business that attracts repeat customers), and since I don’t need the fitting service it’s not worth my time now to shop local if there’s no service involved. A quick apology about the locked door or a transparent explanation would’ve gone a long way to keeping my business, even with a little inconvenience. Acting like it wasn’t happening wasn’t very welcoming.
