Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, Lulu Suchinda, co-owner of just-opened Lulu's Boutique in Battle Ground, couldn't wait to strike out on her own.
The Vancouver resident is the daughter of Laotian immigrants Douang and Bounma Suchinda of Golden Tusk Thai Cuisine on Battle Ground's Main Street – a five-year old establishment where Lulu learned the business skills she hopes to put to good use in her new shop.
"Really, working at a restaurant is not that far from working with clothing," Suchinda said. "Except this is what I'm really passionate about."
With co-owner Brandon Calamari, Suchinda opened the boutique Tuesday, Sept. 1 in a 1,000-plus square foot space in Battle Ground Village, a mixed-use development incorporating apartment buildings, office space and retail.
Suchinda is looking to capitalize on Battle Ground Village's live-work-play ethos which encourages residents and visitors to stroll down sidewalks past an increasing number of small shops, entertainment venues and eateries – including just-opened Bones Steak and Chop House.
"This place is about a lifestyle, which is definitely what our clothes are all about," she said. "We're trying to create a really welcoming space, blending the traditional with the modern."
Despite the prolonged downturn in retail sales that have seen many small businesses – and even a few bigger ones – disappear, the owners of Lulu's Boutique are confident the economy will turn around and people will start spending again.
And Suchinda and Calamari are in it for the long haul. Together with apparel and accessories retailer BUG (Battle Under Ground) nearby, Lulu's Boutique offers North County shoppers an alternative to big department stores. "People here shouldn't have to drive down to Portland or Vancouver to shop," Suchinda said.
But like most business owners, they are hedging their bets in a tight market for retailers. Suchinda says she plans to offer inexpensive items like T-shirts along with pricier designer jeans for women of all ages looking to mix-and-match on a budget.
"Just because we're in a bad economy, it doesn't mean you have to look bad," she said.
