Taylor McIntire approached the SBDC because she wanted to move her women’s clothing boutique to a bigger location. The Turquoise Lily got its humble start by showcasing ladies’ apparel at local events and regional craft shows. In 2016, Taylor was joined by her mom, Tracey Leatherwood, and the tandem seized an opportunity to open a retail spot inside of KK’s Corner Mall. The location at KK’s Corner Mall gave the business an increased exposure, but the space was limited, and it lacked a street-side presence.As their online business and in-store sales grew, it became clear to the owners that they had outgrown their existing space. After giving it considerable thought, Taylor and Tracey decided that the time was right to move the business to a brick-and-mortar store front. To do so they would need a business loan and a business plan, so they called the SBDC to help them with the project.The new space needed a significant upgrade, so additional funding was going to be necessary to make the dream a reality. The team worked closely with the SBDC to develop a set of financials that would support a loan and the client’s location change. To further strengthen the plan, the SBDC gathered industry and market research to highlight the market opportunity. With a comprehensive business plan in-hand, the team was able to secure the funding they needed to move to the new store. The new location of The Turquoise Lily has been a hit with its customers. According to the owners, the sales numbers have outperformed their previous sales at the former location. Taylor says the SBDC was very helpful in helping her understand her numbers and that their business is better off as a result.
