A familiar pink glamper is going brick-and-mortar — but you can still shop there
Finding the perfect gift just got easier. The iconic CLT Boutique glamper that you’ve seen at pop-ups around Charlotte will now have a brick-and-mortar location. The local lifestyle brand is opening a flagship location at Centro Railyard between Hoppin’ and Wooden Robot.
“After growing my business for several years, the natural next step was to have a physical store,” owner Britt Gooding said. “It has always been my ultimate ‘shoot for the stars’ daydream goal.”
When looking for a brick-and-mortar location, Gooding said she struggled with finding retail space available in Charlotte that was under 1,000 square feet with high foot traffic.
“It was basically nonexistent,” she said. “I was on the hunt for the perfect property for quite a while before I was introduced to the Centro Railyard project. When I toured the space, I immediately got excited because the design wasn’t cookie cutter and it fit all of my unique needs.”
The urban mixed-use development is known for perpetuating Charlotte’s history while introducing innovation through its local tenants.
Gooding said she could visualize rolling up the garage doors on nice days and inviting in customers to shop. You can expect to find a lot of the products that have made the brand successful, like funny onesies and tea towels, punny mugs, jewelry, clothing, graphic shirts, and bath and body products.
“It’s a great location in a booming neighborhood and the perfect concept for a small business wanting to plant roots with a physical location,” she said. “Being surrounded by other small businesses to collaborate and cross-market is an added bonus. I can definitely see some block parties in our future!”
Gooding’s goal for the store is a “boho chic aesthetic.”
“I like to use displays that are retro or thrifted, to create an eclectic style that is more unique than a cookie cutter retail store. I want my shop to be a place that women love to come hang out and shop,” she said. “I am hoping to create several areas within the store to have ‘Insta moments’ — spots that are begging customers to take pictures to share on their instagram stories or feed.”
And if you love the nostaligia of shopping in the glamper — you’ll still have the opportunity to shop at pop-up events.
“I will definitely still have the glamper at pop-up events,” Gooding said. She shares that there will be some overlap in the products available in the store and the glamper, but that the glamper offers its own unique experience.
“There are certain products I’ve always wanted to sell, but the glamper created some unique limitations — it’s hard to take glass or easily breakable products to pop-up events,” Gooding shared. “A lot of people also have to be in ‘the mood’ to want to try on certain types of clothing like jeans or pants. I totally get it. I am the same way, and I try to channel my mindset as a shopper to create the ideal shopping environment and product mix that I think my customers will want given the circumstances of a brick-and-mortar versus a pop-up event.”
“There are so many perks here are so many perks to using pop-ups as a grassroots marketing and growth tool — it’s a community shopping experience, it’s a great way to reach new customers, and increase brand awareness.”
The mobile boutique owner has been curating clothing, accessories, gifts and jewelry since 2015. Gooding told CharlotteFive that CLT Boutique was born out of a desire to find a unique gift for her mother after she underwent a heart transplant. Now, she shares locally inspired gifts for Charlotteans to shop.
“I love connecting with customers and designing things that make people happy,” Gooding said. “When a customer picks up a product and laughs, or tries on a dress that makes her feel beautiful, a little cannon full of confetti hearts goes off in my chest.”
The grand opening celebration is currently slated for May.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 5:30 AM.