Brittany Tuberville and Meredith Lloyd have been best friends and doing things as a duo since second grade at Fairgrove Elementary School.
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Now as adults the two friends work at the same company — Old Dominion Freight Line — and recently decided to open a women’s clothing boutique in their home city of Thomasville. Lily and Vine Boutique opened on Nov. 20 at 705 Randolph Street behind the Little Caesar’s Pizza.
The boutique had a life long before it opened a storefront, however. Lloyd and Tuberville were sitting in Tuberville’s car in her driveway after a shopping trip when Tuberville suggested they start selling clothing online using social media and a website.
“How did that conversation even begin,” Tuberville asked Lloyd while standing at the store’s counter.
“I don’t remember,” answered Lloyd. “I just remember us talking about how fun it would be. One, we have a love for clothes and shopping together at other boutiques.”
They sold clothing on their Facebook business page and still do, as well as on their website at https://lilyandvineboutique.com/. Anyone who wants to save on shipping costs and elect to pick up their purchases in the store.
The pals wanted to start slow, however, before opening a brick-and-mortar store.Â
“We had to do a lot of research and find wholesalers who would sell to us,” Tuberville said. “And we wanted to find a source for one of our favorite brand Zenana. The Los Angeles clothing company is known for its soft fabrics and clothing options in everything from t-shirts to dresses.
Their Thomasville boutique carries the Zenana brand along with Judy Blue jeans and many other clothing labels. There is also area for accessories, such as scarves, hats, jewelry, handbags and more. One corner showcases a large selection and different sizes of Swig cups and some custom-made designed insulated metal cups.
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Tuberville said they did not want to go so quickly that they accumulated lots of debt.
“We wanted to make sure we could survive before we got into a building,” Lloyd said.Â
Carol Zinsky, Tuberville’s mom, later joined the two friends as a partner in the business.
They found out about the store opening from Lloyd’s cousin, who works a Classic Photography, which is in the same shopping strip.
Both women said it was important to open their clothing boutique in their hometown where they grew up.Â
“Thomasville needs more places to shop,” Lloyd said.
Lily and Ivy Boutique carries sizes small to 3X. The store is open from 3-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday.
Lloyd and Tuberville have no plans to quit their jobs at Old Dominion. They have two part-time employees who get the store opened and then they come in after 5 p.m.
Having the storefront for the boutique has freed up space at Tuberville’s home, which was serving as the boutique
Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at [email protected] and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.
