Among people who spend a lot of time on their feet, Dansko is known as the go-to shoe, explains Sarah “Bear” Buffington. She should know. As a sales associate specializing in service for plus sized customers and Birkenstocks at Olympia’s Belleza Ropa, Sarah is familiar with multiple brands of clothing, shoes, and accessories. On Saturday, March 19, the store will be hosting a trunk show with a rep from Dansko from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Guests will have a chance to explore a variety of styles beyond what they might normally see on the shelves. “They bring their trunk with all the offerings from the season,” explains Belleza Ropa owner Jeannine Kempees. “We may have 20 styles in our store, but they’re going to bring many more styles and lay them out on the table for everyone to see and talk to the rep about personal fittings or place special orders for items we don’t normally carry.”
Vendors like Dansko often run sales or discounts at such events. During the March 19 event, attendees will have a chance to win not one, but two pairs of free shoes. “What’s great is the way they’re offering it,” says Sarah. “If you come in and sign up to win a free pair of shoes, you also get a pair for a friend.”
Sarah wasn’t surprised to see the medical staff shod in Danskos during her hospital visit. “They offer a shoe called the XP which is slip-resistant,” she says. “Your feet support your whole body, so that’s extremely important. If you’re a surgeon or a chef and you know that you’re going to be on your feet the whole time at work, shoes matter. The way the Dansko insole is built, it gives you support.”
Customers often give positive feedback about the brand, she continues, including one key demographic. “Podiatrists come in and say, ‘We love these shoes that you’re selling. We can suggest these to our patients.'”
The following month, Belleza Ropa will host another trunk show, this time for the Habitat clothing line. “It’s one of our biggest clothing lines,” Kempees says. “We buy more from them than almost anyone in the northwest. They are a very important line for us.” During the April 2 Habitat Trunk Show, Belleza Ropa will be offering a 10% coupon on the line and holding a raffle for a free Habitat item. The event will be from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The store offers personalized customer service to a broad spectrum of women, from retired professionals looking for a more casual look to those looking for the perfect outfit for a specific event. “We strive to dress real women with real bodies,” avows Kempees. “We’re movers and shakers ourselves and we like to sell clothing and shoes that work with movers and shakers.”
That approach works for customers like Kendra Dahlen of the Athena Group, which is located above the store. “Belleza Ropa is one of my favorite shops in downtown Olympia,” she says. “It is the first place I go when looking for something special to wear or when I am just in need of new items for the season.”
Kempees and Sarah appreciate a brand that is versatile enough to be used in multiple ways. “Their clothing has great textures and an excellent cut for all body types,” says Kempees.
“Habitat has a beautiful look,” adds Sarah. “You can wear it as casual, you can wear it as business. Customers come in all the time and ask, ‘When’s the new Habitat collection going to come in?’ They also have fantastic travel clothing.”
Habitat, which goes by the slogan “Clothes to Live In,” offers a range of clothing that can function as the core of any wardrobe, and can stand alone or be accessorized. That works well for women moving back and forth between their professional and personal lives.
“Sometimes we get somebody that comes in and says, ‘I’m retiring from this, so now I don’t want the business look any more’ so now we have the casual side,” says Sarah. “It’s not just a collection of clothing. We have beautiful jewelry and accessories, and those complete a look. We’ll go through the specific details of putting something together.”
Dahlen is one of those customers. “I love the eclectic clothes, especially Habitat, and the wonderful assortment of jewelry and shoes,” she enthuses. “Belleza Ropa is a great place for girlfriend shopping. It’s a fun experience and we always find something wonderful!”
Belleza Ropa
www.bellezaropa.com
101 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501
360-352-7672
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