By Sherri Blevins
RAINSVILLE – Exciting things are happening in Rainsville, with several new businesses opening their doors to shoppers. Pearls and Plaid will join those businesses on Saturday, November 4, with its special grand opening packed full of doorbuster items. The store will open at 9:00 a.m., and its website will launch that evening at 5:00 p.m.
MVN visited with Pearls & Plaid owners Mary Crosby and Caden Hamby to get a sneak peek of the new boutique. Caden is the spokesperson for the mother-daughter duo, and she shared with us the story of how the store came to be. Caden said, “I have always loved fashion since I was little. My mom would take Barbie paper dolls, copy them, and white out Barbie’s clothes. She would make copies for me, and I would sketch and design my own collection of formalwear, casual, bathing suits, etc. My parents owned their own small business, and I always wanted to do this, but I didn’t know when I could. God just started opening doors. This place came open, and a lot of things connected, so it has come about a lot sooner than I thought it would. I am really excited.” Caden added that she worked at Elizabeth’s Closet in Fort Payne for a long time, so she has experience in the retail world, learning a lot from Elizabeth and Susan Mitchell.
Caden explained her vision for the store. She said, “We wanted to have something different; somewhere you would find some pieces you wouldn’t find anywhere else. We wanted to give everyone an experience like going to Huntsville or Nashville, but at a good price point because not everybody wants to pay designer price tags, but we still want them to have the designer experience. We want it to be a little bit different.”
Caden said they plan to start by offering women’s clothing, eventually adding kids and possibly men’s items. The store will also offer gift options that include items for kids.
Pearls and Plaid will not only offer casual daytime wear, but it will have a selection of Christmas and holiday fashion packed full of sparkle and shine. Caden said, “We love sequins. We love statement pieces. We feel like you should be able to wear sequins every single day if you want to.” She added that they also have more understated items for those who don’t like all the bling. The store will carry a full range of sizes from XS to 3X.
One other specialty service the store will offer is an afterhours pickup option. Caden explained that soon, touchscreen lockers will be placed outside the store for items ordered through the app or online through their website. She also said if you want to purchase a special gift as a Secret Santa present or for some other occasion, they can wrap it and place it in the locker for pickup.
The store is at 64 Main St. East, Suite #3, Rainsville, AL. The operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.