Business Spotlight: Stella & Grace
Like many great business ideas, Stella & Grace (S&G)–Gahanna’s newest boutique clothes store, was born from a need. Owner Holly Garrison was desperately seeking cute, comfortable and convenient clothes to wear while on maternity leave with her second baby.
Stella & Grace Boutique began as an online store in June, 2017. Holly attended markets and pop-up events around Ohio and surrounding states to grow her online presence. On May 31, 2021, she opened her first bricks-and-mortar store at Creekside Gahanna.
“My girls were the motivation behind starting the business, and the reason why we landed on Stella & Grace as the name of the business,” Holly said. “I had always wanted to start a business, to create something from nothing, and to build something special. I wanted to help build and contribute to a community, and to leave a legacy for my family. I did not just want to tell my girls ‘anything is possible if you work hard’ — I wanted to show them.”
Holly strives to carry both trendy and staple pieces to keep customers’ wardrobes new and versatile. Because Stella & Grace is a boutique, she stocks a limited amount of each style to keep things fresh and new. Shoppers can find everything from tops, dresses, and outerwear to denim, shoes, and accessories.
“I really hope what sets S&G apart is the way we make people feel,” she said. “It’s always been our focus with online sales to make the process feel more personal by including a handwritten ‘thank-you’ with each purchase. I want my customers to understand that I am genuinely thankful for their order, and I hope that they enjoyed the entire experience from shopping our site to feeling great in their purchase. Now with a brick-and-mortar store, I want anyone who walks into the store to feel welcome, to love the atmosphere of the store, and to know they are our priority.”
Holly is looking forward to building partnerships with other local businesses. “I really want to create more than another retail clothing store,” she said. “I want to help create a fun Creekside destination experience.”
“We could not be happier to have found this community in Gahanna,” she said. “The atmosphere is laidback, with a strong sense of community, and the support has been fantastic. Everyone has been so kind. The surrounding businesses have been incredible and so helpful. We feel very fortunate that we found our location in Gahanna!”
To learn more, visit: ShopStellagrace.com /Facebook: @shopstellagraceboutique. / Instagram: @stellagraceboutique.