{"id":13160,"date":"2014-04-11T08:13:31","date_gmt":"2014-04-11T13:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nashvillewraps.com\/blog\/?p=13160"},"modified":"2024-12-05T11:26:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T17:26:05","slug":"shop-bella-c-sisters-with-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nashvillewraps.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/11\/shop-bella-c-sisters-with-style","title":{"rendered":"Shop Bella C – Sisters with Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ShopGrowing up in Atlanta, Georgia, sisters Laura and Cristie Merritt always wanted to have a business together. In 2010 their dream became a reality when they opened Shop Bella C in the small university town of Searcy, Arkansas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both graduates of Harding University<\/a>, Laura (now Walker) graduated in 2009 with a degree in Marketing. Cristie earned her degree in fashion merchandising in 2011. Harding is a Christian college 50 miles northeast of Little Rock and continues to rank as one the best universities in the South. (I\u2019m biased – I went to school there, too).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Prior to opening the shop, Laura worked as a business manager for Dillard\u2019s in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She went on to work for a multi-line showroom in Dallas called Colletta. Working in fashion markets in Vegas, Atlanta and Dallas, Laura held the position as their southeast rep for their multi-line showroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Cristie graduated from Harding, she also went to work for Colletta briefly before officially opening Shop Bella C in the fall of 2011. They began with trunk shows, then added their online boutique and finally opened their storefront. Their online business makes up half their business, which ships nationwide and to Canada.<\/p>\n

\"Shop<\/p>\n

A Shop with International Flair<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Laura\u2019s attention to detail and sharp business mind combined with Cristie\u2019s creativity and style have made for a booming business. \u201cBella\u201d means beautiful in Italian. Cristie fell in love with Italy while studying at Harding University Florence one semester, so it was the perfect name for their shop, which also draws inspiration from Paris, Toronto and even Cabo San Lucas (the photo above of Laura and Christie were shot in Cabo by\u00a0Amy Bennett Photography).<\/p>\n

They showcase their merchandise through Facebook and Instagram, which have proven to be their best ways to reach their target market. Offering free gift wrapping in the store and online has been important for their business as well. Laura says, \u201cWe have completely fallen in love with Nashville Wraps\u2019 gorgeous products like wrapping paper<\/a>, shopping bags<\/a>, tissue paper<\/a> and jewelry boxes<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Big City Style in a Small Town<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Shop<\/span>When asked why they stayed in such a small town instead of going back to Atlanta or another major city, Laura\u00a0<\/span>explains, \u201cThe university is very special to our family. We have a long legacy of family members who have attended Harding. But the main reason is because my husband is the assistant coach of the women\u2019s basketball team.\u201d<\/p>\n

SBC has a huge presence of student shoppers along with many locals. \u201cHalf the fun of shopping is the experience you have while finding the perfect new wardrobe piece, and Shop Bella C was created to do that,\u201d says Cristie. \u201cWe want our shoppers to have just as much fun buying their new clothing or jewelry as they do wearing it out for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palm Beach Flavor in Lilly Pulitzer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dresses and tunics are their most popular lines, with Lilly Pulitzer’s<\/a>\u00a0Palm Beach prints being their biggest sellers. (Lilly\u2019s “classic shift dress” shot to international fame when her old classmate Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a> was photographed wearing a “Lilly” while on vacation. From Essentially Lilly, A Guide to Colorful Entertaining,<\/em>\u00a0Lilly explains how she got started,\u00a0<\/em>“Jackie wore one of my dresses \u2013 it was made from kitchen curtain material \u2013 and people went crazy. Everybody loved them, and I went into the dress business.”)<\/p>\n

\"ShopThese best friends are very close and share the same values as business partners. \u201cWe love that we can be completely honest with each other and secure in knowing that above all we have each other\u2019s back, no matter what,\u201d adds Laura.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur parents are our biggest influence. Being entrepreneurs themselves, they taught by example that having a hard work ethic, passionate spirit and prayerful heart are what it takes to succeed,\u201d says Laura.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, sisters Laura and Cristie Merritt always wanted to have a business together. In 2010 their dream became a reality when they opened Shop Bella C in the small university town of Searcy, Arkansas. Both graduates of Harding University, Laura (now Walker) graduated in 2009 with a degree in Marketing. Cristie…<\/p>\n

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