This year is a nostalgic one for the mother/daughter owners of Teresa Hallmark and Brianne's Boutique in Greenwood. One business chapter is closing yet a new, exciting one is underway as an inspiring transformation of the boutique.
Teresa Dillard retired from the Hallmark business after 36 years, and closed the store after this past Valentine's Day to transform the 14,000-square-foot building into a brand-new shopping destination as the new location for Brianne’s Boutique, which is managed by her daughter, Sara Brianne Slaughter.
After living in Greenwood since 1982, Teresa purchased the original Hallmark store in 1989 from Elsie Martin. It was located behind what is now Crew Car Wash. When she doubled the size of the store in 1994, she still quickly outgrew that space. So, during November 2000, she moved to the current location at 49 N. State Road 135, in Greenwood.
"We had one of the largest Hallmark stores in the United States and the only two level store," Teresa says. "Our vision was to create a beautiful place to shop that would feel like home. In fact, the store was located on property that was covered in apple trees many years ago."
For those three and a half decades, Teresa says she and her team worked passionately to make the Hallmark store a magical destination. "I thank all my wonderful employees and loyal customers throughout the years for your love and support. Many of our employees were with the store for years, including one employee for 25 years."
In 2011, Teresa and Sara opened Brianne's Boutique. In 2016, they purchased the building across the parking lot and moved Brianne's Boutique to 75 N. State Road 135.
At press time, the newly remodeled boutique was slated to be finished by late May.
Sara says the shop will still carry favorite brands in trend-setting apparel, accessories and gifts. "We also have shoes, jewelry, handbags, belts and wallets, with styles to update all seasons of wardrobes. And we'll still have our customers' favorite gift lines like Nora Fleming, Willow Tree and popular categories such as bereavement, candles, cards and occasion driven gifts."
She says they have a large Christmas decor section planned to showcase the beautifully decorated trees for which Teresa's Hallmark was known.
The upstairs of the remodeled store will host events and workshops, relays Sara, with everyday shopping for clothing and gifts will be on the first floor.
"We've built seven dressing rooms and we'll have shop-in-shops from our most popular brands Brighton and Liverpool," she adds, reminding that new arrivals launch online Thursdays and on the floor Fridays.
With a focus on quality, the store's apparel and jewelry collections feature other top brands, such as Hammitt, Tribal, Kendra Scott, Bogg Bag, Ambre Blends, Charlie B and Judy Blue.
The boutique also offers desirable gifts, such as lotions, body mists, lip balm, Indiana mugs, turbo hair towels, cosmetic bags, themed air fresheners, fashion-driven notepads, cuticle oil, notebook organizers, travel cases, keychains, stress buster tablets, trinket trays, glass cases, ring bowls and all-purpose pouches.
Even with all this updated news comes a bit more for the family. Sara and her husband, Jacob Slaughter, are opening a men's gift and clothing store in what will be the former location of Brianne's Boutique. Called Collier Outfitters, she says it will be similar in quality and customer service to Brianne's. She adds that they hope to open that new store during this fall.
And Teresa will still lend her experience as a gift buyer for the new combined enterprise.
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