RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. — A St. Louis and women-owned boutique recently won free rent and storefront space at a shopping center thanks to a small business program.
Through Pop Local’s program, LoveLaunch will receive three months of rent for free at The Boulevard Shopping Center, in addition to $3,500 to help with the design of the storefront space, marketing assistance and more, according to a press release.
Edwards Realty Company launched Pop Local to offer new opportunities for small businesses in the St. Louis community.
LoveLaunch was selected out of more than 70 applications as a top finalist last month and was recently chosen as the winner in the program’s second competition, according to the press release.
The boutique is run by a select group of artisans who curate high-quality and timeless designs. Lia Glynias founded the company to bridge the gap between fast fashion and high-end couture.
“I personally am moved by the opportunity. I didn’t know if we could survive the pandemic, much less have known that 27 years ago a part-time job at the Galleria would lead to a fashion career that spanned from New York City to the Pre-a-Porte in Paris and ultimately back home to the City of Saint Louis,” Glynias said.
“Everyone at LoveLaunch, from my mother to the team that has become family by sharing their time and talents, is psyched to bring inspiring design that is ready-to-wear on the streets of St. Louis or anywhere else in the world. We want our customers to love coming in to shop and look forward to booking their next return trip.”
Several factors went into the Pop Local judging process, such as the merit and quality of the application; how the business fits into the current merchandise mix at The Boulevard; and the potential for the winning business to stay on as a part of The Boulevard community after the initial three months.
Additionally, each of the top finalists participated in personal interviews with a panel of judges, as well as a retail day where they spoke with the public at the shopping center’s Sunday Farmers Market, according to the press release.
"We continue to be amazed by the incredible response to Pop Local at The Boulevard," Ramzi Hassan said, president of Edwards Realty Company.
"We have seen through the application process how impressive the St. Louis small business community is. While it was difficult to narrow down such a talented group of applicants, we are confident that LoveLaunch will thrive as a brick-and-mortar business and complement the Boulevard greatly. We look forward to supporting their growth and success through Pop Local at The Boulevard Shopping Center.”
For more information about Pop Local, visit the organization’s website.