Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

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B ack in 2008, Tracy MacKellar’s teenage daughter made an observation at her
high school dance that would lead to a new life purpose – and a career in
fashion – for the two of them.
“She noticed some students hadn’t gone to the dance because they had
nothing to wear,” MacKellar explained. “We wanted to do something about it, so we
reached out to family and friends to collect donated dresses.”
The response from the community was “overwhelming,” according to MacKellar,
and, with that, Couture Girls Closet was born, a nonprofit
boutique that migrated from their family living room in
California to a 1,500-square-foot space.
“Even before the nonprofit experience, my husband and I have always had our own
businesses,” MacKellar explained. “We owned a pharmacy in California.”
Eventually, MacKellar and her family moved to the Lowcountry, and the concept for
Couture Girls Closet moved with them. The boutique is now locally operated by The
Assistance League, and MacKellar, true to her new love for fashion, opened MODE in
Mount Pleasant in July of 2015, following research on . She liked how
MODE specialized in fashion for all women, carrying nothing over $50 and sizes 0-24.
Since last summer, business at MODE has been smooth sailing, andMacKellar enjoys
offering “designer fashion for less” to local ladies. Her future plans for MODE include opening
a second location, likely in Summerville, as well as a third inWest Ashley. But she assuredme that
she’s taking it slowly, building clientele and reputation in the community through hard work.
“My advice to other women hoping to open a clothing boutique is to do the
research,” she emphasized. “Know your demographics, your price points and location.
Also, get a great manager. Personalized customer service is important.”
Tracy
MacKellar
MODE of Mount Pleasant
976 Houston Northcutt, Suite M
Mount Pleasant
843-284-8977
Photo by Jenn Cady.
By DenIse K. JaMes
/modemtpleasant
976 Houston Northcutt Ste. M, Mt. Pleasant, SC
| Next to Smoothie King
Home of the $40 Designer Jean
Head-to-toe
designer fashion
for under $100
*get an entire outfit for less than $100
Sizes 0 - 22
Accessories
$4.99 - $14.99
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