Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Ayers and Rebecca Hall.
Laura and Rebecca are co-owners of Crush Boutique and Whitney + Winston, as well as lifelong friends. Growing up together on the Connecticut shoreline, Rebecca and Laura shared a childhood dream of opening a clothing boutique; a dream that they never lost sight of.
When Laura and Rebecca both moved to Boston post-college they fell in love with Boston as a city and Beacon Hill, specifically, as a neighborhood. They knew this was the perfect location to take a leap of faith and open their first retail store, Crush Boutique. Crush Boutique was launched in 2007 with a vision to bring a well curated collection of women’s clothing and accessories to Boston in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Customers are greeted by a knowledgeable sales staff who is always on hand to help find the perfect ensemble for all of life’s events. From casual-chic to elegant cocktail, Crush’s style can best be described as sophistication with a touch of whimsy.
Opening their second location of Crush Boutique on Newbury Street in 2012, Rebecca and Laura continue to evolve their business in order to change with the times and keep the Boston fashionista en vogue. Notably, Crush has been featured in InStyle, Lucky Magazine, Glamour UK, and Us Weekly. Additionally, Crush has received a number of Boston accolades; including several “Boston’s Best” awards from The Improper Bostonian and “Best of the New” from The Boston Globe.
In the fall of 2015, Rebecca and Laura wanted to expand their presence in Beacon Hill and opened Whitney + Winston, a fashionable lifestyle boutique, a half block from Crush’s Charles Street location. Named for Rebecca’s daughter and Laura’s corgi puppy, Whitney + Winston exudes a playful and airy, yet sophisticated, nature. Continuing the same exceptional customer service, the store is adorned with unique gifts and accessories. Whitney + Winston is the go-to stop for the perfect gifts for everyone, whether they walk on two legs or four. Credited by The Boston Globe as one of the “Best of the New” in the first year of business, Whitney + Winston is a fun new adventure for Laura and Rebecca that perfectly mirrors the newest stage in their lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We have been extremely fortunate in our business. That said, I don’t think there is any business owner out there who can say it’s always been a smooth road. Bumps along the way force us to constantly re-evaluate our business model and practices which makes us better at what we do. We have had hurdles such as staffing issues, an economic decline in 2009 and the rise of e-commerce that we have had to contend with but we are thrilled to say that today, Crush and Whitney + Winston are as successful as ever.
Please tell us about Crush Boutique.
From casual-chic to elegant cocktail, Crush’s style can best be described as sophistication with a touch of whimsy. We juxtapose up-and-coming designers like Maison de Papillon, Equipment and Yumi Kim with celebrity loved lines like Rails, Milly and Rebecca Minkoff, thus creating an unparalleled shopping experience.
What sets us apart most notably from other stores is our unmatched customer service and our handpicked collection. Every customer who walks through the door is greeted warmly and given a one on one shopping experience in a boutique setting. We carefully curate our collection which makes the product offerings extremely unique.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
We are happy with our stores and where we have ended up in terms of location and product offerings. We believe every step you take leads you to where you are today and there is nothing that we would change about the path we have taken; except maybe add a few more hours in a 24 hour day to get more done!
Contact Info:
- Address: Beacon Hill: 131 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
Back Bay: 264 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Whitney + Winston: 113 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114 - Website: www.shopcrushbouituqe.com
- Phone: 6177200010
- Email: laura@shopcrushboutique.com
- Instagram: @crushboutique
- Facebook: crushbouitque
- Twitter: @crushboutique
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