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Missy Richeal

616.355.1433

HOLLAND BRIDAL BOUTIQUE ADDS SPECIALTY GOWN DESIGNER

HOLLAND, MI, January 21, 2013 — “We’ve been consistently adding more designers to our bridal collection for some time,” says Tami Parks. “But adding the Shannon Gales Collection has truly been an accomplishment near to my heart. Not only is Shannon a local West Michigan gown designer, but her gowns are also manufactured right here in Michigan. We are thrilled with this opportunity to align our companies.”

Owner of September’s Bride in Holland, Michigan, Tami Parks, is passionate about all aspects of the bridal industry and it shows by looking inside her downtown boutique. From designer gowns, bridesmaids and mothers dresses to tuxedos and custom jewelry, the boutique has made itself a bridal destination since opening in 2007.

“I’ve been custom designing wedding gowns for over 20 years,” explains Shannon Gales, owner of Vue Designs. “The Shannon Gales Collection represents a niche in the West Michigan bridal market that has been missing for some time and I’m excited at the opportunity to bring this collection to my exclusive retailer, September’s Bride in Holland.”

Shannon credits her love and passion for textiles and fabric from early childhood. She is known for her unique ability to mend the very vintage and modern look together in one piece. One of Gales’s designs was recently featured in Pacific Weddings Magazine. The writer described the gown as “…at once vintage and very of the moment.”

Brides will have the opportunity to meet Ms. Gales in person at September’s Bride from January 31 – February 2, 2013. She will be available for personal appointments and consultations during this time. If interested, visitors are encouraged to call the boutique at 616-355-1433 or e-mail to schedule an appointment with Shannon as space is limited.

Besides the new Shannon Gales Bridal Collection, September’s Bride carries several other gown designers. The Callista line for curvy brides, Blue by Enzoani and most recently the Robert Bullock Collection are some of the newest to have been added. Other designers the boutique carries are Maggie Sottero, an award-winning designer based out of Salt Lake City, well-known designer Casablanca Bridal, and SB is also the exclusive retailer in Michigan for Stephanie James Couture gowns that are only made in America.

ABOUT SEPTEMBER’S BRIDE (SB): Located in the historic downtown district of Holland, Michigan, September’s Bride opened in September of 2007. The boutique houses a unique collection of special occasion and bridal apparel from wedding gowns, to bridesmaids’ and mothers’ dresses to gorgeous jewelry and accessories. Contemporary tuxedo styles are also available for men. The salon’s vintage glam decor provides a perfect environment where the bridal consultants offer you personalized and dedicated service. Destination or traditional brides will delight in viewing and trying on gowns ranging from elegant and glamorous, modern and chic to classic and feminine. Brides will find their dream gowns at September’s Bride within their price-range and size without sacrificing personal attention and service. Visit their web site at www.septembersbride.com or call 616.355.1433.

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We are very excited to announce the coming of SB & Beyond…

Catering to savvy fashionistas and green brides alike, SB & Beyond is an upscale bridal and formal consignment boutique by September’s Bride.  Shop in a clean and cozy boutique atmosphere for a once-loved quality gown for your special event, prom, or wedding.

Our team has been planning, working, painting, and excitedly sharing about this new venture.

Prom gowns, formals, and of course wedding gowns will be offered in a lovely shopping environment located in the lower level of September’s Bride.  Formals will start at $59 and wedding gowns at $199!  All gowns will be clean and in lovely condition.

Our Vintage Couture collection will also be housed in this area.  We will also offer one-of-a-kind bridal accessories such as veils, hairpieces, and jewelry.

For more information or press inquiries, contact jessica@septembersbride.com.

The September’s Bride store was featured in an industry publication this month!  Here is the excerpt from VOWS Magazine:

Just as economic wrath began to unleash itself upon the nation in the summer of 2007, the owner of a bridal store in Holland, Michigan walked out of her shop, locked the doors, and never returned.

For three months, the business – wedding dresses and all – sat untouched.  That is until the building’s landlord, eager to rid himself of the inventory and secure new tenancy, phoned Tami Parks with a pointed question: still interested?

Months earlier, the store’s original owner had floated the idea of selling and Parks, who had been running her own gown preservation business and counted the Holland bridal shop as one of her clients, had inquired.

“At that time, the price she wanted just wasn’t what we were willing to pay,” Parks says.

Yet, in the fall of 2007, following the previous owner’s quizzical departure, Parks found opportunity knocking again.  The landlord’s appeal included discounted rent and a price on the business and inventory that was one-sixth of what the previous owner had initially requested.

Parks jumped on the deal and the chance to rebrand and reopen the 3,500-square foot, two-level store in downtown Holland, a southwestern Michigan city of 33,000.  Parks assigned the store  anew name – September’s Bride – and brought in new inventory to complement the two lines she elected to retain.

“With the gown preservation business, I had already dipped my toe into the bridal world, so this seemed like the next natural step,” Parks says.  “Plus, the store’s closure left a void in town.”

As a core business practice, September’s Bride does not operate on debt.  Parks bought the business and continues to purchase its inventory on a cash-only basis.

“If we don’t have the money, then we don’t do it,” says Parks, who also utilizes barter to keep cash on hand.

September’s Bride carries five bridal lines priced form $800-$2000 as well as four bridesmaids’ lines, prom dresses, mother of the bride gowns, and flower girl dresses.  Parks also rents men’s formalwear and continues her gown preservation and restoration business.

Throughout its first two years, Parks says September’s Bride enjoyed “good, steady growth,” even as local customers began to spend more conservatively.  “It was scary, but I noticed that the businesses that were surviving had a good business plan and a strong culture of customer service,” Parks says.  “I recognized the absolute need to keep those core elements in place.”

Thanks to Parks’ resolute efforts and the business philosophy of carrying no debt, September’s Bride survivied the recessions harshest months.

Yet for a seven-month stretch beginning in November 2009 – the prime 2010 summer bridal selling season – SEptember’s Bride faced an unforeseen and demoralizing challenge.  A neighbor’s renovation project closed the sidewalk entrance to her store and turned her rear lot into a “mud pit.”  Parks lost nearly half her business as well as the momentum she had generated throughout 2008 and 2009.

“I felt as if we had made it through the worst of it in 2008 and 2009 before this project hit,” Parks says.

During the renovation project, the landlord reduced Parks’ rent, a fee that has been the same over the last four years.

“There’s a mutual trust and level of transparency that we’ve established with landlord, which is important for any start-up,” Parks says.  “He wants to keep us here and we want to be good tenants.”

Parks describes her nearly five-year business experience as a “roller coaster”.

“I’ve heard entrepreneurship is the only thing that can take someone from extreme fear to extreme joy in 30 seconds,” she says.  “That’s how it’s been at times.”

Even so, she’s remained single-minded and strategic.

As the recession gave further rise to the DIY bride, particularly on the accessories side, Parks searched for distinctive inventory and intensified customer-service efforts, thereby compelling bride to spend money for the store’s expertise.

“As brides have looked to save money, we’ve been deliberate in ramping up our marketing, purchasing and customer service to make sure the brides want to do their business with us,” says Parks, who served more than 200 brides in fiscal year 2011.

For Parks, the business remains an all-consuming enterprise, one that has both benefited from and been challenged by the nation’s economic woes.

“The recession actually allowed us to get our dream,”  she says.  “Now, it’s just keeping it.”

September’s Bride is Looking for a Part-Time Gown Consultant to Join Our Team!

Of course, we are not an ordinary bridal boutique, and we’re not looking for ordinary team members.
We’re looking for a polished, people-loving individual with sales experience who is aligned with our mission statement:

To offer beautiful, quality special-occasion wear in a manner that delights, serves, and blesses our customers, our co-workers, and our community.

We will:

Operate our business in a God-honoring way

Bless our employees and community as we are blessed

Treat each customer as they want to be treated

This is a part-time position. (12-18 hours/week)  Most hours will be in the afternoon and evening, and the successful candidate must be able to work at least 3 Saturdays a month in the boutique and attend our mandatory team meeting each Monday morning at 9:45 am.  Retail sales experience is desired.  Other skills that we would find beneficial include: hand-sewing, strong inter-personal skills, and knowledge of couture fashion.

Compensation will be based on experience; including a blend of hourly pay and commission.

If you feel this describes your ideal job and you’re ready to join a team that works hard, has fun, and seeks to bless each other and their customers, please send your resume to tami@septembersbride.com with “Resume Attached” in the subject line.

Check out our fun Fashion Show on youtube…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pro1Cf9_Aw&list=HL1340883871&feature=mh_lolz

Thanks to our videographers, Braeden Ellis & Santiago Murillo and to Stephanie James Couture

Tami was quoted in this article about Eco-Friendly Weddings in Shore Bride Magazine.  The article was written by Tricia Despres and appeared in the online edition of the magazine.

Tami was interviewed recently about trends and costs for Prom 2012.  Here’s the link to the article in the Holland Sentinel…

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1260495650/Pricey-proms-Teens-deal-with-costs-for-the-big-dance

Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists and September’s Bride is an approved vendor for the Green Bride Guide.

We offer ecologically-friendly and “green” cleaning and preservation processes, as well as sourcing as many local and American suppliers as possible.  We also enjoy restoring and restyling vintage and family gowns.

Our EVENTS by September’s Bride planners are always willing to help couples find other local “green” resources, as well.

All of these specialties allow us to service brides and grooms who are looking for “green” options for their wedding day.

Tami & Jeff Parks with Dave & Sharon Ramsey

EntreLeadership Master Series May 2011

Click here Dave Ramsey Show – SB EntreLeadership to listen to a short audio clip from the Dave Ramsey Show August 25, 2011 where he shares an inspiring story about SB owner, Tami Parks.

EVENTS by September’s Bride Lead Planner, Rachel Ramos, shares her tips for choosing a few fun custom foods for your wedding reception with Shore Bride.