Name of business: Hazel James
Type of business: Women’s boutique
Location: 325 S. Center St., Turlock
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Contact information: 209-882-6021; [email protected];
@shophazeljames on Instagram
Specialty: Affordable, trendy clothing
History of business:
Tiffany Karam has always exhibited a flair for
fashion, and now the Turlock resident is sharing some of her favorite
contemporary styles with the community at her new downtown boutique Hazel
James.
The shop celebrated its grand opening on
Saturday and is a dream come true, Karam said, since owning her own boutique
had previously seemed like an unattainable goal. When her husband Chris Karam’s
business, Cen Cal Detailing, moved into a location in downtown Turlock last
summer, she jumped at the opportunity to utilize the property’s unused space.
Now, those who bring their cars to Cen Cal
Detailing can peruse the racks of stylish clothing and affordable gifts at
Hazel James, and shoppers who frequent the downtown core have another stop to
add to their lists.
“I’ve always wanted to have a boutique — I
just never thought I would be able to do it because rent is so expensive if you
want to have a shop downtown…it worked out so that I’m able to help him with
his business but also have my own business here,” Karam said. “It’s nice that I
get to see him all day.”
From women’s clothing, jewelry and other
accessories to candles, bath bombs and coffee mugs, Hazel James offers plenty
of affordable options whether you’re looking for a gift or something to spark a
little self-care. Sharing a space with Cen Cal Detailing allows Karam to save
on rent, meaning items sold at Hazel James don’t undergo the same markups in
price as products in other stores.
“Even jewelry-wise, I’ll try to find
wholesalers who have reasonably-priced jewelry so customers aren’t spending
$100 when they could be spending $30 on a necklace,” she said.
Karam finds pieces for Hazel James from
high-quality, wholesale websites, she added, and often tries to find items that
aren’t offered anywhere else. On Instagram, she encourages customers to share
their looks using the hashtag #hazeljamesbabe.
“I definitely try to find things I would wear
myself…I just try to find stuff I think is really cute,” Karam said.
Though it’s only been a few days since Hazel
James opened, Karam is enjoying time spent meeting new customers and seeing
community members appreciate the items she’s hand-selected. For others thinking
about opening their own shops, she shared some advice.
“It’s always worth taking that risk. You never
know if it’s going to work out, so just go for it,” she said. “If it doesn’t
work, then at least you tried.”
