By Ben Rodgers
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – There is a new clothing store in Suamico that offers shoppers casual, comfortable clothing in a boutique setting without the boutique hassle.
Willow Clothing Co. opened last month at 1756 Riverside Drive in Vickery Village across from Chives.
“You’re going to walk in and find things you love and you’re not going to break the bank buying them,” said Christine Herman, store owner.
Herman fills the inventory with clothing from small boutique wholesalers to find unique choices as well as items made by people in the Green Bay area.
“I’m not here to make a gazillion dollars,” she said. “I’m here to provide cute clothes for women.”
It was a long journey for Herman and her family to get Willow Clothing where it is now.
She previously worked at a large company in the area and left five years ago to spend more time with her son Brady, who was diagnosed with autism.
After Herman left her job and it was then she realized it was difficult to find comfortable, fashionable clothing that didn’t carry a brand name.
She also had some extra free time and began teaching art classes in Vickery Village.
Willow Clothing Co. is the combination of a need Herman saw for clothing and a location she enjoyed in Vickery Village.
“I used to teach art classes in Vickery Village but deep down it was always my dream to open a casual clothing store,” she said.
While Willow Clothing currently only carries women’s clothes, she eventually wants to take another leap and start her own clothing line, made by special needs individuals. That line will also include clothes for men and children.
“That’s always been the end goal in mind. That’s ultimately what we want to do,” Herman said.
But in the meantime she wants to work with shoppers in a pressure-free environment to help get them into casual and comfortable clothes.
“I get feedback from my customers and that’s what I base my orders on,” she said.
Inventory changes from week to week so there’s always something new at Willow Clothing.
The store currently has a variety of tops, leggings, jewelry, purses, accessories and Herman’s artwork hanging on the walls.
The village of Suamico has been great to work with and Vickery Village is the perfect place for Willow Clothing, she said.
“Slowly but surely this place is growing,” she said. “It’s becoming a unique shopping getaway to get away from the mall.”
Herman knows her circumstances to get where she is today are special and she said she could not have done the work she has without the support of her husband Kevin, as well as Brady and her other son Briley.
“It opened doors for us,” she said. “It’s not easy being a special needs parent but it made us take leaps we otherwise would not have taken.”
Willow Clothing Co. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
For more information follow them on Facebook at Willow Clothing Co.
Herman also welcomes any feedback or questions by calling the store at 301-3865 or by emailing her at [email protected].
“You’re going to come in and find local stuff, you’re going to find stuff you won’t find anywhere else,” she said.