GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — In this week’s “Behind the Business,” we’re in Gulfport where one business has been a part of very special moments like “I do” for decades.
While ownership of Bridal and Formal Boutique & House of Tux has changed over the years, the commitment to making clients feel and look their best has not.
For nearly three decades, Adrian Holland has helped thousands of brides say yes to the dress— an experience she describes as nothing other than love at first sight.
“It’s so rewarding when a bride finds that dress and she shares that experience with her family, and she has that cry and that special moment,” Holland said. “It really is super special.”
Holland and her husband became owners of Bridal and Formal Boutique & House of Tux in 2003. However, Holland’s first encounter with the business was in 1998.
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“I came in with my baby sister looking for a prom dress and I said, ‘It would be so cool to work here.’ So, she gave me an application, and two weeks later she had not called me,” Holland said. “I called her and was like, ‘Hi I was following up on my application,’ and she said, ‘I should have called you yesterday. Can you start tomorrow?’”
Business has been on a steady climb over the years, causing the boutique to expand its store space and inventory.
“We did not start in this building. We started two blocks from here, east of here, in a much smaller space,” Holland said. “When we began about 10 years ago in this space, it was super scary. We went from 2,500 square feet to 12,000 square feet. Two bridal rooms to four bridal rooms, and we didn’t know if we would fill it up. Didn’t know if we could pay the mortgage, and that first year we broke every record we ever had.”
Holland said she believes every store has its own personality, based on the owner and the employees who work there.
“We buy as a team. So everything is not just mine and my husband’s opinions on what we put in here,” Holland said. “We involve our employees as well because they help customers.”
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Holland said she and her team try to stay up to date on trends so that customers find exactly what they’re looking for— and keep coming back.
“We travel two times a year, and I also travel out-of-state for bridal shows two times a year,” Holland said. “We try to stay relevant and make sure we’re up to date with fashion week and all the trends to make sure you have them here in Gulfport.”
If you’d like to view any of the bridal collections at Bridal and Formal Boutique & House of Tux, you must make an appointment. For homecoming dresses and other selections, walk-ins are welcome.
See more on their website.
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