DALTON, Ga. — The owners of Creative Sewing Children’s Boutique have persevered for three-plus decades through the local economy’s vicissitudes, the evolving tastes of consumers and a location change, so when an SUV plowed through the store’s front window this fall, it was only another opportunity to overcome an obstacle.

Nancy Dailey and Jane Smith reopened in a new location in Bry-Man’s Plaza North earlier this month, and they’re poised to conduct their 32nd annual Super Bowl sale on Sunday. 

“A unique sale for us, it’s kind of a customer appreciation, and it’s just grown,” Smith said. “It is busy and crowded.”

The store is typically open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday while being closed on Sunday, but from 12:30 to 5 p.m. this Sunday, all items in the store will be 20% off, with all sale merchandize reduced an additional 20%, Smith said. “It’s a really good sale for the customer.”

“Spring and summer clothes are coming in every day,” she added. “There will be a good variety in here to pick from.” 

Dailey and Smith launched their business because operating their own shop afforded them more scheduling flexibility as they raised their families than did their teaching positions. 

“We each have our little jobs to do, and we work together really well,” Smith said. “We’re best friends.”

The store has remained viable for decades for several reasons, including commendable customer service, Smith said. “We try to treat people well, the way we would like to be treated.”

That they’ve displayed a keen sense for choosing clothing lines and shoes that “became popular” has also been beneficial, Smith said. “We watch the trends, and we read the trade magazines so we know what is coming.” 

In addition, “we’re very careful with what we offer” in the store, she said. “We’ve touched every” item of clothing, “we’ve felt every” accessory, and “we’ve read every book.”

Customers take comfort in knowing that, Dailey said. “They trust us.” 

After nearly two decades on Dug Gap Road, Children’s Boutique spent the past dozen years on Emery Street, but Dailey and Smith had been planning the move to Bry-Man’s Plaza North even before the accident in early September of 2019, Smith said. “We’d been looking for a larger location, but this space had been empty for years, so we couldn’t move in (immediately following the accident) because it needed a full renovation.” 

The SUV crashed deeply into the shop before stopping, so two of the store’s three rooms sustained damage, but, even worse, Smith was also injured, she said. “I feel lucky to be alive.”

“I can’t tell you how scary it was,” she added. “It happened so fast.”

She is “thankful” others weren’t hurt, she said. The shop often is full of customers, including children, but it was the morning after Labor Day, so foot traffic was minimal.

“It could have been a lot worse,” she said. “We’re really grateful no one else was injured.”

Smith was also heartbroken she couldn’t help her longtime business partner with the cleanup effort, she said. “We usually share everything, but she had to do it all.”

Dailey was steadfast in the face of adversity.

“I went to work every day,” she said. “You’ve just got to do what you have to do.” 

Dailey “had to pack up the entire store,” and the shop was closed for five weeks during perhaps “our busiest time of year,” but they reopened the following month, Smith said. “We just want to thank our friends and family for their help, (because) we couldn’t have done it without them.” 

They then closed at the end of December for a week to make the move to the new locale and officially opened on Jan. 6.

“We love it,” Smith said. “Plaza management has been really kind to us, our neighbors are nice, and it’s a happy place.” 

They also have twice the space than in their former location, Dailey said. That’s enhanced visibility for several items that were more inconspicuous previously, such as shoes and toys. 

“It’s just more open here,” Smith said. “There’s more room, and strollers can get around better.” 

Evolution has been constant for the Children’s Boutique, Dailey said. “The first year in business, we made everything.” 

They also focused more on sewing, fabrics and laces, Smith said. When America’s economy slipped into the Great Recession in 2008, the store transitioned to ready-made clothing in response to customer demand. 

Children’s Boutique offers “clothes, gifts and (other) items everybody loves,” Dailey said. Sizes for play and dress clothes range from premature babies to size 5 for boys and size 12 for girls.

“If we specialize in something, it would probably be (items) for babies,” Smith said.

Often, mothers who wore and played with items from the store as children will shop for their own offspring, which provides the shop a multigenerational impact.

“We like to hold the babies and love on the kids,” when parents bring their children to the boutique, Smith said. “That’s the best part of our job.”