Margaret “Peggy” O’Connor-Govett will open Girls in Pearls, a new women’s clothing boutique at 1016 Main St. in downtown Stevens Point Friday, Sept. 7.
“It’s a mid- to high-end women’s apparel and accessories store, with a focus on quality and service,” she said. “Really, what a boutique is is a small shop. It’s a personal store. What you find here is not something you can find in a big box store.”
The store, which bills itself as “timeless clothing, modern frippery,” has everything from clothes to candles, jewelry and reading glasses. “I carry a lot of fun accessories,” said O’Connor-Govett. “Frippery is adornment.”
The store was named by O’Connor-Govett and husband Bob Govett’s three daughters. It is a reference to the strand of pearls each received as a gift from their father. “My daughters came up with the name,” said O’Connor-Govett. “I thought it was a fitting tribute.”
Before moving to Stevens Point from North Carolina in 1991, O’Connor-Govett worked in boutiques and helped friends with their boutiques. She worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for many years here, but always harbored the dream of starting her own boutique. She got some additional inspiration from her sister, Kate O’Connor, who lives in Marietta, Ga. “She worked as a designer for many years,” said O’Connor-Govett. “She’s been a big, big inspiration.”
The sisters did a lot of the initial purchasing for the store in Georgia, with an eye toward bringing some new designer lines to the area. “Everything I bought, there’s a rhyme or reason,” said O’Connor-Govett. She said she went a classical route with her inventory choices, emphasizing unique high-quality items and individualized service. She said she is happy to help customers find the perfect outfit or item, or bring them different sizes or colors to try on. People can also feel free to browse on their own. “It depends on the level of service they’re looking for,” she said.
Girls in Pearls also plans to offer a delivery service and alterations. The store will only have a few of each item and keep its stock rotating regularly. “I have things coming in every week,” said O’Connor-Govett.
Two of her daughters also work in the fashion industry. “When I started wanting to do this, (my eldest daughter Shayna) said, ‘You’ve been preparing your whole life for this,” said O’Connor-Govett. “It’s a dream come true.”
Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Wednesday evenings the store will stay open late to 8 p.m. People can also make appointments. The store phone is 715-345-7819. More information can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GirlsInPearlsBoutique.
