Among a display of funky, colorful keychains on the front counter of the Cottage Boutique, a gift shop located at 543 East Elk Avenue in downtown Elizabethton, is one that could sum up owner Sherrie Horne’s philosophy of life.
It reads: “Don’t look back. You’re not going that way.”
Last fall, Horne made some big decisions about her future and she put her past, well, in the past.
She had worked in another profession all her adult life. But in October 2014, she took a leap of faith. She left her job and stayed home for a while. For several months, she talked with her husband and her mother about her dream of having her own business.
“I’ve been a nurse all my life,” Horne said. “But healthcare has changed a lot and the time was right for a change. I loved being a nurse, but this has been my dream for the past 10 years, so the time was right for a change. I was ready to switch gears and jump in.”
Horne’s mother, Debbie Estep, is also a big part of the business and Horne credits her for helping her make the transition.
“We would walk downtown and window shop,” Horne said. “We got to know a lot of the shop owners. Downtown has that family feel and we wanted to be part of that.”
It was March when Horne and Estep really started thinking seriously about starting the business. “I thought about it, prayed really hard and things fell into place,” Horne said. “It seemed that the right people were put in our path.”
“When that would happen, we would look at each other and say, ‘Do you believe this?’” she added.
So, in April, Horne rented a space on Armed Forces Drive and opened Cottage Boutique.
But things didn’t work out quite the way she expected.
“It was a harsh learning experience,” she said. “I learned you can’t always count on getting orders as scheduled. We opened for business with a table full of lotion. That’s all…just lotion.”
However Horne’s inventory soon started rolling in — unique clothing, accessories, jewelry, art, candles, home decor and more. Then she realized she had made another mistake — her space was too small.
So, after just a couple of months as a new business owner, Horne found herself facing another big decision — she had to move.
She decided on a new location and moved Cottage Boutique to its new home at 543 East Elk Avenue in June. Shop hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
“We love the downtown and wanted to bring something unique,” Horne said. “I’d love to see our downtown be the first place people think of when they need something.”
Of course, Horne is hoping shoppers will visit Cottage Boutique where they can a variety of items priced from $5 to $50.
“We pride ourselves on have unique items you can’t find everywhere, “ Horne said.
“But we order things that are of good quality. Just because something is inexpensive, doesn’t mean it is cheap.”
Right now, Cottage Boutique is in full holiday mode. The shop is filled with flameless and unscented chapel candles, Greenwich Bay Trading Company lotions in fragrances as varied as ginger lily cucumber, cranberry chestnut, fresh holly and peppermint. There are robes, scarves, wall art, personalized gift baskets and home décor.
Horne’s mother, Debbie Estep, helps with the shop every day.
“She is very creative,” Horne said, adding that her mother designs and creates wreaths and bows sold in the shop.
Another special item for the holidays is the “No Strings Attached” apron line – something new, Horne says.
“It has a unique covered wire waist that allows the wearer to put it on and take it off as easily as putting on and taking off a headband,” she added.
The shop also specializes in baby, wedding and bridal shower gifts, all at reasonable prices.
“Our goal is, that if you come in with $20, needing to buy a gift for someone, we can help you find something,” Horne said. “We are all about helping our customers.”
To underscore her business philosophy, Horne shared one of her favorite quotes.
“Mother Teresa said, ‘Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier,” Horne said. “That’s what we like to make happen for everyone who visits us here at Cottage Boutique.”
For more information about Cottage Boutique, contact Sherrie Horne, 423.773.6226 or visit them on Facebook.