As the summer season approaches, businesses in downtown Port Huron are gearing up to welcome new customers and reconnect with regulars. Audacious business owner Michele Radle-Seib decided to pursue her second downtown business venture with the newly opened
Divine Designs Downtown.
Before opening, Seib started her prior downtown business,
Shear Karma Hair Gallery which has been in business for over a decade. Looking to venture into a new business arena, she decided to try her hand at the retail industry.
“After working at the salon for over ten years, and being a hairdresser for over 35 years, it has started to take a toll on me physically. About a year ago I started a pilot boutique inside of Shear Karma and it went over really well with our clients. Many of them said they missed being able to come downtown and shop for affordable clothes, being able to touch, feel, and try on the clothes is a much better experience for some as opposed to ordering clothes online,” Seib says. “I sat with the idea for about six months before I decided to pull the trigger on starting Divine Designs, but I am still at the salon three days a week.”
Women's clothing section inside Devine Designs Downtown
When asked about her plans to continue doing hair or transitioning to focus solely on retail, Seib’s passion as a hairdresser is hard for her to let go.
“I have thought about leaving the world of hair styling behind, but I love doing hair too much to give it up just yet, but right now with my three-day schedule at the salon it allows me to rest my body and recover, as opposed to working every day in that environment,” Seib says.
Divine Designs Downtown opened to the public on March 1, ranging from men's, women's, and children’s clothing. Along with clothes, they also carry jewelry, handbags, watches, hats, candles, and other accessories like earrings. They provide stylish designs for a variety of individuals.
Seib sets herself apart from other retail stores and boutiques by offering patrons lower prices on her inventory.
Earrings and bracelets at Devine Designs Downtown.
“I believe our price point is what will bring in customers and keep them coming back,” Seib says. “The downtown area desperately needs to be repopulated with stores of all kinds so that we can all prosper as a community, and hopefully our store will be a destination for future shoppers in the area.”
With Seib’s track record of running a successful business downtown for over a decade, Divine Designs Downtown has a hopeful future.
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