We were lucky to catch up with Geraldine Barclay-King recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Geraldine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
The concept of Geri’s Bluffing Boutique comes from Geraldine’s Liberian (West African) roots. The word “Bluffing” denotes the desire to not only “look good” but to “feel good”. It is used by Liberians to denote the use of fashion to project confidence and positivity, even when one might not be feeling their best.
It was during the pandemic that Geraldine developed the concept of a boutique that would deliver an uplifting experience to make a difference in a community that was finding it difficult to quote with the challenges of COVID-19. The idea was “Geri’s Bluffing Boutique”, a “feel good” retail shopping experience.
Geri’s Bluffing Boutique has become a welcome and unique shopping experience in downtown Woonsocket. The mission is to transform lives through fashion, art, and cultural education. Geraldine’s sense of style, event planning skills and background in Travel Tourism allows her the opportunity to create the ultimate retail experience. When visiting this Afro-Bohemian themed boutique, one will be invigorated with vibrant colors, unique styles, handmade fashion accessories, art pieces, music and customized gifts for all.
Geraldine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The concept of Geri’s Bluffing Boutique comes from Geraldine’s Liberian (West African) roots. The word “Bluffing” denotes the desire to not only “look good” but to “feel good”. It is used by Liberians to denote the use of fashion to project confidence and positivity, even when one might not be feeling their best.
It was during the pandemic that Geraldine developed the concept of a boutique that would deliver an uplifting experience to make a difference in a community that was finding it difficult to quote with the challenges of COVID-19. The idea was “Geri’s Bluffing Boutique”, a “feel good” retail shopping experience.
Geri’s Bluffing Boutique has become a welcome and unique shopping experience in downtown Woonsocket. The mission is to transform lives through fashion, art, and cultural education. Geraldine’s sense of style, event planning skills and background in Travel Tourism allows her the opportunity to create the ultimate retail experience. When visiting this Afro-Bohemian themed boutique, one will be invigorated with vibrant colors, unique styles, handmade fashion accessories, art pieces, music and customized gifts for all.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
The PIVOT: Expanding & Educationing
The City of Woonsocket is a beautifully diverse community. While current museums and historic areas thoroughly acknowledge and honor the City’s French-Canadian history, the stories of Africans, Latinos, Native peoples, Laotians, and so many of the other rich cultures that make up the City are either left out of the current offerings or briefly acknowledged during one history month or another. In fact 14% of current Woonsocket residents are foreign born and over 40% of residents are people of color. As a result, there is a need for more programming, events, and community gatherings that celebrate the histories, cultures, and languages of the 40+% of community members.
MY MIGRATION STORY
Migrated from Monrovia Liberia as a young child and has been a proud resident of Woonsocket for 25 years. During this time, Geraldine has witnessed the city evolve into a melting pot of BIPOC Americans, cohabiting in interdependent cultural heritage districts. In 2019, Geraldine visited her native country of Liberia, West Africa and wanted to share her experience of returning home after 37 years. The global pandemic and racial issues on the rise in 2020 was the prime time to share those experiences while giving back to the community. Geraldine recognized a pressing need to establish a space that would welcome and embrace people of all ethnicities. She envisioned a place where authentic products could serve as place where stories could be shared, uncomfortable conversations could take place and and a sense of community fostered.This vision materialized into the launch of GBB Cultural Connection, a dedicated space that goes beyond mere representation. It seeks to provide an inclusive environment for education, cross-cultural celebrations, and the cultivation of a deep sense of belonging among the diverse communities that constitute Woonsocket’s rich tapestry.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
THE J CURVE: Three years in, funding is low, business is slow and witnessing other businesses close and challenges are settling in. Geraldine was ready to throw the towel in and close it’s doors then a collaborative opportunity presents itself to meet the needs of a community in the following areas:
● Community Hub: GBBCC will formalize its position as a Community Hub in downtown Woonsocket, offering a space where residents can get relevant and critical information about health, housing, workforce, etc. as well as explore and celebrate the various cultures and languages in an inclusive, multicultural/multilingual, and safe environment. We recently acquired a space abutting the retail store of Geri’s Bluffing Boutique to provide workshops and gatherings and would need additional resources to ensure this space can accommodate future workshops, info sessions and events.
● Outreach & Community Engagement: Partner with key community institutions to reach target audiences that traditionally don’t have access to critical resources or opportunities to learn and engage by serving as a liaison between residents of Woonsocket and anchor institutions in Rhode Island, bringing in resources that have traditionally not engaged with the residents of Woonsocket.
● Promote Social and Cultural Diversity: GBBCC will bring community members together to build social networks, develop new relationships, share and showcase cultural and social traditions that are key to the makeup of Woonsocket. We will continue to grow cultural events organized to showcase the diversity of Woonsocket through block parties, fashion shows, art exhibitions, pop-ups and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.bluffingboutique.com
- Instagram: Geri’s Bluffing Boutique
- Facebook: Geri’s Bluffing Boutique
Image Credits
Wolfe Matthewson Seth Holme Rhode Island Magazine