We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Avant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

From the beginning of Mayfair, I knew it had to be a very personal reflection of my own creativity, and a place that brings delight to all who enter. For over twenty-five years, some of my best customers still visit, and now with children and grandchildren. When someone reminisces about a handmade item purchased long ago at my shop, it brings me the deepest feeling of contentment. Artfully blending the things that I make myself with trendy new items keeps the store very unique, and different from my competitors.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Even as a nine or ten year old child, I knew I wanted my own shop. The vision was very nostalgic in nature, with beautiful ribbons and hats, lovely dresses and things I make. Today, the boutique is bursting with floral and feminine dresses, sparkling hair accessories and all kinds of hats. I design and make the greeting cards, some from images of my own paintings that have sold along the way. There are flowered cigar box keepsake holders, romantic brocade and lace bags, fancy ruffled umbrellas from England, and purse mirrors, crowns and always wonderful costume jewelry.

But the real fun is during holiday seasons, especially Christmas, when I create charming vintage inspired frames and wreaths. The store takes on even more glitter and looks as if The Sugar Plum Fairy resides here! Halloween, Valentines and Easter all get their moments in the spotlight as well.

With everyone having access to many of the same sources, I love adding my own designs to ensure exclusivity. And of course, the charm of a 100 year old building in a historic area adds to the vintage allure.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I felt fear in my heart during Covid when I arrived at my store to find our entire center with bright papers taped to our doors telling us not to open, except for the chiropractor. I was so worried about how to function, especially since I am not a big online type of business. Mayfair is all about the brick and mortar interaction.
I regrouped quickly and made a big sign to put out front reading, CURBSIDE (and the phone #)
I had begun posting on social media about certain gifts that could be wrapped beautifully and delivered to the customer’s car in front of my store. Then the sewing of masks began in full force. I began using all my stash of cotton fabrics and found an online source for elastic. I sewed all day and every evening making fun and fashionable masks, even matching headbands to them, and posting photos. People started asking for them by the dozens, and it literally made some of my highest sales months ever. Before the dust settled, I had made somewhere around 7500 masks, and they actually helped save my business until things normalized again.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I love the personal touch of a small business. It seems so important to be present, and to put a personality with your products. Putting myself out there on social media over these last few years has taken nerve, but it really seems to work! I shamelessly post photos of myself wearing many of the dresses, (and try not to bombard,) but to keep a steady reminder of what is in store, I really don’t have full time employees, just myself, a one woman show. So selfies feel silly, but they show that you don’t have to necessarily be 30 to wear cute things. Of course, it is sometimes a challenge to build traffic, but slow and steady sometimes wins the race. My followers on social media are mostly real customers or other kindred spirits who really respond well and lift me up in my endeavor.
I think I am the most proud of my customers, of any other accomplishments. It’s the most wonderful group, spanning all ages, most who become the best of friends.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: mayfairontheblvd
• Facebook: Mayfair on the Boulevard

Image Credits

All photos Rebecca Avant.