Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Ouyoumjian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our tagline is “Smile, Baby,” and our name—”Sonrisa,” means “smile” in Spanish— perfectly captures our mission to spread joy through unique, globally sourced treasures. We want everyone to feel as vibrant and special as the items we bring to our store.
Me and my two daughters—Madeleine and Morgan— have poured our hearts into selecting pieces that tell a story, celebrate the beauty of different cultures, and make people smile. From the lively markets of Mexico City to the artisans in Brazil and India, we want our customers to experience that same joy and connection. We hope to serve as both a shopping destination and a community hub with a global impact.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have over 30 years of global travel and experience in the advertising world, and have always used fashion to make powerful, feminine statements.
Often unable to find the unique pieces I sought in the U.S., I began sourcing my style from places like Italy, France, and Mexico. Now, I bring that same passion for standout fashion to Sonrisa Boutique.

We opened Sonrisa Boutique in September of 2024 with the mission to bring handmade, sustainable goods from around the world to Fayetteville. We wanted to transform the interior into a colorful, inviting space that feels like stepping into one of the world’s most vibrant markets. With handcrafted treasures from silver artisans in Taxco, leather craftsmen in Guanajuato, bejeweled dresses from India, and handbags from Italy, every item reflects the mine and my daughter’s commitment to bringing beautiful, sustainable fashion to Fayetteville.

We want to be much more than just a store for our community. Since opening our doors, I have made it one of my primary goals to connect with other local businesses and artists. One of our most successful events has actually been our local makers markets that we now call “SonrisaFest.” We provide a free space for local makers, artists, creatives, and musicians to not only sell their goods and get exposure, but also to connect with each other and the community they serve.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I value truly connecting and engaging with my customers and clients. In the store, we all often find ourselves getting caught up in seemingly random conversations with customers because the store is founded on that connection. One of my favorite parts of owning the store is hearing people’s stories and helping them find pieces that really resonate with them. I think it is that dedication to connection and community that brings our loyal customers back time and time again.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Definitely our markets! We initially started with a holiday market called “Jingle and Mingle,” where we provided spaces for local vendors and free drinks. We got quite a bit of traffic because people were looking for gifts and then they were introduced to Sonrisa. This is how we began to develop a lot of our connections with local vendors and other business owners. We had never done anything like it and it became our most successful sales days and a great way to make customer connections. After that, we hosted spring and now summer markets and this what really brings people in.
We put a large portion of our promotional material into these markets because once someone comes to one, they are likely to come back and visit the next week. This space has offered such community connection where we can tell customers and vendors our mission and story and with that, many of them continue to spread the word. Our loyal customers are our best promoters. Zero cost to us, just people who felt connected to us and our mission who spread the word out of their own passion for this space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sonrisaboutique.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonrisaboutiquenwa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonrisaBoutiqueNWA/
• Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sonrisa-boutique-96167461783