Photograph courtesy of Mallarie Zimmer
Mallarie Zimmer, executive director of the non-profit boutique Rung (9739 Manchester Road, 314-918-0575), discusses business, the new personal shopper program, and styles for spring:
Tell me about Rung’s target market.
Our target market is definitely women between the ages of 23 and 53. It’s a pretty wide range. The boutique is a place to dress for your career or future career, client meetings, interviews, etc.
I know Rung donates 100 percent of its net profits to the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. How does being a non-profit influence your operations?
Our customers have a different level of feeling good. They look good, but they also feel like they are contributing to a good cause. Most of our shoppers are also donors, so it’s full circle. When they donate their best items, they keep their closets clean and help outfit others. This giving and taking makes us quite unique.
Has your business changed at all since Rung opened in 2010?
A little. We’ve broadened our focus from professional attire. We now carry jeans to formalwear. You might need a cocktail dress for a happy hour, but someone else may need to go to a baseball game with a client. We’ve been successful with neighborhood shoppers in Rock Hill, but we are also concentrating on getting donors and shoppers from other areas of metro St. Louis.
What kinds of donations are you currently seeking?
Right now we are specifically looking for spring attire like skirts, jackets, sweaters, and jeans. We are also looking for accessories because they are one of the hardest things to get. People just don’t think of them. Now through the end of February, donors will get 20 percent off their next purchase for donating spring attire.
I know you recently launched a personal shopping experience. How did that come about?
We like to be personal shoppers for our customers. We have a close connection with some clients and know their tastes. It was suggested that we make this service available to everyone. If you fill out a profile, including colors you like to wear and sizes, you can schedule a one-hour appointment with our personal shoppers. We’ll fill a room with selections we think you’ll like. The cost is $25, but that applies to your purchase. It’s a great service for really busy women because we do the choosing for you. You don’t need to go through every rack. It’s one of our favorite things to do because it’s more fun to shop for others than for yourself.
Your website mentions that you have a resident jewelry designer.
Yes. One of our sales associates is a jewelry designer. About six months ago, we started carrying her items, which are one-of-a-kind and very unique. We’re hoping that other artists will come to us as well. The resale shopper tends to prefer things that you can’t find at the mall.
In fact, on Saturday, February 4, we are holding a group art sale. Five or six local artists will be selling their items from 2 to 9 pm. It’s a little of everything: mixed media, photography, ceramics, jewelry. We’re excited because we’ve never done this before.
Do you have any spring style tips for our readers?
Pay attention to jewel tones right now. From my few years in fashion, I’ve found that both the industry and shoppers are ready to see color. Watch for royal blue, red, and kelly green. Color helps elevate the mood as we get through the winter and into spring.
