The timing may not have been ideal for Brooke Thomas to open a boutique in downtown Aiken. She signed the lease on her Laurens Street shop in March 2020, right before the pandemic shut everything down, but she used the downtime to complete renovations. A few months later, when shoppers began to venture out, Ginger Bee Boutique was ready.
Ever since, there has been a hive of activity at her shop. Even at the age of 24, Thomas was ready for that as well. She has a passion for fashion and business.
“As a sophomore at the USC Aiken majoring in Business Management, I started making jewelry,” she explained. “It started as a side hustle, but then friends started asking me to make something for them. From there, I started selling my creations at local markets.”
Thomas felt there was a need for a local boutique that offered clothing, jewelry, handbags, and other gift items. Growing up in the age of social media has also worked to her advantage.
“I plan ahead for social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok,” she said. “I post about new arrivals every Friday at 11 a.m. Posting on a schedule creates demand.”
You can take that for what it’s worth, but Thomas’s age group knows social media and how to utilize it to accomplish a goal. The age of her main customer base is 18 to 35 years old but “we have customers from 55 to 85 also, because fashion has no age limit.”
The name of her shop, Ginger Bee, comes in part from her red hair plus the fact that her mom always said she was a busy bee growing up. Her mom, Sheila Thomas, is a contractor and CEO/ Co-Founder of the Pinnacle Specialty Group and inspired Brooke’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“Watching my mom work so hard and pave the way for other women in business inspired me to do the same, but leave my own mark,” she said.
Women of all ages like to shop. Whether it’s buying a new outfit for an event or searching for jewelry or other accessories. One of Ginger Bee Boutique’s biggest sellers is a triangle purse.
Thomas is looking at adding plus sizes to her clothing line and she’s also exploring other options for her next business venture.
“In the next few years, I’m hoping to open an event venue to cater to a specific market of fashion,” she said.
One of the most famous gingers (or redheads) in history was Lucille Ball. She made us laugh but was also an astute businesswoman who said, “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Lucy, meet Brooke Thomas.
You can meet Thomas six days a week at her shop or check out her line of clothing and accessories on her website or Facebook.
