Westport boutique owner finds success through local support
Annette Norton made a difficult choice at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic as businesses slowly started to reopen.
Norton, owner of Savvy + Grace on Main Street in Westport, decided to stay closed a few more weeks to be cautious.
“It was still new, and people weren’t really sure how it was transmitting,” she said of her choice. “I think because of the unknowns I said to myself ‘I’ve been closed this long, another 14 days isn’t going to make a difference.’”
Norton said she felt peace of mind when state officials later revealed the spread of the virus was
not being seen in retail stores or schools being opened.
Norton said she recruited
her two daughters to help her throughout the holidays. And with their help Savvy + Grace saw its most successful holiday season, she said.
“The thing that really stands out to me as a businessperson, and especially a small businessperson, is how much the community cares about their businesses in town,” she said. “They made a conscious effort this holiday season to come out and support us and I can’t thank them enough for that.”
She said the emphasis put on shopping local throughout the pandemic has been terrific.
The business, which has been open for four years, offers a wide array of clothes, jewelry and accessories, and more. But Norton said the pandemic forced her to be innovative, which led to her creating an e-commerce website.
“Initially I felt like a deer with the headlights on,” she said, adding she initially felt her business may be done due to the pandemic. “I had a website, but not one you could purchase off of. It forced me to get up to date on what people really like.”
She also started creating gift baskets, Norton said, garnering over 100 orders when she first started during Easter. She added people are still asking for curbside delivery of the baskets.
“It’s actually turned into this thing that I’ve actually gotten really charged up about,” Norton
said. “I go online and think my baskets are better than anyone’s — I didn’t even know I had that talent.”
Norton said the pandemic may have given her and the community a newfound respect on what really matters — the people you love and interacting with them. She said during the holidays she saw shoppers run into people they may not have even seen in years.
“Next thing you know you get that warm and cozy feeling,” Norton said. “Really that’s what life is all about — connecting with other people.”