By 2014, she and her husband, Adam Correia, a veteran, decided to launch Bling It! Boutique. They ran the business from their home until they moved to a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Grapevine in 2017. They soon outgrew that spot and moved to a new location in their hometown of Colleyville a year later. In November 2021, they made another move across town to their current location on Cheek Sparger Road. Correia said her business began with bows but branched into making tutus, then shirts.
“We really got into shirts and rhinestones,” she said. “My daughter was a dancer, so we did a lot of rhinestones.”
Rhinestone shirts have faded in popularity over time, she said, and vinyl, embroidery and screen printing have taken center stage. However, the shop still fills orders for rhinestone-bedazzled shoes for weddings and other special occasions.
Most customers these days order spirit wear, Correia said. The shop works with local schools to design and fulfill orders. PTAs and coaches use Bling It! Boutique to run fundraisers via online stores.
If customers need artwork, either Correia or operations manager Brandie Holder can create the design they have in mind.
An average day for Correia includes holding a morning staff meeting, answering phone calls, setting up contracts, ordering supplies, filling orders, doing accounting, unpacking from the recent move and helping customers.
Correia said one order made her cry. The customer asked her to design a flag that included suicide prevention awareness information after a friend committed suicide. The customer took a picture of himself with the flag atop Mt. Everest and requested donations for the initiative. He texted the photo to Correia.
“I was in the middle of Target and started crying,” she said.
Correia said her grandmother was a crafter, and she has fond memories of crafting with “Big Momma” while growing up.
“My favorite thing about owning this business is getting to craft every day,” she said. “It’s just fun.”
How to make a custom vinyl shirt
Step 1: Customer meets with representative to discuss project
Step 2: Customer provides any visual guidelines for the design
Step 3: Customer approves design, vinyl is cut on one of three plotters, and excess is trimmed from design
Step 4: Vinyl is pressed onto shirt via a heat press
Step 5: Prices for custom vinyl shirts range from $15-$25 and include design time.
Quantity discounts are available.
Bling It! Boutique, 1009 Cheek Sparger Road, Ste. 120, Colleyville
817-398-4046.
www.blingitboutiquetx.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. by appointment only, closed Sun.
