After the unexpected death of their father in 2015, sisters Rum Kep and Sona Chin said they decided to find a way to honor him by chasing their dreams.

Kep, the owner, and Chin, the manager, opened Sunny’s Boutique—named for their father—in Old Town Spring in 2016. After a year in business, the sisters decided to move north to Shenandoah in June 2017 where they could expand their shop and build a local clientele.

“We were inspired to start [Sunny’s Boutique] because our father passed away, and that kind of just woke me up because it was so unexpected,” Kep said. “When things like that happen, you just want to pursue your dreams, so that’s what we did.”

While the original location offered a variety of women’s clothing, accessories, home decor and handmade items crafted by Kep, the new location has a more focused inventory and features women’s clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, belts and scarves.

“At the old location, we had more bohemian styles, but at the new location we carry more shabby chic styles that you could wear casually or to work,” Kep said. “The clients here are totally different because Old Town Spring is mostly tourists, whereas here we have more local, repetitive customers. So we catered the new store to fit that customer profile.”

As the buyer for the boutique, Kep said she goes to the Dallas Market regularly to connect with new vendors, and she attends trunk shows to acquire unique pieces that she feels best suit her clientele.

“The pieces that you get at boutiques, you’re not going to be able to find at a big-box store,” Chin said. “You could get something similar, but it’s not going to have the same quality. When you go to a boutique, it’s always exclusive brands.”

The sisters said they also introduce new items to the shop on a weekly basis and carry clothing in sizes extra small to 3XL and shoes in sizes 5-10.

The shop also offers online ordering through its Facebook page, which allows customers to shop from home.

“We cater to basically everyone,” Chin said. “We try to accommodate all types of women because we want to make everyone feel beautiful—that’s my goal.”

The boutique has recently started doing pop-up shops, where the sisters can bring boutique items to a client’s event and guests can play games and shop without having to leave the party.

Kep said she is also planning to add a vintage clothing section this spring with pieces from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. The sisters are also looking to implement a rewards program in the future, however, the shop already offers a monthly promotion by email and has a daily sidewalk sale.

“I think our store is different because we’re honest,” Kep said. “I love selling a product, but I love our clients more and I want them to keep coming back. So if I see something that does not look good on them, I’ll tell them and help them find something that better compliments their shape.”

Kep said while many boutiques only carry one size in each style, she regularly reorders items upon client request.

“I just enjoy making people happy, period, and helping women, because I know that when I go shopping I love the experience,” Kep said. “So when we’re able to give people that great customer service experience, that makes us happy.”

19189 I-45, Ste. K, Shenandoah
865-403-2304
www.facebook.com/sunnysboutiquetx
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sundays