When Erin and Rachel Regal’s dad purchased a 1970s Volkswagen bus off of eBay as a family project, the two entrepreneurial sisters had another project in mind: developing a boutique on wheels. Not only did refurbishing the clunker become a true family affair, but the sisters were able to develop a unique business model and customer experience: Boho Bus. A rolling boutique filled with unique, free-spirited clothing for the modern-day flower child, Boho Bus is the result of imagination, hard work and, of course, a lot of boho-chic style.
Both armed with degrees from University of Georgia along with their own unique retail backgrounds, Erin and Rachel are a powerhouse team of sisterly support. Erin worked as the social media coordinator for Georgia-based shoe company Oka-B, and Rachel started her career as the marketing and e-commerce manager for American Threads, a popular chain of women’s clothing boutiques. However, the duo’s entrepreneurial spirit runs a lot deeper than that. “I remember selling handmade stationery and washing dogs as young as 6-years-old,” Rachel recalls. “I also had a door-to-door lemonade stand when no one was stopping in their cars [for me]!”
Erin, too, has the independent drive. “I have always used my creative talents to start little side hustles. In high school, I started creating bracelets and phone case accessories and sold them to friends.” Essentially, it was only a matter of time before Erin and Rachel put their lifelong determination and creativity to work.
A boutique unlike any other, Boho Bus launched in May of 2016. With just over a year and a half of business under its wheels, Boho Bus is already making a name for itself. The unique concept keeps visitors anxious to see more, and Erin and Rachel are happy with their idea so far. “We thought it would be a different take on your typical boutique that would differentiate us from others. Plus it’s a lot more fun for us. We love to travel, and it’s a lot riskier to choose one location and hope it will be successful, especially when you’re just starting out. The bus was mostly a business decision, but also a way for us to leave an impression and avoid being forgettable,” they explain.
The shop is anything but forgettable. Filled with affordable tunics, cardigans, jackets, rompers, maxi dresses, accessories and more, Boho Bus gives women an opportunity to have fun with their fashion without pinching pennies. “A ‘perfect’ outfit from Boho Bus is something no one else has seen at any other store, and our pieces will always get you a compliment from a stranger,” Rachel says. Their style arsenal is brimming with bohemian looks in interesting patterns, unique styles and fits, and on-trend items. The women say their pieces “don’t break the bank and don’t make you look like you’re wearing a hippie costume. [They’re] just a slight nod to a carefree gypsy with influences from the ’70s paired with the 2000s. We never buy anything that we wouldn’t wear, even if it’s in style.”
In addition to fashionable clothes and accessories along with giftables like sugar scrub cubes and notebooks, Boho Bus recently launched an additional aspect of the company, making it available for wedding and party rentals. And like the bus’ origins, the sisters’ dad gets all the credit. “After our dad built a photobooth inside the bus for my wedding, we got tons of requests to use the bus for weddings and events,” says Rachel. “We are renting out the bus as a photoshoot prop, photobus/photobooth and getaway vehicle. You can find all of the services at bohobusevents.com.”
As Boho Bus continues down the retail road, Rachel says that her favorite aspect of the little shop on wheels is that it’s a family affair. “I really like that it’s a family adventure. One hundred percent, this would never have happened without our dad, and I really love that we get to spend time with him when we have events,” Rachel explains. “Besides the work that the two of us do to keep the boutique running day to day, our dad drives the bus to all of our pop-up events and keeps up the maintenance on the bus. Both of our parents come to our events and support us.” A family that works together to make things happen and champions each other too? That’s groovy.
Whether you snap a picture of the bus at a wedding or plan a trip to Milton for their second annual Bohoho Barn Sale this December, Boho Bus is worth a stop on your retail tour. You’re sure to find Erin, Rachel and possibly their parents too, styling their customers in the latest bohemian pieces. “It’s so fun when our booth is packed full of ladies shopping our clothes, telling us how cute our stuff is and wanting to know more about us,” Erin says. “Not to mention all the compliments on our bus!” Keep those free-spirited styles coming and the Boho Bus wheels turning, ladies. We’re confident the compliments will keep rolling in.
Check out the Bohoho Barn Sale on Saturday, December 9, in Milton, GA. Learn more at bohobus.com.
All photos courtesy of Erin and Rachel Regal of Boho Bus.
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