In the last 20 years, as Hillsboro Village has welcomed new businesses only to later bid them farewell, one store has remained a constant: Posh Boutique. Out of shopping frustration, Nashville native Kathy Hadley opened Posh. “There has been a resurgence of boutiques in the last 10 to 15 years, but there was not much out there when I opened in Nashville,” she tells us. “Opening a retail store is something I had always wanted to do, and I saw a need at the time.” She opened Posh to give women — and men — an option for contemporary clothing. With three stores in the Nashville area, an online shop and the opportunity to franchise, it is clear that her vision for Posh was something consumers were craving, and now 20 years later, there’s no sign of slowing down.
As a Belmont graduate, Kathy was familiar with the Hillsboro Village area. The current location is their third in the Village, and the largest of their three area stores. The Hillsboro Village store stands out for the selection of menswear and the sale room. It is the only location that sells menswear, making it popular with the guys. Due to its location, it is most popular with students and tourists, but there is also a longtime shopper base from the music industry. The sale room has loyal followers of its own. A dedicated space in the back of the store, the sales room holds sale items from all three locations — which means the selection is usually large and diverse. Exposed brick walls and high ceilings offer an industrial feel that is often found in Nashville. Set within the space, the clothing takes on a new feel, and the shopping experience is one that is stylish from start to finish.
The second location opened its doors in Green Hills 10 years ago. The store just recently stopped selling menswear and moved a few doors down into a smaller space. Design-wise, the new space is the prototype for Posh’s franchising option. With polished marble floors and racks lining the walls, the store feels open and bright, while also exuding an intimate feel. The Green Hills’ shopper tends to be more sophisticated than its Hillsboro Village counterpart. For this reason, you will find different brands and styles at this location. “Each shop is tailored to its community,” Kathy explains. The Franklin store falls somewhere in between the style of Hillsboro Village and Green Hills. Since opening that location five years ago, Free People has been the best-selling brand.
Each store offers a compelling selection of designers, including Show Me Your Mumu, Amuse Society, MINKPINK, Scotch & Soda and G-Star. “We do have some high-end pieces, but overall we are very affordable,” Kathy explains. “Our prices range from $20 to $500, with that being the price of a high-end leather jacket.”
The trend Kathy is noticing is a move to the more casual. “Nashville is a very stylish town,” Kathy says. “Everyone wants to look good and be comfortable.” For fall, you are likely to find bomber jackets, denim with hem treatments, tennis shoes and flat mules. “There is a misconception that the offerings are only for really young people. In reality, our clothing is timeless. We want everyone to look their best and would never want to push non-age appropriate items on someone.” Even Kathy’s 76-year-old mother shops at Posh!
Kathy understands that shopping is about the experience. “We want to know our customers and sell what they want. Our mission is to make them look the best they can look. We do this by getting involved with our community and understanding their needs,” Kathy explains. “Posh is for people who really love fashion. We have the brands and the quality that keep our customers coming back. I love the buying process — looking for things that wow me, hunting and searching out new things and looking around the corner to see what is next. This means I get to love everything in our stores and online.”
Kathy has also recently expanded the online offerings. “Our customer is savvy,” Kathy says. Current top sellers on the Posh website are tops, denim and dresses for women and denim for men. You will be able to shop the offerings of all three Nashville store’s online, soon. “We are relaunching and reinventing the website to make it different than anything out there. The photos will lean towards a style of a magazine editorial.”
Kathy has tapped into Nashville’s sense of community, and the selection of clothing and accessories is reflective of that. A mix of sophisticated and contemporary means men and women across Nashville and beyond can outfit themselves in the most stylish wears. Avail yourself of the opportunity to shop the selection, and if you like what you see, just remember that there is more to come. “We have evolved over the 20 years we have been in business, and we will continue to evolve. But while we are constantly evolving, we will keep our brand intact.”
Help Posh celebrate their 20th anniversary at their tent sale taking place October 7, 2017 at the Hillsboro Village store. They will be consolidating sale merchandise from all three stores and offering an additional 30% off sale items (in addition to 15% off full-priced merchandise in all stores). Guests can enjoy live music, refreshments and giveaways, or visit the braid bar and photo booth. Most importantly, though, prepare to shop — and feel good about it because a percentage of sales from the day will be donated to charities that address the opioid addiction crisis. Head to 1801 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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