By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Sugar Collective is helping women, from busy moms to working professionals, feel confident with its range of styles in Hays.
Owner Sammy McBride opened the boutique Monday at Big Creek Crossing, drawing on 15 years of retail experience and naming the store after her grandmother, Sug Pollard.
"The way my grandma has influenced the store is her larger-than-life personality. She walks into a room, and she is just herself. ... Our tagline is everyday style and unapologetically you," McBride said.
The boutique carries everything from athleisure to Fort Hays State University apparel, with a focus on helping women across all generations feel authentically themselves.
McBride said Sugar Co. stands out for its selection of exclusive brands, including Kendra Scott, FP Movement, Nickel & Suede, and Mary Elizabeth Co., a local jewelry line.
"We really believe that the experience here should feel like shopping with a friend or shopping with your most stylish bestie," McBride said.
A variety of tops, including blouses and sweaters, are priced between $12 and $80. Bottoms range from $25 to $115 and dresses are priced between $40 and $80.
You can browse the store's apparel and place orders through its website for shipping or in-store pickup.
During grand opening week, each purchase at Sugar Co. enters customers into a drawing for one of three $50 gift cards. Shoppers who spend $250 or more will also receive a free Kendra Scott Mabel necklace.
McBride's 35th birthday is this Saturday, and she is inviting everyone to join the celebration with a DIY soda bar at the store.
McBride said she is grateful to her supporters, including Grow Hays, the Bank of Hays, Big Creek Crossing and her family.
"I've been a part of the retail world in Hays for such a long time, and I'm excited to still be a part of the community," McBride said.
McBride is originally from Topeka and came to western Kansas to attend Barton County Community College before going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from FHSU in 2012.
She worked at Buckle before spending almost 12 years with Bling, the former clothing store that previously occupied Sugar Co.'s current location.
Sugar Co. is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
You can follow the new store on Facebook.