By Sandy Hatley
for the SNAP
Pretty Please Boutique is a prospering business in Stanly County. Specializing in women’s clothing, the southern boutique opened in June 2014 on Renee Ford Road in Locust with 1,600 square feet. On their one year anniversary, the store expanded, doubling in size to 3,200 square feet.
PPB began hosting events such as Girls Night Out Fashion Show and added a mobile boutique (equipped with lights, heat, air and a changing room) that can travel to local events and private parties. Pretty Please Boutique is also active on social media via Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat.
“We ship daily to all different states,” said Kaley Carpenter, assistant manager and social media coordinator.
Angela Kluttz, owner, elaborated, “We plan to develop an online website. Future plans include expanding with a warehouse for the online shop.”
On the Friday before Christmas, a second store opened in Olive Place Shopping Center in Albemarle. A grand opening is scheduled for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
“We started with two employees and now have nine,” Kluttz revealed about her growing business.
Relocating from Pikeville, Kentucky to western Stanly County when she married in 2004, Kluttz resides in Locust with her husband, Mike. They have three children. Their youngest daughter, Michaela, works as the manager of the stores.
“It’s been a lifetime dream to be in the apparel business,” the owner explained. “In Kentucky, I worked at the Junior Hut, a boutique, during my senior year of high school.”
Her oldest, Whitney, now a pharmacist at the University of Kentucky, named Kluttz’s business, Pretty Please Boutique.
“She always used to say, ‘Pretty please, can I have it?’ ” Kluttz said.
The clothing store is a one-stop shop, carrying fashions that compliment different body styles for all ages and sizes (small to 3X). Their customers range from teenagers to seniors. In addition to clothes, they offer a wide range of accessories: jewelry, gifts, shoes and handbags. Plus they have monogrammable gifts as well as items for newborns and sunglasses, hats and T-shirts for men.
PPB carries several popular brands of apparel, including their own private label.
“We travel from Atlanta to Los Angeles to apparel and gift markets for the latest trends,” Michaela said.
“We like to partner with companies that give back,” Angela said.
Some of the brands in their store include Love Your Melon headware which is dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America, as well as supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer. For every pair of DIFF sunglasses purchased, a pair of reading glasses is donated to someone in need. Alex and Ani give back to several different charities, including Unicef and the American Heart Association.
“We support local fundraisers,” Angela said.
On April 22, Pretty Please Boutique will host a fashion show at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center for Brave Step, a nonprofit organization that assists victims of sexual assault.
“One thing that sets us aside from chain stores is that the girls help you with a complete look,” Angela said.
“We make suggestions with clothes as well as jewelry, shoes, purses. Whatever the customer wants,” Michaela added.
“If you’ve not been in, visit one of our locations or shop online,” Angela concluded. “We specialize in cute and trendy fashion for women at a reasonable price. We love making women feel beautiful.”
Pretty Please Boutique is at 121 Renee Ford in Locust and 750 D Leonard Avenue (Olive Place), across from Hobby Lobby in Albemarle.
Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Call (704) 888-2789 for the Locust store or (704) 986-0204 for their Albemarle location.

Sandy Hatley is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News & Press.