On April 7, Junior League of New Orleans and the Girl’s Guide to New Orleans paired up for a networking event at Bloomin’ Deals Thrift Shop. The event was a fun-filled way for women to meet each other, discuss their lives and businesses, and give back to the community.
The Girl’s Guide to New Orleans is a local company founded by Kelly Claverie and Mignon Parent. It focuses on promoting the best that New Orleans has to offer to women when traveling, while helping to support local businesses and events. With a desire to support the local community, Girl’s Guide contacted JLNO. JLNO members are the kind of women the Girls’ Guide was targeting: successful women looking for a fulfilling life.
After recently undergoing a renovation and redesign, JLNO wanted to reintroduce the Bloomin’ Deals store. As the second oldest business on Freret Street, the Girl’s Guide Fashion Show was a great way for JLNO to showcase Bloomin’ Deals’ new look.
Together, Girl’s Guide and JLNO came up with the fashion show at the Thrift Shop. The runway models included JLNO members, entrepreneurs and local community members. Each model had a budget of $50 to chose her outfit from clothes in the store. As the models walked down the runway, the retail value comparison of the outfit was announced. Attendees viewed models in gently used clothing at a fraction of the price the clothes would have cost in stores.
“It is a great reminder of what Bloomin’ Deals does for the community, said past JLNO President Jeanne Boughton. “Everyone should take advantage of the opportunity, and remember how important it is to supply Bloomin’ Deals with gently used clothing, as those donations have such a ripple effect in the community.”
Girl’s Guide founders Mignon Parent and Kelly Claverie along with JLNO member Ty Salvant (center) working together to make a great event.
Photo by Stephanie Campani
“Bloomin’ Deals makes us feel like one of the neighbors,” said Megan Siebenkittle, Bloomin’ Deals Committee Member. “Everything we do goes back into our community.”
The Girl’s Guide Fashion Show reflected the importance of JLNO to our community. One community member who was recruited as a model had never heard of Bloomin’ Deals or JLNO prior to the event, and requested information about joining JLNO after her experience. The event proved there is a need and desire for women meeting women and coming together to give back to their community.
