Businesses are on the move all the time in the growing area of Saline County. This story is about a delightful woman named Amy Foster, who followed her dream to start a boutique called Evie Brooks, and turned dark days into a joy that she would share with others. I hope you love her story, because it made me cry, and it’s just the beginning.
“Three years ago, I was was working from home, probably like most people started to,” said Amy. “I had little interaction with friends, family or people in general at this point, because I worked long days and I was stuck at home dreading the next work day. I was at my lowest mentally and did not know how I was going to make it until 5 p.m. everyday to clock out.”
Amy says she always had a passion for fashion and had been dressing friends and family since she was little. “I always have my phone or camera out when friends are looking their best, to show them how good they look and to help them feel better about themselves.”
Always a “hype girl,” she says, even though she herself struggled with body issues. “I always intentionally chose to be the one behind the camera because of those issues. I know what it means to be insecure about wearing the swimsuit, the tight dress, or the shorts.”
Her goal these days is to help as many women of all ages how good it feels to be confident in what they want to wear. But three years ago… it was a different story. She dreaded going to her job, but that was about to change – not by choice. She wrote to me in our discussion, “I was laid off in the MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. Depressed, depressed, and depression is real.”
She lots of thoughts about her future and what she would do to make it. She wasn’t sure if she would file for unemployment, or end up going to find several new jobs to make up the pay of “the horrible one,” as she describes it, that she previously had. Or maybe she would go back to real estate school that she tried before, but she already knew that wasn’t really for her either.
“I was in a FUNK,” she wrote. “I took on photography as a side hustle during this time. I love photography because it is such a rewarding job for me. It’s hard work but I’m lifting others up and giving them confidence…
“But the CLOTHES. When you put on your favorite dress or you watch your friends put on their favorite tee shirts to go to dinner…SO MUCH JOY. Joy for me, joy for you and joy for those around you that get to experience the confidence and happiness just from you loving the outfit.”
You can see her mood lift even in her written word, as she gushes about using her talents to help others find their joy. Amy started taking business classes online, researching brands and quality clothing. “I was saving money and had no idea what in the world I was getting myself into. I just knew that I was going to do something big and challenging.”
Two years ago, Amy decided to take the take the leap of opening a boutique “for myself and no one else.” She had been behind the camera all her life. “I still want to be that, but I want people to see that you can be in such a dark place and turn it around for the good and you can be in front of the camera, candid or not.”
She started off her conversation with me by saying, “My name is Amy Foster. The boutique was named after my two best pals. My dogs. When you are around them you feel safe, loved and irreplaceable.”
Amy ended with, “I want everyone to walk into my store and instantly feel so valuable, loved, irreplaceable, beautiful, strong and confident. Like Evie & Brooks make me feel when I walk into my house every night greeting me with kisses and wagging tails.”
Evie Brooks is having their grand opening on Saturday, August 13th from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at 107 West Conway Street in Downtown Benton. You’ll recognize the building as the former location of Three Best Bakery. It’s been a complete makeover to go from bakery to boutique. Visit them, say hello to Amy and tell her you saw her story on MySaline.com!