Emerald Grace Clothing Company started as an online store in October of 2020 but quickly moved into a small physical location on 5th a few months later. Since then, the shop has moved three more times, recently landing at 314 Main Ave. "It’s the perfect space for a boutique. Being here feels like a dream come true. It feels fun and a good fit. We'll see what this place has in store for me." said store owner, Erica Bousema, with a laugh.

Emerald Grace is a size-friendly women’s clothing boutique that carries inventory in small-3x. "We base our color-schemed inventory on the season. We have fall colors coming in now. I like a good color scheme and organization and will clearance an item when the color doesn’t fit the scheme. I always like to have a good amount of neutral colors on hand for any season." Particularly popular right now are jumpsuits, 100% cotton tops, and raw seam or oversized items. Erica shared, "The nice thing about fashion right now is trends come and go kinda fast, but people are easygoing with their clothing. We can create our own style. Nothing is out of fashion!"

When asked about the hardest part of business ownership, Erica quickly answered, "I'm a rule follower. With owning your own business, there’s no guidebook. There’s no structure, no syllabus to follow, no weekly assignment. I set high expectations for myself, so making goals is hard because I don't want to set them too high and then fail." She was just as quick to answer the best part, "The people you meet and connect with one-on-one are great. I live out of town, but what keeps my business in Brookings is how awesome the environment is."

When asked about the name Emerald Grace Clothing Company, Erica shared a special connection with her mom. "Emerald is my birthstone. Grace is my middle name. I was born on my mom’s birthday, and my mom means a lot to me. It’s a special thing to include her in it."

Thanks for the interview Erica! Visit Emerald Grace Clothing Company at 314 Main Ave on Tuesdays-Saturdays.