Meet Lori Bradford | Boutique Owner & Family Travel Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Bradford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started Black Forest Boutique with a few ideas in mind. My husband had just been involved in a serious semi-truck roll over accident, and I knew that I needed to put my business background to work to help keep our family moving. At the time, we had 3 children, and I was expecting our 4th – so my mind automatically went to a Mommy/Me clothing store. Kids clothing can be so expensive, and then they just grow out of them in the blink of an eye! I also knew, after looking at my closet, that Mom’s tend to struggle with spending on themselves. Most of the time, we go into a store looking for ourselves, and come out with items for our kiddos. I also wanted to be sure that items were affordable. And so, as silly as it may seem, that was how the concept of my boutique came to life. I never truly thought that it would blossom into the state that it has, but I couldn’t be more grateful.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Black Forest Boutique is unique in that it is mostly an online shopping experience — but I’m only a message away. I have customers who reach out looking for something unique, or something that I don’t even carry at that moment, and I do my best to find what they’re looking for. I love having that personal connection with all of my customers. There are so many places for women to shop these days, so I like to think that the small-town feel truly sets me apart. I do not have an assistant that responds to my messages or emails or phone calls — it’s me. You get me.

One of the most difficult things for me, as a business owner, is changing and taking a big risk. Recently, I decided to make Black Forest Boutique available in-person. I was invited by a salon in Colorado Springs to set up in the front of their gorgeous new location. In my head, it was an easy decision, but to actually make it happen was totally different. I had been online only for 5 years, so this was a huge step. And to be honest, I’m still learning to adjust. It’s nerve-wracking and exhilarating, all in the same, to watch your business blossom and grow.

In the end, I want my customers to know that when they shop with Black Forest Boutique, it’s not just some big corporation cashing in. It’s Lori — a mother of 4, just trying to teach her children about the importance of small business. (And I’m a Colorado Native!)

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I grew up in Golden — so that’s where I’d be taking my bestie! Golden has changed so much over the last several years, but it still has that unique charm that everyone ends up loving. We wouldn’t miss the chance to take a picture under the Arch. Lunch would be at Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza!! How can you pass up a trip to the salad bar and that beer cheese soup?? Clear Creek during the summer is always amazing (although I’m not brave enough to be tubing…that’s for sure). The Coors Brewery tour is a bucket list item – especially with those samples at the end of the tour! Grabbing a margarita at the Table Mountain Inn is an excellent way to start off an evening or celebrate the weekend. And a trip up Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bills grave is a nice historical touch. I actually got engaged at Buffalo Bills grave, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my incredible support team of family. My Dad is a small business owner, going on 44 years — and watching him develop and change his own business plan over the years has inspired me greatly. He has instilled a level of customer service in me that I never could have learned in any classroom or lecture hall. My husband and children have always been willing to lend a hand during busy days of inventory, packaging and even delivery. I am usually a one-woman show, but it’s refreshing to know that I have the help if I ever need.

Website: https://blackforestboutiqueco.com

Instagram: black_forest_boutique

Facebook: facebook.com/blackforestboutique

Image Credits
Family photo credit to Melany McKnight Photography LLC