Aw Fashion: Retail Therapy @ Flirt Boutique
Jennifer Azan got her fashion epiphany quite early in life. “I was a teenager,” she tells All Woman Fashion (AWF), “living in Colombia where every weekend we’d dress up in something nice and hit the town looking and feeling good.” Azan, whose mother operated a shoe store business, would spend summers helping out. This, she reckons, further piqued her passion for retail.
Her subsequent move to Jamaica did little to dampen her enthusiasm for looking and feeling fashionable. Indeed, she felt right at home in the midst of women who love nothing better than looking fab. Her boutique, called Flirt — it aptly describes, she says, the mystique of a woman — was opened on May 28, 2009 at Manor Park Plaza. She’s not looked back! “Fashion is a fickle business,” she shares, “but I have stayed in the game because it’s my passion. I love to keep up-to-date with fashion and to keep my customers in the latest trends.” Her dedication to her customers goes further, as she makes it her obligation to hand-pick various styles, suitable for all occasions.
Azan describes her typical customer as “informed, fashionable, young at heart, always looking to keep up with the latest trends but with a realistic spend”. These customers are usually in search of the perfect look for any occasion — be it casual or formal. Flirt Boutique, she informs, caters to all. It’s no idle boast! Rain did not prevent her loyal customer base from coming out to her excellent sale, this past TSO. These included female execs looking for new styles to enhance their professional attire.
“We have adapted by offering unique looks, be it a versatile dress or an elegant pantsuit, while also offering styling tips,” adds Azan, who describes her personal style as classic with a neutral palette. “Although I love to be stylish, comfort takes priority. My go-to looks are dark-coloured jeans, distressed or otherwise, in hues such as navy or black; tops in ivory, off-white, and of course black. I love to feel tall, so wedges are seldom off my feet — save for TSO when I’ll slip into flats!”
Excellent customer service is paramount to the success of every business and Azan ensures that her customers feel comfortable at every step of their shopping experience. “Customers are never pressured to buy and are encouraged to look around, and if needs be, come back when convinced that the item is for them,” relates Azan. Her able assistants, Jessica Barrett and Ashley Henry, are a pleasure to watch as they pick items from the rack and place in the changing rooms.
Flirt Boutique has been a part of the TSO family (previously Fashion’s Night Out) since its first staging in September 2011. Name change aside, TSO continues to receive excellent reviews from Azan. “TSO has allowed my business to thrive due to the publicity gained, thanks to the Jamaica Observer and Novia. TSO is an awesome opportunity for us to show appreciation to our customers and friends with amazing discounts. It’s an exciting day to celebrate fashion and our customers. Our customers love it and they are always looking forward to TSO at Flirt Boutique!”