Meet Tara Erickson-gauthier | Mobile Boutique Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Erickson-gauthier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The inspiration to start my business came during a transformative time in my life when my family and I decided to move across the country. We spent nine days on the road, traveling from Washington State to Georgia, and during that journey, I had ample time to reflect and imagine new possibilities.

I envisioned creating a women’s mobile boutique that could offer the charm and experience of a brick-and-mortar store without the limitations of a fixed location. When I found an enclosed trailer that had already been retrofitted into a store, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to bring my vision to life.

Our boutique, Shop LALA, is designed to be versatile and accessible. We participate in various pop-up events, festivals, and neighborhood gatherings, allowing us to connect with customers wherever we go. Additionally, we have an online store that ensures our offerings are available to anyone, no matter where they are. My goal from the start was to make our boutique as accessible and flexible as possible, bringing a unique shopping experience to women everywhere.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our boutique, Shop LALA, is designed to embody versatility and accessibility. The core idea behind our mobile boutique is to bring a personalized and unique shopping experience directly to our customers, wherever they may be. We actively participate in a wide variety of pop-up events, festivals, and neighborhood gatherings, allowing us to create a dynamic and engaging shopping experience that can be tailored to each event. This flexibility means we can reach diverse communities, catering to different tastes and styles and establishing a direct connection with our customers in a way that traditional retail simply can’t.

In addition to our physical presence at these events, we also recognize the importance of accessibility in the digital age. That’s why we’ve developed a robust online store, which complements our mobile operations. Our online store is designed to be a seamless extension of our boutique, offering the same curated selection of items that customers would find in person. This ensures that whether someone discovers us at a local event or from the comfort of their home, they can access our offerings easily and conveniently.

From the start, my goal was to create a shopping experience that surpasses the limitations of traditional retail. By blending the physical and digital, we’ve made Shop LALA accessible to everyone, regardless of location. Our mission is to bring joy, style, and convenience to everyone everywhere, whether browsing our selection in a community space or scrolling through our online store from miles away.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live in Middle Georgia, and one of the coolest places we have is in Macon, the Society Garden. First, we would visit the local food trucks and then go to the Society Garden for live music and cocktails. Lastly, we would hit all the cool bookstores and eclectic little shops.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Steven, has truly been the backbone of my journey in building this business. When the challenges felt overwhelming and I doubted myself, he was always there to talk me through it, reminding me why I started in the first place. Steven’s unwavering support and belief in me have been a constant source of motivation. He’s celebrated every small win, helped me strategize through setbacks, and reminded me of the bigger picture when I felt like giving up. I am deeply grateful to have him as not only my life partner but also as someone who continuously pushes me to chase my dreams. Thank you, Steven, for standing by my side, for your endless encouragement, and for always believing in what we’re building together.

Website: https://helloshoplala.com

Instagram: https://hello.shop.lala

Other: TikTok: hello.shop.lala