Meet Carly Garrison Zent | Owner of Amaryllis and Main Boutique, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Garrison Zent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
With a desire to empower and uplift women of all ages, the thought for Amaryllis and Main Boutique was to create a place to do just that. I knew I wanted a comfortable place for women to walk in and feel welcome and seen. This in turn gave me the confidence to drive the startup process with one thing in mind, the mission of my store. With a lot of hard work and dedication, everything else just seemed to perfectly fall in place.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Amaryllis and Main Boutique came about abruptly. After meeting with the City Development team we felt discouraged. It appeared as though this endeavor was not possible for another year due to the lack of retail space available at the time. Come to find out, time was on our side. We decided to begin the process of this potential opportunity and met with the former owner of 4887 N Main Street and we were blown away with the support and graciousness presented to us. By November 2021 we knew that Amaryllis and Main Boutique would be opening just 4 short months later. Excitement, nervousness, and pressure to get things done were all emotions that presented themselves fairly quickly throughout this process. The only thing we knew for sure was that there was no looking back.

The mission behind Amaryllis and Main Boutique is to encourage women to see the best in themselves. Lifting up and empowering other women is the sole purpose of my store and the reason I became a small business owner. This is something I’m extremely passionate about and the fastest way for me to help boost your self-esteem is to offer outfits and accessories that make you feel confident. ⠀
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Our name stems from the idea that an Amaryllis flower symbolizes a strong, independent, self-confident, and beautiful woman and we are located on Main St. in Downtown Acworth. Deciding on a location was an easy decision as I was born and raised in Acworth and only hope to make a positive impact in the town that I have called home for so many years. ⠀

Though I was born and raised in Acworth, it wasn’t until 4 years ago that I bought my own house in the Downtown Acworth area. I went to Harrison High School and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelors degree in Business Management and a Minor in Entrepreneurship. Straight out of college I jumped on the opportunity to fulfill what I thought was my lifetime dream of working for the MLB. After moving to Houston, TX for six months, I returned home to reroute my career.

Upon moving home, a friend of mine introduced me to the retail industry by opening her own women’s clothing boutique. I joined her on her endeavor as her very first employee. While also working a corporate job and helping my friend as I could, I quickly realized that I was extremely passionate about uplifting and empowering women.

It wasn’t long after starting my last corporate position and helping a second friend open a boutique in another surrounding city that I knew what I was meant to do with my life. I was meant to encourage women to feel confident in themselves.

Amaryllis and Main is a women’s boutique offering clothing, shoes, gifts, handmade products, accessories & more. We strive to provide immeasurable customer service, inclusivity, fashion advice, and guidance when needed. It is important to us that we ensure you leave our store happier and more confident than you were when you arrived.

As a business owner, I am extremely proud of our first two years in business. I am proud of my employees and I am proud of the connections we have been able to make with not only our customers but the community as well. It is an honor to be a Downtown Acworth Merchant.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The start and success of Amaryllis and Main Boutique would not have been possible without the love and support of family and friends. Since the idea of the creation of this brick and mortar, family and friends have provided encouragement, physical labor, and brain power to help me make this dream a reality. My vision would not have been possible if it were not for my Mom’s financial background and willingness to help with administrative tasks in any way possible, my Dad and Husband’s desire to build out a functioning storefront, putting their handyman skills to use, and the physical support of my sister and friends.

Their belief in me is the reason I am where I am today and the reason that Amaryllis and Main Boutique is the successful small business that it is after two years of being open.

Website: www.amaryllisandmain.com

Instagram: @amaryllisandmain

Facebook: @shopamaryllisandmain

Image Credits
Frances Koontz Photography