Blessed Mama Boutique leaves Valdese for new beginnings in Caldwell

The new year is bringing exciting changes to Blessed Mama Plus Size Boutique with a new location in the Hudson/Lenoir area.

Boutique owner Ashley Haas and her girls will be moving into their newly renovated 7,000-square-foot warehouse by mid-March. Haas envisions celebrating the grand opening with local food trucks like Carolina Coffee, giveaways, and community fellowship.

The move means Blessed Mama will leave the Valdese storefront where they have resided since 2019. Her business started in her bedroom as a small online consignment store in 2018.

When Haas last sat down with The Paper in January 2024, she talked about her future expansion, which was only a concept at the time. Since then, her business has continued to thrive with a wide variety of plus-size clothing and their new top from their clothing brand, Beautiful N’ Curvy.

“My ultimate goal was to have a bigger space so we can have more events, more fellowship, and I have kind of just laid it and put it in God’s hands,” Hass said, “because I was kind of torn between do I leave the storefront, and open or move to a warehouse? Back during the hurricane, our air went out here for 30 days and I was like, is this a sign?”

She decided not to split her team between two locations. When people come in, they come in to see the whole group of girls. For example, a mother recently came in to show her daughter’s wedding dress that she bought from there. Another woman wanted to show off her engagement pictures and she was wearing a shirt from there.

“She wanted this one shirt for her pictures, and we made sure she got it,” Haas said. “She was so excited to come back and show us those pictures. I’m so glad and made me so happy we could be a part of her day because this is something big in her life.”

Moving from downtown Valdese will be bittersweet. The town and the online community have been very supportive, especially with her mother’s passing over a year ago. As she shared her grieving process with followers and customers, she felt an overwhelming amount of support.

NEW LOCATION, NEW IDEAS

The new warehouse will give Haas and her girls plenty of space for the new ideas she has in the works. One of her ideas is to have plus-size inclusive formal wear with prom dresses, bridal dresses, and potentially bridal hairstyles.

“That’s our passion here is to be able to have options because I remember when I got married and looking for my prom dress. There were no options,” Haas explained. “I did not feel welcomed. It was just a horrible experience, and I do not want that. That’s not what we want here.”

Business supporting business, she envisions Carolina Coffee setting up at the location, which has been part of her original dream.

Lastly, her team has been contemplating getting a DTF (direct-to-film) printer to make their own graphic tees in sizes up to 6X.

Haas sees the warehouse as a great location that will provide more exposure. Blessed Mama’s new location will showcase a modern black and gold vibe to complement the white walls.

“I really am looking forward to just sharing this journey. When I shared on Facebook, I didn’t share it to be like, ‘Hey, look at me!’” Haas said. “I shared it because, ‘Hey, look at me. So, you can do it, too.’ I want people to see that. Where I came from, I started with absolutely no money, and we’re getting ready to move into a warehouse.

“I’ve been blessed with the team of girls. I’m just looking forward to what doors are going to open next for us.”