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Christian Center Boutique gets a makeover

Matt Monson, who teaches visual merchandising at Salt Lake Community College, helped lead a student project to update the Christian Center's boutique.
Photo by Debbie LaBelle

After the Christian Center of Park City received a makeover last year, it seemed only fitting that its boutique would get a new look as well.

The Christian Center Boutique, which sells gently used clothes and accessories to help fund the center’s programs, was recently renovated. Students from Salt Lake Community College’s fashion program reorganized the interior and designed a new layout for the store, located in the Christian Center’s headquarters at 1283 Deer Valley Drive..

Debbie LaBelle, marketing and event coordinator for the Christian Center, said the changes make it easier for customers to move around the store and find items. She hopes the updated space will encourage people to purchase more clothing and accessories so the center can grow its programs. The Christian Center is a nonprofit that provides services to low-income families in Summit and Wasatch counties.



The Christian Center underwent a remodel last year, which provided a larger space for the boutique, LaBelle said.

“With a new building, we wanted an enhanced experience for our community, and that would include this store,” LaBelle said. “If we are able to have an enhanced customer service and increase overall sales, we are able to support this community at a higher level.”



The Christian Center connected with the community college because of Vanessa Di Palma, who owns a fashion consulting firm in Park City called Farasha. The Christian Center originally reached out to Di Palma in the winter to ask her to renovate the space, said Dell Ledbetter, director of programs for the center.

“We wanted some outside eyes that knew fashion and fashion design,” Ledbetter said.

Di Palma, who frequently works as a consultant for the college’s fashion program, suggested the nonprofit work with students. She said the project would provide a hands-on experience for the college students.

About 10 students in a visual merchandising class took on the project, and Ledbetter said they did a good job realizing their goal of making it easier for customers to move around the store. Di Palma served as a consultant on the project. The updated boutique opened at the end of April.

Ledbetter said one of the biggest differences is that the store is more open now. The students cleared items from the entrance and designated a clear walkway through the store to provide more space for customers. They also organized home décor, jewelry and shoes into distinct areas rather than having items mixed throughout the store.

“It’s definitely easier to find things and easier to navigate the store,” LaBelle said. “It feels good in here.”


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