More room for more Ish

Inventory.

Collette Jones, owner of Ish Vintage Clothing & Costumes, has plenty of it, but not enough space to showcase it.

It’s a problem she’s hoping to solve by moving her store from its current space of 550 square feet on Washington Avenue to a much larger venue of 2,000 square feet on Fourth Street next month.

Jones knew she needed a bigger store when customers would come in looking for a particular item that she had, but just didn’t have it on the racks for lack of space.

“People kept coming in and kept asking for all these things that I have, but I couldn’t fit,” she said.

She would then have to go to her storage and select that particular clothing item and bring it in.

“I think I’m losing a lot of customers, I have this great inventory, but nowhere to put it,” she explained. “It’s been a great start (here on Washington Avenue), I just need more room for my inventory.”

Jones will soon have more than enough room for her broad range of fun and funky duds which range from 1920s wear to the disco era. Ish also features a large inventory which instantly takes you back to the good ole’ 1980s.

The new location, located next to Mullins Gallery & Espresso, will open in style with a grand opening celebration slated for 4-10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4. The night will include food, beverages, live entertainment by Bub Pratt and live vintage mannequins.

“I have a lot more inventory, half of the store will be men’s,” she said.

And of course there will be plenty of women’s and children’s clothes to choose from.

“I have a lot of really cute Western snap-front shirts,” she said of her children’s inventory.

And in true Ish style, Jones is going above and beyond what customers have come to know of the store thus far.

The new Ish will feature a photo studio — covering 500 square feet, nearly the same size as her current store — inside the new building.

“People always come in and put on a hat and say, ‘Take my picture,’” Jones said of her inspiration for wanting to include a photo studio at the new store.

Customers will have the option of dressing in their regular clothes for pictures or choosing from Ish’s wide selection of vintage wear and costumes. Jones also will be offering hair and make-up services.

“Glamour Shots was my idea for doing this,” she said. “This will be a cool, funky, fun version.”

Jones will be renting the studio to freelance photographers, but also will have Promise Tangerman, Ish’s in-house photographer, in the store on Saturdays.

“She’s an amazing photographer and artist,” Jones said.

Ish also will feature an expanded inventory line as well as gift items and a new lingerie line as well, dubbed “Hanky Panky.”

“I wanted to offer some other things,” she said. “I wanted to offer something for everyone.”

She also is planning to offer more accessories which she just can’t fit in the current store.

“It’s exciting, there’s a lot to do, the grand opening will be fun,” she said.

For more information about Ish’s inventory or about the new soon-to-be-open store call Jones at (360) 981-2209.

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