RESORTER
michigansthumb.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
9
Unused space gives birth to two Upper Thumb businesses BY MARY DRIER For the Tribune SEBEWAING — Having extra space and listening to the needs of the community gave inspiration for the Cutest Button Boutique in Sebewaing. “I heard people talking that the community needed this kind of a store in town because they were tired of driving an hour or more to the cities to shop,” said Amanda Langmaid. “I saw there was a need for this kind of a store.” Although Langmaid bought the building at 8855 Unionville Rd., to operate her insurance company in, there was a lot of extra unused space. “My insurance businesses and the boutique are in the same building,” she said. “The insurance is in back and the boutique is in the front.” Langmaid has been selling insurance for 15 years. She worked for AAA and Farm Bureau before opening her own Farmers Insurance company in Sebewaing three years ago. She sells every aspect of insurance from personal, to commercial insurance, to life, medicare insurance, and more, along with operating two boutiques. The boutique has women’s clothes size zero to 3X, kids clothes from infant to size 12, jewelry, candles, home decor, pillows, holiday items, locally made earrings, hats and gloves, toys like Crazy Aaron’s Putty, and ol’ fashion candy. Some of the ol’ fashion candy includes candy cigarettes and cigars, Maga Dotts, and Astro pops. The cutest Button Boutique, LLC opened Jan. 18 in Sebewaing, and branched out with a second Cutest Button Boutique, LLC in Marlette that opened in July. “I met with the chamber of commerce in Marlette,” she said. “They wanted to get more businesses in town. They did a survey. It showed 39% of the people who did the survey wanted a woman’s clothing and kids store. That was a perfect fit for my type
After Amanda Langmaid opened her Cutest Button Boutique, LLC in Sebewaing in January, she opened a second Cutest Button Boutique in Marlette in July. (Mary Drier/For the Tribune) of business.” Langmaid had the building in Marlette gutted and remodeled. “Each store has the same categories of items,” Langmaid said. “All items are new. It is not a resale shop. Both stores do a good business, but the Marlette store has done very well. With some of the big stores shutting down, there are not a lot of places any more to shop, and there isn’t a lot of time to always drive into the cities to shop.” Prices in both stores are affordable ranging between $12.99 to $18.99 with Kan Can adult jeans selling for $39.99. “Prices are kept reasonable to sell in volume,” she said. “We are a hometown boutique that offers fashion and flare in the latest styles without big city prices.” The Sebewaing boutique has four employees: Langmaid’s daughters, and Nicole Prime who oversees operations, and Langmaid who helps, but her main focus is on her insurance business. Cutest Button Boutique at 3045 Main St., Marlette, is across the street from the farmers market. It has two employees and Langmaid, who splits her time there as well. The Cutest Button Boutique in Sebewaing is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday noon to 3 p.m. The phone number for the store is 989704-3409. The Cutest Button Boutique in Marlette is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 3 p.m. The phone number for that store is 989635-1124. More information about the two boutiques can be found on the website www. cutestbuttonboutique.com.
THE BEST CHOICE IN EMERGENCY CARE Giving you the care you need, when you need it most, that’s emergency care at McLaren. We are doing what’s best for our patients by offering advanced technology and expert care, 24/7 emergency department, and access to specialists within the McLaren system. So when seconds can make all the difference, McLaren is here for you.
McLAREN THUMB REGION EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT 1100 S. Van Dyke Rd. Bad Axe, MI 48413 (989) 269-9521
McLAREN THUMB REGION CONVENIENT CARE BAD AXE
PORT AUSTIN
1040 S. Van Dyke Rd. Ste. 2 Bad Axe, MI 48413 (989) 269-5152
24 E. Spring St. Port Austin, MI 48467 (989) 738-5222
Call for hours
Amanda Langmaid operates a Cutest Button Boutique, LLC, at 8855 Unionville Rd., Sebewaing, and one at 3045 Main St., Marlette, besides operating her Farmers Insurance company as well. (Courtesy Photo)
