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VROOM VROOM Dixielectricar retailer of E-Z-GO golf carts, has opened a new flagship store in Panama City Beach, giving the company a third location.

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TARGETED TREATMENT

TARGETED TREATMENT

Dixielectricar Opens New Location in Panama City Beach

As any good business owner should, Colin Gorman, owner of Dixielectricar, knows his target market. After years of operating two stores in Santa Rosa Beach and Fort Walton Beach, Dixielectricar has opened its third location, a flagship showroom in Panama City Beach.

Dixielectricar has been a street-legal golf cart retailer since 1972, exclusively offering the highest premium product in the industry, E-Z-GO golf carts. Style, luxury and ease are all adjectives to describe the Emerald Coast lifestyle, which happens to be synonymous with the E-Z-GO name.

As the other two locations grew in sales, the region of Bay County was also expanding. Gorman noted that Bay County, in particular west Panama City Beach, was developing the community of Margaritaville that would cater to the golf cart lifestyle.

“There were many factors to consider in bringing a new store to Panama City Beach — new neighborhood developments, the new airport, an increase in not only tourism, but second homeowners and new residents — all of these factors equate to increased golf cart use,” Gorman said.

The 5,000-square-foot Panama City Beach showroom opened in June of 2022 in Pier Park between Dick’s Sporting Goods and World Market. According to Gorman, this is the first store to exclusively sell golf carts in Panama City Beach.

Not just any golf carts at that. E-ZGO, including the new luxury Liberty line, is a standout in the market for the rapid-charge system and a 56-volt lithium battery that produces more power and range than other carts.

The showroom allows guests to view the options and see the exact price they’ll be paying on the tag. In the spirit of efficiency and ease, all transactions are handled digitally. You’ll leave assured you paid a fair price and that your cart will be delivered to you.

Each purchase comes with an eightyear warranty and access to the Santa Rosa Beach service shop for repairs and replacements. The 30-to-40-minute drive is worth the customer service, expertise, same-day service and access to parts that competitors take weeks to obtain.

Gorman and his team intend for each interaction to be transparent, informative, easy and enjoyable.

“We appreciate our customers throughout the years because they are really the reason we’ve been successful and able to expand,” Gorman said. “We look forward to making new clients and friends at our Panama City Beach location.”

DIXIELECTRICAR 15700 PANAMA CITY BEACH PKWY UNIT 320, PANAMA CITY BEACH | (850) 269-0011 | DIXIELECTRICAR.COM

panache OCT/NOV 2022

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

CITIZEN OF STYLE

LOVE + GROW

Customers flood children’s clothier

by EVGENIYA STETSENKO

Creative ideas can sprout out of the most challenging situations. That’s exactly what happened when Lindsey Smith had to find a solution to her baby’s wardrobe and all the quick changes that babies need growing up. Her daughter was 9 months old and needed to wear bibs almost all the time. Right then, Lindsey realized she either must buy more bibs, or she could make her own bibs out of fabric, as well as matching dresses and rompers. All she wanted was for her baby to look cute in her matching outfits.

The idea quickly developed into a business venture, and Lindsey’s bibs started selling under “Bibly Baby.” It was doing well, but the creative juices kept flowing, so Lindsey started making matching outfits — dresses, rompers, sets for boys and girls, you name it! The brand started growing and shaping into its own thing.

Soon after, her husband Nick joined the team, and they took off on this exciting adventure together. During the pandemic in 2020, when everyone was shopping online, the brand gathered a lot of attention, and it was crucial to work as a team. He even came up

→ Children’s clothing designer Lindsey Smith is something of a perfectionist when it comes to little kids’ attire, believing that bibs should complement rather than compete with outfits.

↑ The Love + Grow retail store in Santa Rosa Beach is reserved exclusively for clothing designed and produced by entrepreneur Lindsey Smith. The store offers items that are unavailable online.

with the name, Love + Grow. More orders started coming in, and they got busier by the minute. However, there were more exciting things coming to Lindsey and Nick. In 2021 they moved from Atlanta to the Emerald Coast and decided to call this their home. Nick was originally from this area, and it was only natural to bring the new “baby” home.

After the whole family moved and settled, Lindsey decided that she wanted to open a store showcasing all the fun designs and introduce the local area to their brand. With heartwarming support and help from family and friends, they opened the store in March of 2022. Since then, they’ve added more staff to their team and fresh outfits to their inventory. The husband-and-wife duo share responsibilities very well — Nick takes care of shipping, financials and the warehouse, while Lindsey takes on the creative role and handles the design and marketing part of the business.

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↑ These young visitors to the Love + Grow retail outlet were pressed into service as impromptu models. By the looks of them, they’ve been modeling all their lives.

The coastal area helped the business expand into new designs, and their line of swimwear has quickly become their customers’ favorite. People travel to visit the store and get a chance to purchase exclusive in-store items that are not sold online. The local community response has been so great that it has been one of the biggest challenges so far to keep certain designs in stock.

Besides matching children’s clothing, Love + Grow carries outfits for main holidays like Christmas, Fourth of July and Halloween for the whole family. They are always a big hit! Their custom, handmade embroidered pajamas are one of the most requested items. One of the most popular prints for the brand is “Rainbow Hearts” in a Candyland pattern.

Lindsey shared how grateful she was to find a watercolor artist to create custom graphics for the fabrics and manufacturers overseas to help her grow her business. The brand makes clothes for children ages 6 months to 12 years, both boys and girls, as well as men’s and women’s swimwear. Matching mother-daughter outfits and swimwear are hard to keep in stock, but this doesn’t stop the brand from growing. The unique designs and custom fabrics are the main factors why Love + Grow is so in demand. In the future, Lindsey and Nick are looking to expand into beach-specific items like beach towels, casual wear and more.

As of right now, the store is operating out of a location in Santa Rosa Beach. With the continuing support from the community, Lindsey plans to open a second location on 30A, still keeping the online store and expanding its merchandise line. The sky’s the limit here! “I design everything with my heart, and I want families visiting this area to make great memories and look cute while they’re doing it,” Lindsey said. EC

FASHION

LEATHER PLEASURE

It’s not just for bikers and rockers

by REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

↘ NOT JUST FOR BIKERS While synonymous with motorcycle culture, leather is also fashion forward. Still, it speaks ruggedness, cool and confidence.

Leather trends aren’t just for punk rockers and motorcyclists. With new eco-friendly styles of leather, such as vegan leather, the trend has resurfaced — even in subtropical Northwest Florida.

Laurie Olshefski, the owner of Coastal Casuals and Shimmering Seas in Bay County, said that leather never drops out of sight.

“It’s just like animal print,” Olshefski said. “There are times where we see animal print less, but it’s never truly gone — it always makes an appearance back with new trends, just in different ways.”

You don’t need to own a Harley or be given to a rebellious nature to wear leather.

Yes, rockers from Guns ’n’ Roses to Jimi Hendrix to Joan Jett sported the look, but the Neanderthals got there first.

Those early men would be perplexed that the “leather” often worn today is not derived from animals.

“Especially on the coast,” Olshefski said, “we see more vegan leather, and that’s led by the consumer. In New York and California, there might be more natural leather stores, but around here, it seems the more preferred leather is vegan and more sustainable. There are many reasons for this, but the main ones are that it’s more affordable, durable and politically correct.”

For fall, Olshefski said leather trends are popping up in jewelry departments.

“We’re seeing that chunky gold chain jewelry that has been popular in the past mixed with leather that is lightweight and made more for a fashion statement,” she said.

Leather jackets have long been popular. Leather bombers paired with casual pieces make for the perfect fall outfit to wear when out on the town at night or enjoying dinner with friends.

←↓ The coupling of a leather jacket with a T-shirt makes for a classic look made famous by James Dean and other rebels. But leather can be paired, as well, with a dress, making for a complicated but effective statement.

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↑ Leather pants are easily dressed up or dressed down. Here, they are elevated by a lacy top and a pair of statement heels. Opt for a more casual look by pairing them with a boyfriend T-shirt and sneakers.

Olshefski said current trends also include jeans with a throw-back boot-style leg and leather panels up the front of the pant.

“Those pants look really chic, and they’re becoming more popular,” Olshefski said. “The jeans are faux jeans, so they feel more like leggings, and they’re also very comfortable while still being stylish.”

Men or women wishing to ease into a leather look might try a leather jacket or leather bomber paired with a basic, neutral-colored top and their favorite jeans.

For men, a leather jacket works well with a classic straight leg or skinny jean with shirts ranging from a band T-shirt to a crisp button-down. While leather pants are less common, some may be prepared to unleash their inner rockstar.

For a ladies’ office look, pair leather trousers with a silk blouse or structured blazer. A leather miniskirt amps up your favorite fall sweater; complete the look with knee-high boots. For a casual look, consider leather leggings, a slouchy T-shirt and stylish sneakers. Tuck a white button-down into a pair of leather shorts for that transition between seasons. For date night, top a sundress or silk slip dress with leather outerwear.

Accessories need not include bandanas or chains, just a dash of confidence. EC

WHAT’S IN STORE?

A roundup of retail happenings throughout the Emerald Coast

by HANNAH BURKE

SEA BAGS, a Maine-based producer of handbags, home decor, accessories and apparel, has set up shop at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Its specialty, vintage totes made from recovered sails and sail fabric, boast coastal-themed patterns, branddesigned graphics, vintage insignias or may even be customized by you. The newest boutique for gents at Pier Park in Panama City Beach is MR. SEA’S MENSWEAR. For fellas looking to embody the motifs of the coast, the outfitter offers goodr athletic shades; hand-carved Bali necklaces; Flogrown, Champion and Hook & Tackle ball caps; and myriad tropical apparel and name-brand footwear.

POLISH AND PAMPER

➸ Popular in the major metropolitan areas of the country, blow-dry bars have taken long-maned citizens by storm. Now ready to take on the heat and humidity of Northwest Florida is DESTIN BLOWOUT BAR, the town’s first dry hair styling salon. Bring on the volume with a classic blowout or treat your tresses to a special updo, deep conditioning treatment and hot heat styles.

➸ Engrossed in cosmetics since an early age, certified permanent and semi-permanent makeup artist and lash and skin care specialist Jay Figueroa has long yearned to empower women through beauty. She is carrying out her mission through her new salon, BEAUTY BY LABELLA, in Panama City. Open now, clients can book an appointment for formal makeup application; eyelash extensions; eyebrow waxing and microblading; scar camouflaging and body sculpting; and more.

➸ A departure from today’s hair salons, CHOP BARBERSHOP in Pensacola invites those of all ages and genders to take a step back in time to the vintage experience of barber’s poles, hot towels and straight-razor shaves and cuts. It is the vision of the small Southeastern franchise to curate a “pub-like” salon by supplying complimentary beverages, personable employees and an antiquated atmosphere. Whether guests seek a cut and color treatment, luxury shave or just a trim, the new salon promises “Cool Hair, Original People.”

Trick or Treat

➸ Another sweet stop, BAM! SNOWBALLS, has opened a second Pensacola location on Creighton Road. Twin brothers and local entrepreneurs Jamari and Jamal Sharp attribute their snow cone business’s success to their high-quality shaved ice, attention to detail and innovative options, such as a line of ice cream-stuffed “hero” flavors named after comic book characters, and “The Blue Angel,” drizzled with blue raspberry and pineapple syrups. ➸ Liqueur-infused Southern pralines, nut brittles, chewy toffees and chocolatecovered pecans are among the collections of confections available at PECAN JACK’S, Santa Rosa Beach’s newest candy kitchen. But owners Veronica and Tim Wyatt didn’t stop there. The sweet shop is part ice creamery, whose special flavors include banana pudding, peach cobbler and Kahlua espresso.

Locally Crafted

➸ HarborWalk Village’s latest boutique and gift shop is the DESTIN GIFT GARDEN, a collective venue showcasing the works of local artists and crafters. Among its everrotating stock of special finds are handmade soy novelty candles, striking jewels and accessories, beauty products, home accents and gourmet spice rubs, teas and jellies. ➸ Like many before him, Brian Rabon was so taken by the beauty of Santa Rosa Beach, he wished he could bottle it. After apprenticing under best friend and distiller Dr. Thomas Soltau and seriously studying spirits, he believes he has. Rabon recently traded his software consulting career

to found 30A DISTILLING CO., the proud producer of community-themed bourbon, vodka, aged rum, agave spirit and gin.

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