The end of freshman year of college usually brings bittersweet goodbyes, anticipation for three months of no class attendance and exams, and hopes of working out hard enough to lose the “Freshman 15.” For Gabby Gary, on the other hand, the summer after her freshman year was spent building her own business from the ground up. Fast forward, Gabby has graduated from Purdue and has the full-time job of owner and chief buyer of Dawson & Daisy.
Dawson & Daisy’s West Lafayette store is located in Wabash Landing Shopping Center.
Inspiration
While Gabby’s family currently resides in the West Lafayette-Lafayette area, she was born in New Orleans and moved around a lot throughout her childhood. While she has had many “hometowns,” Gabby says that the south is where she feels most at home. That is why in Dawson & Daisy’s Instagram bio the boutique is described as, “unique with a southern edge.” The unique part comes into play with the quantity of items that Gabby stocks in the store to ensure that every customer feels special in the clothes they purchase from Dawson & Daisy since they won’t see 10 other people wearing the same thing.History
Dawson & Daisy originally started as an online-only operation run out of the Gary’s home. During the summer after Gabby’s freshman year at Purdue, the Gary’s had vacation plans that did not allow Gabby ample time to also have an internship. She decided to explore her passion for fashion that summer when she realized that it was absolutely possible for her to start her own online boutique. After a year of growing a loyal customer base, Dawson & Daisy became a brick-and-mortar boutique in May 2017. Six months later, it moved to a larger retail space in Wabash Landing Shopping Center in West Lafayette. In December 2017, she opened opened a Broad Ripple Bungalow location.
Dawson & Daisy provides unique options for Daisies all around West Lafayette and Lafayette.
Men can find clothing and accessories options at Dawson & Daisy as well.
The Little Buds collection offers adorable seasonal options for all of the babies and toddlers in your life.
Merchandise
Originally, the store was going to just be called, “Daisy.” However, Dawson joined the picture when Gabby knew that she wanted a boutique that would cater to both women and men. The Daisy section offers women tops, bottoms, and dresses perfect for going to class or for your next date night. The Dawson section offers men comfortable t-shirts, sweatpants, and accessories. The home decor sections offers candles and signs to accent your living spaces. Finally, the beauty section features bath products and makeup to help spruce up your self care routine. For Gabby, as chief buyer, trends are not important when she is deciding what to carry in her store. She explains, “I am all about classic style…I try to buy things that will extend your hard-earned money.”
It’s all in the details when you visit Dawson & Daisy… even the fitting rooms are aesthetically pleasing!
The Boutique Experience
Imagine having an entire boutique to yourself and an associate to act as your own personal shopper during your entire trip. That is the experience you have when you step into Dawson & Daisy. In addition to having unique, one-of-a-kind items, Dawson & Daisy hopes to differentiate itself with outstanding customer service that matches the South’s standards of hospitality. One of Gabby’s favorite memories with a customer was when she helped a mother and a daughter pick the perfect outfits for the daughter’s senior pictures. It took some trial-and-error, but Gabby could tell that her attention to detail and determination to find the perfect combination made the daughter feel incredibly special. That is the experience that Gabby hopes every customer has when they visit one of Dawson & Daisy’s boutiques.
Currently dreaming about this West Lafayette-themed home decor
