"We just wanted to provide another outlet for our customers," Store Manager Blaire Beattie says. "As our business has grown, our customers have grown, and our customers aren't all in Cincinnati." But Queen City residents still can enjoy the boutique shopping experience in the comfort of their own homes -- or cubicles.

Like the Hyde Park boutique, the online Alligator Purse features dresses, tops, bottoms, shoes and accessories. Customers have the ability to browse the virtual racks by category or designer so that they can make their shopping more efficient and personalized.

Unfortunately, the online version does not have a dressing room. (Let me know if you find an online store that does!) The gals at Alligator Purse are working hard to ease any anti-fitting anxiety with detailed descriptions for each item. "Every time we enter a new item, we try to specify the fit if it's different.... If the fit is a little off, we put that in with the item as a side note," Beattie says.

Also, the Alligator Purse carries well-known designers in both stores, so if a customer is familiar with the fit of a specific designer, she shouldn't have problems with a cyber shopping spree. In the event that an item does not work out, Alligator Purse has a backup plan for its customers. "We have a pretty forgiving return policy," Beattie says, and customers can return their purchases for a full refund within 14 days after they receive their order.

Beattie doesn't want returns to be the only reason that customers stop by the boutique, though. "We still want our customers in Cincinnati to step in the store," she says. "We don't want to shy them away from here."

Alligator Purse doesn't want to shy away other local boutiques either. "It would be great if other boutiques followed [in the e-commerce expansion], and if they ever need any help, we'd be more than willing to work with them," Beattie says.

For more information or to browse the online shop, visit the Web site at ShopAlligatorPurse.com.


PHOTO CREDITS
Photo courtesy of: Alligator Purse

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