Business

Mobile Boutique Features Boho Styles

By James Kukstis
Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass.

WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) Fashion truck entrepreneur Kim Mallios says that after going through a divorce she felt the need to strike out on her own with a unique boutique.

Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass.

Marshfield resident Kim Mallios has worked in a number of industries over the years, but her current business hits closest to home, even if it travels all over.

Bohemian Babe-Boho to Go, founded last year, is a mobile boutique featuring fashions for women of all ages.

After going through a divorce, Mallios felt the need to strike out on her own, and the inspiration for her truck came from her lifelong interest in fashion and time she and her ex-husband spent living in Greece.

“We had move to Greece for a couple years, and I remember seeing these open air markets and people selling wares out of their trucks,” she said. “I was fascinated.”

Back in the states, Mallios noticed that this type of business was not limited to overseas.

“When I wanted to open a boutique, I actually saw several other trucks in the area, and I thought it was really cool,” she said. “They bring the level up, so I thought instead of opening a store and being stuck in one spot and waiting for people to come to me, why not bring the business to the customer?”

Mallios purchased a 20-foot RV and turned it into a mobile boutique, complete with clothing and jewelry racks, merchandise storage space and a changing room, that she drives to breweries, festivals, fairs, restaurants, gyms, beaches and private functions to set up as a pop-up shop.

“People like it,” Mallios said. “They come and think it’s fun.”

When set up, customers shop inside and outside the truck, with clothing racks placed outside for browsing. Mallios regularly sets up shop at Union Point in Weymouth and can often be found on the Brant Rock Esplanade.

Mallios said the items she sells reflect her personal style and are comfortable, easy to wear and feminine.

“It’s bohemian-inspired clothing,” she said.” I sell harem pants, leggings, tunics, kimonos, dresses and tops, but everything is very flowy. I have a lot of things with elephants, because people love elephants right now, whether it be harem pants or a tank top or a kimono.”

With shoppers of all ages, Mallios said one of her favorite things is discovering what styles appeal to which crowd.

“I’m always interested in who is buying what,” she said. “I’ll think this is for someone older or this is more for somebody younger, but then you’ll have a woman come in and buy funky lace-up jeans who’s in her 70s, and I’m like ‘You go, girl!'”

The versatility afforded Mallios by having a mobile boutique allows her to be creative with where and when she sells, trying out different events and pop-ups throughout the area without being tied down.

Over the winter, she parked the truck in the Kingston Collection for the winter, opening over the weekends for shoppers through mid-April. Initially she only intended to be there for a holiday shopping event, but the mall’s manager asked her to stay on longer.

Mallios is also able to bring the truck to the customer, be it for a fundraiser, a ladies’ shopping night, or just a busy mom who doesn’t have time to leave the house to shop for clothes.

“I’m happy how many people like it, and I’m glad that they do think it’s fun,” she said. “I love going different places and meeting people. I love talking to people and hearing about where they’re from and what they do. I really like that.”

Bohemian Babe-Boho to Go has a busy summer planned, including The Pinehills Art on the Green in Plymouth in July and August and setting up shop at Cape Cod Beer in September.

For more information or to see where the truck will be next, visit facebook.com/Bohemianbabeboho2go.

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