Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Barfield.
Hi Meredith, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am from Pembroke, a small town about 30 minutes west of Savannah. . My Mom is a neonatal nurse and my Dad worked in his family business. I guess you say I got my love of entrepreneurship from my Dad and my Grandpa! I loved school – math, and science especially. I like to say the movie Legally Blonde shaped my youth!
I attended Georgia Southern University where I got my Master’s Degree in Accounting and obtained my CPA license shortly after graduating. I focused on tax and small business services for a few years right out of school and then left public accounting to work with my husband in his construction business. After a while, I felt the calling to do something else and began exploring business ideas.
As a teenager, I always enjoyed putting outfits together, and my love for fashion continued to grow in my 20s. I was primarily an online shopper or shopped when I was traveling. After living in Downtown Savannah for a few years, I realized there was a great opportunity to open a women’s boutique. It seemed like a perfect match – combining my love of fashion and my business background. In March 2019, The Edition Shop was opened.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is The Edition Shop, a contemporary women’s boutique in downtown Savannah. We carry fashion-forward brands such as Ulla Johnson, Ganni, Self-Portrait, Jonathan Simkhai, Simon Miller, Agolde, Paris Texas, Staud, and many more. We have an eclectic mix of clothing and accessories, from very feminine to sleek and sophisticated.
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to put a lot of effort into building our brand and social media presence. Currently, we put a lot of time into creating Instagram content and we love interacting with our customers that way. We aim to create a super positive in-person shopping experience and want to convey that same feeling via social media. Fashion should be fun!
With the ease and convenience of shopping online, we have to make the in-person experience worth it. At The Edition Shop, you’ll get honest outfit opinions and endless styling tips in a fun, approachable, and energetic atmosphere.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not, even from the get-go. I found out I was pregnant two months before I opened my store. That first year was honestly a blur, but it was so rewarding, and a huge learning experience.
After celebrating our one-year anniversary, the world shut down for Covid-19. To be honest, the first location we were in was not ideal, and after reviewing our numbers for the first half of 2020, I knew I had to search for a better location in order for my business to survive. In October of 2020, we moved to the other end of Broughton Street and the difference in business has been insane. It was a risky move, but it has been well worth it.
Building my team has been the most important task so far as a business owner. There are so many aspects to running a retail store, so I have to delegate in order to get it all done. I love being surrounded by creative and ambitious team members. I actually just hired a full time personal assistant and that made an immediate impact on my mental health and my inbox.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Favorite books are The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown.
Anything by Michael Hyatt has the best and most practical business advice.
Favorite apps:
Clickup – For task management.
Google Calendar
Farfetch (for my shopping habit).
Favorite Podcasts – I love to be entertained!
Absolutely Not by Heather McMahan
Jeff Lewis Live
The Morning Toast
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.editionsavannah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredith_barfield/
- Other: www.meredithbarfield.com
Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Lauren Jones, and Cali Artigues
