Ask Stacy Dietz to completely explain her Ditto Boutique, and she gets a little shy and very humble.
“Ditto is new apparel, giftware, and jewelry along with gently worn repeats that visit our store for 90 days, and if sold, the owner gets a percentage of what all sold,” Dietz explained. “We have been very picky lately due to all of the people who want to consign, so most of the gently worn items aren’t ever even worn. Most have tags.”
But Ditto is much more because, since opening a little more than a year ago, the inventory has appealed to women from 13 to 83 years old, and every once in a while Dietz will include items for the men who venture through the front door. For that reason, the boutique’s business was brisk, but then the dreaded pandemic began in mid-March.
“Everything happened so suddenly that there was not really time to plan. We were in protection mode and knew we had to close to the public to do our part in keeping our employees and customers safe,” said Dietz, who is the principal for Bethlehem and West Liberty elementary schools. “Since the spread seemed to be getting worse and not better, we came up with a plan to deliver to local customers by just dropping off on porches.
“At times, a customer would swing by and pick it up from our porch. We had just gone to market in Atlanta in February, so we had our entire Spring and Summer Season ready to put on the floor,” she continued. “This is when we offered the delivery since no one could come in and see the product. Facebook and Instagram were lifesavers for our small business because that was our only online presence.”
The Reopening
When W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice relaxed restrictions for non-essential businesses, Dietz and her employees were ready to welcome back the shop’s clientele. The Ditto Boutique is located at 1143 National Road in Wheeling and is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through the week, and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays.
“We now have a daily checklist that my employees must do, and I have amazing ladies who care more about others than themselves, so they are constantly wiping down the front door knobs, the counter, and we have card holders insert their cards and take their receipt with no signature any longer,” she said. “I also gave everyone the opportunity to take a leave of absence to protect themselves and their families, but when we opened back up, they all wanted to be there.
“We have kept our door open as well to generate fresh air and eliminate the touching of the door handle,” Dietz added. “Of course, we have all of the Covid necessities, too, such as hand sanitizer, masks, and wipes, and I can’t say enough about our customers. Many actually said they don’t want to go into the crowded department stores, so they come to us.
Soft, Breathable
How the spread of the coronavirus impacts the upcoming holiday season remains to be seen, but local consumers can be certain the shelves and racks at the Ditto Boutique will be well stocked with plenty of options.
“Purchasing apparel online is a risk because you can’t feel the quality, and I’m a crazed lunatic about comfortable fabric,” Dietz explained. “About 90% of my ordering for the upcoming season has been online and I’ve lucked out so far. If something arrives and is not what I expected, back it goes. The Atlanta Market is opening back in October, but my mom usually helps with the selection, and there is no way I’m putting her at risk. She is my girl!
“Our inventory is coming in daily though and we are running out of room. Our No. 1 sellers right now are masks. Stylish whimsical soft breathable masks,” Dietz insisted. “This upcoming month will be fun with our Breast Cancer Awareness Pinko game and lots of specials. Ditto will make a donation to the Giving Tanks gas cards for patients that both my schools do. Since my mom and I are both survivors, it’s our way to give back. We love our hometown and thank all of the supporters for keeping us going.”
