Looking for a new outfit or accessory for a night out on the town? This Friday, shoppers will have a new boutique to browse through in downtown Chehalis as they look for that perfect style.
It’s called Wilde Soul Boutique and is owned by 22-year-old W.F. West High School graduate Shelby Foister. She has been operating the store online and at popup markets since she was a junior in high school. Foister isn’t the only entrepreneur in her family, either.
Her grandfather owned W A Cutting & Logging in Chehalis and her father owned the Burnt Ridge MX Park in Onalaska, which the family is preparing to reopen this spring.
“That really pushed me to start my own business,” Foister told The Chronicle.
Having just given birth to her first child in January, Foister took some time off. But when a building became available on the market in Chehalis last month, she decided it was time to get back to business.
“I’ve always wanted (a space) with a garage door, so it was perfect. I came in that day, looked at it and got it that day,” Foister said. “It was kind of on a whim but it’s something that I’ve been working toward over the past five years now.”
Foister’s boyfriend, Dakota Robins — a local country musician who just signed with Locked And Loaded Records in Longview — has now taken over babysitting duties while Foister prepares for Wilde Soul’s grand opening.
Her decision to open a boutique arose from her dismay with what she saw as a lack of quality, affordable, body-positive clothing in other stores. Foister plans to carry a wide range of sizes from 00 to 26 and wants to keep items affordable.
“There’s no way a pair of jeans should cost $200. I don’t think that’s very fair to a lot of people because I definitely couldn’t afford that,” she said.
Though she currently only sells women’s clothing, once the store’s physical location is fully set up, Foister plans to expand to clothing for men and children. All of her products are made in the U.S. and Foister tries to work with other businesses owned by women.
“There are some exceptions obviously, but I try my best to keep everything made in the U.S.A.,” Foister said.
She plans to showcase and sell clothes by local designer Emy Dyer when Dyer releases her upcoming clothing line later this spring.
Shoppers who go to Wilde Soul will notice a “very groovy” feel to the boutique, from lava lamps and bright orange couches to disco-ball themed mannequin heads. Foister styled the store based on her own personality, she said.
“The more I grew up and the more I had leeway in designing my own space, I really wanted this place to be funky and fun, with lights and disco balls everywhere,” Foister said.
Located in downtown Chehalis at 255 N. Market Blvd., suite B, Wilde Soul Boutique’s grand opening is set for Friday at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. Foister is preparing gift bags and cotton candy to give out for the store’s grand opening.
Regular hours of operation will be Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit https://wildesoul.myshopify.com/.
