For Gifts and Glitz, Try Tate & Tilly

Five minutes inside Tate & Tilly, Carrollwood’s newest boutique, is a trendsetter’s dream come true.

Previously The Shoppes at the Pink Cabana, the store opened in early July under new management. With a new name, a new look and the same stylish merchandise, Tate & Tilly has taken over where The Shoppes left off.

It’s a simple business model: Multiple vendors run their small businesses under the same roof. Owner Tish Difelice and six other women bring in merchandise from markets in Atlanta and Dallas as well as their own handmade goods to sell from one location.

“We all have our little niche, and we just bring in what we like,” Difelice said.

One vendor may specialize in baby clothes and merchandise, while another focuses on handmade gifts.

The store carries brands like Tyler candles and Chamilia jewelry next to handmade cheerleading bows and picture frames. Each vendor brings her own style into the store, contributing to a huge, colorful selection of clothing and gifts.

That’s the beauty of Tate & Tilly, explained Difelice. People are free to run their businesses without the overheard costs of maintaining separate locations.

“The cost of filling up a boutique is too expensive for people, so this is the best-case scenario for boutiques,” Difelice said. “You just can’t afford to drop 200 grand into your inventory.”

Angie Neubner sells her line of gifts and accessories, called Thing-A-Ma-Jigs, out of Tate & Tilly. She said this business model has worked well for her business, especially given the economy’s ups and downs.

“This is sort of a new phase of retail,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for a small-business person to have a retail store in a very questionable economic climate.”

With seven different businesses under one roof, customers can expect nothing short of variety. Tate & Tilly is a one-stop shop for all things girly, fun or funky. Cheryl VanBebber, who runs her clothing and accessory business All the Craze out of Tate & Tilly, said the women work well together.

“If I’m succeeding in my business, then it helps everybody else. If they’re succeeding in their businesses, it helps me,” VanBebber said. “[Customers] can come here and get everything under one roof.”

Difelice said some of the women who sell merchandise also work regular hours in the store, allowing them to speak directly with customers about the products.

“If there’s ever a detail question I always pass it along [to the vendor] and they call the customer,” she said. “It’s that level of customer service you really can’t get anywhere else.”

In the coming months, Difelice will bring in new merchandise, like holiday ornaments and a line of invitations, based on customer demand. When the store has a more established presence, she’ll host Tate & Tilly “school nights,” where a portion of an evening’s proceeds benefit a local school.

Though Tate & Tilly is already open for business, Difelice is planning a grand opening for the store in September. Community support is key in her business, she said, and she’s optimistic that Tate & Tilly is off to a good start.

“It’s important that people support their local shops,” she said. “We want to get out there and develop a camaraderie.” 

Tate & Tilly is located at 14349 North Dale Mabry Hwy.