How does one whose career was, and still is, focused on technology come to own and operate a beautiful women’s clothing boutique? Let’s meet the very talented, personable, and creative boutique owner, Kari Fresquez, and learn what has led to her expanding her comfort zone and career to open Wildflower Boutique in downtown Truth or Consequences, New Mexico!
Early Familiarity with Truth or Consequences
Born in Farmington, New Mexico and later living in Albuquerque, where she attended high school and college, Kari Fresquez had become quite familiar with Truth or Consequences. After all, the area had been a vacation destination for her for decades. So, several years later, when Kari felt it was time for a lifestyle change, she remembered how much she enjoyed the natural beauty of the area and the warmly welcoming nature of the people living there and decided she could be happy both living and making a living in Truth or Consequences – a quirky city with an unusual name and a most wonderful place to settle. But let’s back up a bit before we explore Kari’s new life in “T or C”.
An Interesting Journey
Government Positions
With her undergraduate degree from UNM in biology and psychology and Master’s Degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix, Kari was well prepared to enter the workforce. Having moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kari held various leadership positions in state government, eventually working her way into the position of State Elections Director, a position she loved as it was anything but routine. She worked with legislators in developing election and campaign finance policy and with county clerks in developing administrative processes to ensure elections across the state ran as smoothly as possible.
Every day brought new questions, new challenges, and the ongoing need for contemplation, research, continued learning, and innovative solutions. And while Kari values the education she received, she is even more grateful for the knowledge she gained over the years from coworkers and mentors as she believes the most valuable knowledge she gained was from interaction with and guidance from them.
Focus on Family
Five years ago, Kari felt it was not only time for a change but also time to focus on family. She wanted to be closer to her father, who had moved to Truth or Consequences, and she wanted her daughter to experience life away from the city in a place that she hoped would bring peace and a new connection to her grandfather. Plus, Kari felt the slower pace would be enjoyable but would not restrict her ability to make a living. So, with that, she moved to Truth or Consequences.
Spaceport America
Learning about an opening at Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport about thirty minutes from Truth or Consequences, Kari applied, landing the Information Technology Officer position. In her new role, Kari oversaw technology infrastructure and technology refresh projects. It was a job that held plenty of intrigue for Kari. After all, she was interfacing with and witnessing some of the most technologically-advanced space-related efforts in the world, including Virgin Galactic launches. And, occasionally, Kari witnessed other unique events at Spaceport, such as the ECTA Spaceport America Invitational 1.5 mile Land Speed Event in which 22 world-class competitors competed on the Spaceport runway to determine who could go the fastest, and Spaceport America Cup, a rocket-launch competition in which more than 1,500 college students from around the globe competed in various categories.
An Exciting New Chapter
Passion and Dreams
While she enjoyed her work and unique experiences at Spaceport America, Kari never lost her passion for elections work, so she left her Spaceport position after a couple years, opting for a virtual elections opportunity that allowed her to work full time from Truth or Consequences.
Nor could she get an early-adulthood dream out of her mind – a “what if” dream played out between Kari and her sister when they went on vacations together. They loved “boutique hopping” to see what brands the shops carried, how they were merchandised, and what details made each boutique stand out. And through the many years and boutique visits along the way, Kari wondered “What if it was my boutique? What if I were choosing the colors and arranging the displays? What if I were selecting the brands?”
Discussions, Determination and Hard Work
When Kari’s father bought a vacant building on Main Street in downtown Truth or Consequences as an investment, she and her father met often over breakfast to brainstorm ideas regarding what business would be best suited for the location. After more than a year of discussions and with the encouragement of her father, Kari decided to open her own boutique as the location and size were ideal for such a venture.
Over the next year-and-a-half, Kari maintained a full-time work schedule while spending nights and weekends, often with the help of her father, renovating the building and preparing for her eventual grand opening. Since the building had once housed an alterations shop, Kari inherited some mirrors, which remained in place, and a sales counter, which she moved, repaired, painted, and decorated. She and her father spray painted the ceiling a luscious brown and Kari painted the walls, faux painted some display areas, shined up the windows, dressed up the exterior, added the Wildflower sign and, with a lot of hard work behind her, was ready for merchandise.
Old Skills, New Applications
As one goes through life, it can be difficult to imagine how one’s education and past experiences might prove helpful one day. For Kari, they proved to be invaluable. In her early Santa Fe government work years, Kari worked part time as a sales associate at Lerner New York, a national women’s clothing company, where she was exposed to the retail environment, learning some of the ins and outs of retail sales and merchandising. Her technology background helped Kari in setting up her point of sale (POS) system and backend processes as well as helping expedite the hours of online searches required to find and select clothing lines that would fit her vision for the Wildflower brand. Her boutique hopping experiences with her sister brought her a wealth of information regarding effective merchandising and her psychology degree certainly helps Kari, a self-proclaimed shy individual, warmly interact with and effectively assist customers.
The Right Decision
For Kari, opening Wildflower Boutique was a great decision. It has served her as a much-needed outlet for creativity; pushed her past her comfort zone; allowed her to experiment with color, design, and texture; helped her integrate with the community; given her the opportunity to build wonderful and lasting friendships with customers and other shop owners; provided a refreshing and rewarding outlet from her government work (which she now does part-time as a consultant); and enriched her life with a sense of accomplishment beyond anything she had known before.
Wildflower
A Lovely Shopping Experience
Inspired by the beauty of her surroundings, the supportive nature of the business community, and the acceptance of the people of Truth or Consequences and beyond, Kari has created a truly lovely shopping experience. Wildflower’s colors are welcoming, the merchandising is flawless, and the products – everything from clothing, jewelry, purses, scarves, belts, and hats to fabulous gift items – are amazing. And while men are welcome, they won’t find much of a shopping opportunity for themselves. As Kari puts it, “Wildflower Boutique is a woman’s store with flowing, flattering, feminine wearables that are texturally appealing, typically with natural fibers and a hint of Bohemian styling. You’ll find everything you need to dress up jeans and a t-shirt and elevate a casual style with non-fussy layering and accessories.”
Looking Ahead
Kari is continually focused on learning what works and improving every step of the way. She currently offers not only new merchandise but a small selection of curated, second-hand clothing, which she may eventually phase out to make room for more new merchandise. The empty lot she owns behind her building is tugging at her creativity, with thoughts to turn it into an artfully-designed and beautifully-landscaped space with a yet-to-be-determined purpose, and the south wall of her building will soon boast a colorful mural, painted by a local artist, which will not only help attract the attention of passers by but will also enhance the downtown’s overall appeal. Lastly, at least for now, Kari longs for the day when she can experience attending a national or international fashion market, which will bring her face to face with a plethora of renowned designers and manufacturers.
Conclusion
As Kari looks back on her life, she marvels at how the pieces have come full circle, bringing past experiences and dreams together in a way she couldn’t possibly have imagined. Now the proud owner of Wildflower Boutique, a beautiful boutique in downtown Truth or Consequences, while also working a part time consulting position, Kari feels happy and fulfilled. And while considering herself shy and reserved, Kari couldn’t be more welcoming, making you feel special the moment you set foot inside. She admittedly loves the personal side of the business the most, interacting with customers about fashion, colors and fabrics amongst other things. So when you’re ready for a boutique experience that fully addresses your feminine nature, you owe it to yourself to visit Wildflower Boutique and discover a truly unique shopping experience, brought to you by the ever-so-talented and warmly-welcoming Kari Fresquez in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico!
