Chelsea mom opens new boutique

For the first six months after giving birth to twin girls, Jordan Gilliam was a stay-at-home mom. She then decided to start an online boutique, 2 Girls & a Dog, so she could continue to spend time at home with Madison and Abigail and their dog, Mojito. Her interest in a children’s clothing business came after her daughters were born and she received a KicKee Pants outfit as a baby gift. She said she fell in love with the brand. 

Gilliam grew her online business by advertising on buy-sell-trade boards on Facebook. In the last year, her business has grown so much that she needed to transition to a brick-and-mortar location. She was initially planning to rent a space at Somewhere in Time in Chelsea, when she found out that their next-door tenant was moving. 

“Once I found out Sew Precious was leaving, I knew Chelsea needed another children’s store,” Gilliam said. 

She acted fast and signed a lease on the 1,600-square-foot space and moved in on Sept. 1 — exactly a year to the day from when she started the business. 

Gilliam hand-picks products for the store that she said her kids will love, and offers lines of children’s clothing from newborn up to size 14. Her inventory also includes baby gifts, blankets, shoes and some women’s clothing, including matching mommy-and-me pajamas. 2 Girls & a Dog carries brands including Cyte Baby, Silkberry Baby, KicKee Pants, L’ovedbaby, Wubbanub, Izzy & Ollie, RuffleButts and Hayden Los Angeles. 

“We specialize in matching twin outfits, brother-sister coordinating outfits, birthday and holiday outfits and smocked outfits for all occasions,” Gilliam said. 

She said she also carries Elephants & Owls brand blankets, and their owner does all the monogramming, appliquéing and vinyl for customers with a three-day turnaround. Customers can also bring in their own items as well. 

Gilliam is able to take her daughters to work with her and has the store set up in a child-friendly fashion, with a train table and toys and books. She has hired someone to help on an as-needed basis, but she said she is there the majority of the time.

“As a mom, I want parents to know they can come in and shop and bring their children,” she said. 

Gilliam said she strives to get orders out the same day they’re placed, and she adds that 95 percent of her online orders are not from in state. Gilliam is hoping to change that.

 “I wanted people in Alabama to be able to come to a store,” she said. “So many items we carry, people love once they get one piece. Most are made of bamboo or organic cotton.”

The official grand opening for 2 Girls & a Dog Boutique is scheduled for Oct. 1 and will feature hot dogs, drinks and giveaways. The ribbon-cutting with the South Shelby Chamber will be Oct. 6.

Upcoming plans are to add size 16 apparel for the spring and to add baby registry within the next month. Gilliam said she will also be getting in items for boys sizes 4-12, including dress pants, button-downs and everyday T-shirts.

“I wanted people to be able to shop local,” Gilliam said. “Even if we aren’t able to help someone, we want to be able to send them to get what they need.”

2 Girls & a Dog is located at 16161 U.S. 280, Suite 2, in Chelsea. It will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 677-2225 or go to .