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For more than 12 years, the Chrysalis Boutique has been an outlet for women in the downriver area who are attempting to re-enter the workforce. Most of these women have little or no income and cannot purchase interview clothing due to their budget restraints. Now newly renovated, the Chrysalis Boutique continues to offer endless opportunities to the many women it serves. Marge Torok, a member of the Trenton Soroptimists, recognized that many women who are entering the workforce couldn’t afford professional clothing, so she started the boutique with the help of James Jones, former director of the Downriver Community Conference (DCC) and Gib Rose, previous owner of the Willow Tree in Wyandotte. Torok was able to get her dream off the ground by collecting donations of gently worn professional women’s clothing and the Chrysalis Boutique has been a success story ever since. |
 Helping out with the festivities during the grand re-opening are from (left to right) Natalie Purcell, Sue Pilon, Nicole Carey, Sabrina Lee, Kelly Grzywacz, Elsie Baarnes, Sarah Venhuizen and Stacy Hurst. |
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Originally housed on the first floor of the DCC building, the Chrysalis Boutique was jointly operated by The Information Center (TIC) and the DCC for 11 years. Conveniently located across the hall from the SEMCA One-Stop Service Center, clients were able to visit and pick a work wardrobe before they went on interviews. Volunteers from TIC collected and sorted the donated clothing and also assisted customers with assembling the right outfits and accessories. The volunteers of the TIC also acquired display cabinets and built the clothing racks that are still used in the boutique today. Over the years, TIC’s staff developed many contacts with local businesses to encourage their staff to donate their professional clothing and hold annual drives. In February 2002, TIC moved out of the DCC, but everyone involved agreed that the Chrysalis Boutique should remain at the DCC so the One-Stop Center clients could retain easy access to this vital resource. Natilie Purcell and Kelly Grzywacz, both staff members for the DCC, graciously took on the task of running the boutique and due to their dedication and hard work, the boutique is an inviting store where women can boost their self-esteem because they feel more confident with their appearance. The boutique, which is now housed on the second floor of the DCC building, is much larger and air-conditioned. Purcell and Grzywacz added their personal touch to the boutique by adding a fresh coat of paint and inspirational quotes around the tops of the walls. If that wasn’t enough, the DCC was fortunate to receive a Community Services Grant from the United Way. The grant has allowed the DCC to develop a unique retail-training program, which helps participants learn basic retail job skills by assisting boutique customers. Participants can also expect to gain at lease one grade level of math and reading skills, with an average gain of two grade levels through supplemental work. In addition to retail training, the students are trained in store security, visual merchandising, logistics, commission sales, administration, customer service and retention. Purcell said the skills acquired from the retail training program make the client more marketable since they can easily be transferred to other occupations such as a receptionist, bank teller, or even office worker. The boutique accepts donations of professional, women’s clothing in excellent shape that has been laundered or dry cleaned, pressed and on hangers. They also accept unused cosmetics, panty hose, undergarments and gift certificates to local stores or cash donations. To donate, please call the DCC at 734–281–0700. |
 Guests who attended the grand re-opening were eager to check out the new boutique. |
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