Uptown Cheapskate opens new franchise that brings fashion to area at reasonable price
A local family has brought the world of high fashion to Bossier City with an ‘uptown’ twist.
Shannon Linton owns and operates the first Uptown Cheapskate franchise store in Louisiana with her daughters, Ashlie Lokey, Taylor Linton and Maci Linton. Their Bossier City store opened just over a week ago to crowds anxiously waiting to get the best deals on high fashion, name brand clothes.
Linton was introduced to the Uptown Cheapskate franchise last year after Ashlie, a fashion designer, visited a store in Georgia.
“She always wanted to own her own boutique, but she wanted to make it a place where everyone could afford to dress in style,” Linton said. “She called me and said we had to open one.”
Their store is a long way from the average boutique Ashlie dreamed of opening. Uptown Cheapskate has a simple concept – to make hot fashion trends and brands available to young adults at an affordable price.
However, Uptown Cheapskate is more than just a resale clothing store. It’s a fashion exchange where stylish people can trade in their current-style apparel for cash.
The company has very specific standards for what it will and will not accept, according to the current fashion trends. In-store buyers hand select gently used clothing that meets the franchise’s strict criteria.
Each store differs and offers a mix of new and used name brand clothing. Currently, the Bossier store has items by elite designers such as Coach, Michael Kors, Jessica Simpson and Tory Burch.
From formal wear to designer handbags to shoes and shirts, Uptown Cheapskate is the place for men and women to find their apparel and accessory needs at affordable prices.
“We want to offer a little bit of everything under one roof,” Linton said. “We want people to consider this their one stop shop.”
Their target demographic, Linton said, is 25-year-old fashionistas. But that’s not the only age that walks through the door to shop.
“The 15-year-olds want to dress a little older and the 40-year-olds like to dress a little younger,” she said. “We can find just about anything for anyone who comes into our store. Our fashion selection is very hip, high energy, young and fresh.”
As a business owner, Linton said her goal is to provide more than just great customer service. She wants each and every customer to feel like they are getting a complete, total package shopping experience.
“It is what people call a thrift store or a resale shop, but it doesn’t have the feel of either,” Linton said. “We keep it clean, organized and smelling good. We try to have the right products and top notch customer service.”
One way they serve customers is through a one-on-one shopping approach.
“We want them to feel like we are their friends from the moment they walk in. We are kind of like their personal shoppers,” Linton said. “If they don’t get top notch customer service, I want to know about it.”
Uptown Cheapskate franchise was co-founded in 2009 by Chelsea Sloan and brother, Scott. To date, there are 30 stores across the United States.
Linton said she would like to open another Uptown Cheapskate in Louisiana when the time is right.
“We’ll see how the first year goes before we look at sites for the next one,” she said. “This community has been great to us and has really supported us. We hope our Uptown family continues to be just that – a family.”
Uptown Cheapskate Bossier City is located at 2130 Airline Drive. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
For updated information on sales and promotions, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Uptown-Cheapskate-Bossier-City
