Affordables Apparel is growing. The small retail chain's newest store opened in downtown Aiken on Aug. 1.
"We think our model is a successful one that we can take anywhere," said Lyndon Amick, who purchased the business in 2012. "We have a variety of different quality products at a lower price point. You can put together an outfit at Affordables Apparel for around $100."
Founded in 1969 in Charleston, Affordables Apparel originally was known as Lowell's. Its name changed to the current one in the 1980s.
"When I bought Affordables Apparel, there were four stores," Amick said.
Three were in the Charleston area, and one was on Pawleys Island. Then, under Amick's direction, Affordables Apparel added stores on Hilton Head Island and in Savannah, Georgia, before moving into Aiken and establishing a seventh.
"Even though Affordables Apparel is a chain, we have a feeling that is more like a boutique than a department store," Amick said. "The focus of our business is customer service. We want every lady who comes in to get great advice and have a positive experience, whether they buy something or not."
Brands sold at Affordables Apparel include Clara S. by Clara Sunwoo, Habitat and IC Collection.
"We carry hundreds of different lines," Amick said. "Some we have consistently, but sometimes we bring in brands for the fall that we didn't have in the spring. We are constantly changing what we offer.
"You can dress up or dress down in our clothes," Amick added. "They have a little bit of both for the dressy and the casual in them."
Sizes range from extra small to 2X and from 0 to 16.
Affordables Apparel also sells fashion accessories such as shoes, jewelry and scarves.
Amick lives in the country between Batesburg and Saluda. His wife, Melanie, appears modeling clothes in many of the photos on Affordables Apparel's website: www.affordablesapparel.com.
"This is a family business," Amick said.
The hours of operation at Affordables Apparel's Aiken location are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The store's address is 113 Laurens St. S.W., Suite No. 104.
For more information, call 803-335-3760.
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard.