Fort Myers resale shop goes live online

Style Encore had to close it's doors because of Coronavirus, so they're adapting and going online

Reporting in San Diego, I’mAmanda Brandeis.HERE AT FOX 4, WE’RE COMMITTEDTO TELLING STORIES ABOUT HOWLOCAL BUSINESSES ARE ADJUSTINGTO LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC, ANDHOW THEY’RE FINDING NEW WAYS TOSERVE THE COMMUNITY.WE CALL THIS SERIES, ’WE’RE OPENSOUTHWEST FLORIDA.’AND THIS STORY, IS ABOUT TAKINGFASHION, FORWARD.THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGIN FORT MYERSTHAT’S ABSOLUTELY PACKED WITHWOMEN’S CLOTHING.BUT RIGHT NOW AT ’STYLEENCORE’...SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCORE"We appreciate you guys, and weneed you now more than ever."THE INTERNET HAS BECOME THESEASON’S MUST-HAVE ACCESSORY.SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCORE"We are 100 percent online basedright now."OVER VIDEO CHAT, CAROLYN RIVERATELLS ME THREE WEEKS AGOSHE DID5 PERCENT OF HER BUSINESSONLINE.IT MAKES SENSEPEOPLE WANT TO GOTO A RESALE STORE TO SEE ANDTRY-ON THE CLOTHES THEY’RESHOPPING FOR.AND STYLE ENCORE DID BIGBUSINESS.SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCORE"We buy and sell clothing,handbags, shoes and accessories.Amazing prices, really highquality pieces"AND THEN, ABOUT THREE WEEKSAGOPEOPLE STOPPED COMING IN.CAROLYN AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED,FOR THE HEALTH OF THIERCUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEESTHEYNEEDED TO CLOSE THE STORE.SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCOREChris: "How scary was that, whenyou made that decision?Carolyn: "It was a little bit ofan unknown, but honestly, Ithink humans adapt.

And it was ano brainer, I don’t want peoplein and out of the storeSOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCORE"and at that point, I was like,’I love my customers, I love tcommunity that comes hereeveryday.

Why don’t we see if wecan cultivate that online?’"FOR A BUSINESS THAT DID SO FEWONLINE SALES, IT WAS A LEAP-nat of live-BUT THIS IS HOW CAROLYN CAN KEEPTHE STORE GOING.EVERY DAY, THE STORE DOESINSTAGRAM LIVES.THEY FOCUS ON CLOTHESORSHOESOR ACCESSORIES.THEY HOLD AN ITEM UP, DESCRIBEIT-nat of live-SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCORE"And then they have a chance topurchase it by just commenting’sold.’THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR ITONLINEAND THEN THE STORE EITHERSHIPS ITOR YOU CAN STOP BYSTYLE ENCORE AND THEY’LL BRINGIT OUT TO YOUR CAR.THEY DO A SIMILAR THING ONFACEBOOK, AS WELL.SO FAR BUSINESS ISOKAY.CAROLYN SAYS SHE’S TRYING TOFOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE.SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCO"It’s day to day.

I think mybiggest hurdle and the hardestthing for me is that not all myemployees can be here every day.So for me as a business owner,trying to provide for thesepeople, it’s really hard in thatway."SOTCAROLYN RIVERA, STYLE ENCO"The biggest thing that we cdo is just stick together.

Helpeach other.

Let’s find out whoneeds it and give it if you can.It’s going to pass, it’s just amatter of when it does.

So mything right now is pivot if youcan to make your businessproductive or yourselproductive, and help as manypeople as you can.

We’ll allcome out on the other side."YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR ’WE’REOPEN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’ STORIESWHEN YOU GO TO ’FOX 4 NOW DOTCOM, SLASH OPEN.’IF YOU KNOW OF A BUSINESS THAT’SOPEN AND DOING SOMETHIN