STOCKIST FEATURE // THE WHITE MAGNOLIA JACKSONVILLE

We love our stockists!

MWL has stockists all over the globe and we want to give our MWL girls a chance to get to know them better.

This week we heard from Tara Carroll, Store Manager at The White Magnolia in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

The story of The White Magnolia

The White Magnolia was founded by Jacksonville native, Kerrie Hileman, in 2010 in Jacksonville, FL and is now the leading bridal boutique brand in the southeast. The company has quickly grown to locations in Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC,  Palm Beach, FL and Savannah, GA. The White Magnolia provides a one on one, personal shopping experience that is tailored to each bride’s specific needs. In 2017, TWM was ranked 479th as part of the Inc 5000 and ranked 4th as part of the Seminole 100, both of which honors the country’s fastest-growing companies.

What inspired you to go into the bridal industry?

I was inspired to go into the bridal industry after working in big box retail management for almost a decade. I had reached a point where I wanted to stay home a bit more with my babies, and also find something part-time that was personally fulfilling. I remember thinking fondly back to my own shopping experience at The White Magnolia in 2011, with our owner, Kerrie, as my stylist, and thinking “that is a dream job.”

Tell us a bride memory that always brings a smile to your face.

A couple of years ago, I had a bride who knowingly pulled a gown over her budget because it was just everything she was looking for. She fell in love, but the gown price was $1000 over her budget, so she decided to go home to think it over. Her grandmother had just passed away, and that evening her family was beginning to go through her things. They found a box of quarters she had stashed that equaled exactly $1000. She felt like it was a gift of approval from her grandmother, and they cried happy tears when she came back to say yes!

What gets you most excited to go to work each day?

I love working with brides and I have such a wonderful team around me! We encourage each other, find the positivity in everything, help each other and in turn, take wonderful care of our brides. Our owner, Kerrie, truly leads the way with her work ethic and her positive morale.

What’s one moment in your career in bridal that you’ll never forget?

What strikes me as unforgettable is every moment that I think to myself “this is what I’m meant to do.”

What’s one piece of advice you give to every bride?

I encourage brides to bring only the people whose opinions matter the most to you. This is such a special memory and right of passage in your life; you are allowed to create the memory you want, not what others want for you.  I also recommend finding your gown early! This helps you to really create your wedding vision around your fabric/lace/color/style as you’re planning other details of the wedding. It also eliminates potential stress down the road should there be delays in production or shipping.

“I love working with brides and I have such a wonderful team around me!”

If you were choosing a MWL dress for your big day, which one would you pick?

Lottie V2!

What makes your team stand out from the crowd?  Tell us about them!

I love to brag about my team! Each of my girls have their unique niche in style and personality and I love to see how they jive with brides, especially during our busy weekends! Baylie is full of life and cheer; girls are immediately pulled into her energy and leave feeling like she is a true friend. Rachel is genuine and kind; girls love her honesty and willingness to pull more gowns to give them the options they might be missing. Emma is extremely patient and kind, as well as a true professional. Emily is our newest member and is a Made With Love bride! She will wear her gown later this month! She and all the girls go above and beyond to give a personal, warm and genuine experience unlike any other!

Contact.

website | [email protected]

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