Fashion forward: Business is booming at Ruboo Boutique

A year ago, Port Huron native Demiree Potter was living in North Carolina and working as a chiropractic assistant while her husband was stationed in the Marine Corps there.

She had started an online clothing shop, and despite her best efforts, wasn’t really selling anything. She then found out she would be moving back home, and decided to delete the website and start fresh.

Potter moved back to Michigan in September 2016, and on the advice of her family, opened an actual storefront boutique at the Pine Grove Shopping Center by November of last year.

“I was ready for a different feel,” said Potter of leaving her medical career behind. “It made me happy.”

Potter has always loved fashion and used to wear “weird” outfits in high school, and people would tell her that she looked cute, but that they couldn’t pull that off. “I have always loved fashion,” she said. “I’m the type of girl that will show up to a bonfire in heels. I just like to dress nice.”

She quickly outgrew her space and recently moved to a storefront in downtown Port Huron at 230 Huron. Her and husband also welcomed their first baby at the end of April.

“It’s been a busy month,” she said.

The boutique sells trendy women’s clothing from seven different vendors across the country. It offers everything from shorts, skirts, tees, tops and dresses to shoes, jewelry, scarves and other items.

Currently the store sells sizes small to large, with plans to add plus sizes in the future.

The pieces have fitting names like “Lavender Fields” for a long delicate purple maxi dress, and “You Got Plaid” for a classic checked blouse.

Potter came up with the name Ruboo from a nickname her husband calls her.

“I have no idea how we came up with that name,” she said. “But I always said, ‘if I ever open a store, that’s what I’ll call it.’”

The store also offers fun events and sales. She didn’t want to just have the same old “20 percent off sale,” and instead puts a cool spin on the events.

There are occasional Mimosa Saturdays, where you can sip on a complementary cocktail while you shop; National Best Friends Day sales if you bring your best friend with you to the store; fashion shows that donated ticket sales to the local
United Way and soup kitchen; and community events like Fourth Fridays.

The next event will be a free Wardrobe Workshop at the boutique on Aug. 19. Guests can learn fashion tips like how to make hair masks, skin scrubs, quick and easy hair styles, on-the-run outfits, and more. There will also be snacks and wine available.

“I love Port Huron,” said Potter. “I’m very excited to be downtown. The previous building complex was hard to explain with the location. Now that we have moved, we have people walking in every five minutes.”

She is also loving the boom happening in Port Huron now.

"The city is coming up so big, with the Movie House [Sperry’s Movie House], yoga studios, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

You can also shop at Ruboo on line at the website http://www.rubooboutique.com/ or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rubooboutique/.

“I have just always wanted to open a store that had all the clothes I wanted to wear, and to be able to share them with Port Huron.”