The Red Purse was a long-time dream of Natalie G owner and purveyor of the feel good head-turning fashion you see here in The Red Purse online store. There were many reasons for wanting to open a Boutique but there was just one reason for the name. Here is where the story begins.
After marrying her sweetheart, Natalie and her husband were living the dream, working hard and enjoying all that life had brought them. Their marriage was right out of a storybook, extremely happy and fun-loving! They celebrated every holiday, birthday and anniversary by giving one another special gifts they had always wanted, and were pleasantly surprised to receive with great gratitude for the thoughtfulness that came with them.
One anniversary Natalie had been eyeing a beautiful red purse that was the perfect bag of her dreams. While Natalie has always had an affinity for sparkle and pizazz, she never really wanted extravagant things. This purse was a bit on the extravagant side for her and it would be a special purchase. There were many other things that realistically would take priority that she resolved to believing it just probably wasn’t going to happen.
Fast forward one year, Natalie and her husband were given news no one ever wants to hear, her husband had cancer. He was unexpectedly diagnosed with gastric cancer and needed a special treatment plan put in place as soon as possible. When the love of your life becomes so very ill, every moment counts and you can’t help but look at them and tear up. And, not unlike many other stories of cancer diagnoses, it was a very scary time but the primary objective was to keep their chins up and approach this situation as they had many others – with the same loving positive energy, strength and vigor they knew they could muster.
They received the diagnosis in spring and things went from perfect to extremely overwhelming. Natalie's husband kept a good face on for her and she did the same in return, while they both worked hard to enjoy every minute. Expenses grew day by day and while insurance was a blessing, this too was soon to run out. They went from two full time incomes and no debt to no money, depleting everything.
Let’s circle back now to Natalie’s desire for a new beautiful red purse. It was Natalie and her husband's 8th Anniversary and her husband was determined to get Natalie the red purse she so wanted. He was determined to ultimately surprise her with this perfect present. While items are not the important things in life, this particular red purse became, for her husband, a measure of his true love for Natalie. He was so thrilled at what joy this small item brought his beloved Natalie that it was the thought and love that made this item so precious to her.
It was certainly true that when Natalie's husband became ill that items, while they had not been overly important before, they most certainly took a backseat now to all other desires, wishes, dreams and prayers. As the insurance coverage neared the maximum amount Natalie knew she was going to have to do whatever she could to get her husband’s medication. In doing so, she thought of every avenue she could to squeeze juice out of a turnip, as they say. One day it occurred to her that she had this lovely purse that she had not been able to use because of the sequence of events, and while it was dear to her heart, not only because she had always wanted it, but more so because her husband had given it to her. But reality kicked in and selling the purse was the only option. Yes, Natalie had to sell the special red purse to be able to keep her husband on his medications during a very tough time in his ordeal. Without a second thought, Natalie went about gathering the money needed to keep her husband comfortable and to keep encouraging his strength.
To this day, Natalie would do it all over again. Now you know the story of the red purse, the very last gift Blair was able to give her. It is why the meaning of the name of her online Boutique is so dear to her heart and it lives on in memory of her husband.
In keeping with our story, we have developed a Stewardship Program that motivates us and encourages our daily efforts to be of the highest standards of quality, service and loyalty to our customers. That which motivates us to be so attentive is our desire to help others. We hope to do so by dedicating donations to non-profit organizations that touch the lives of cancer victims, survivors and families.
Come peruse and shop, we think you will love what you see and we know that once you order you will enjoy every minute in and with your new items! We hope that you will visit regularly, make us your go to gift and merchandise store, will share your experience with others, will tell your friends to visit, will Like/Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram Tiktok, X and youtube) and will stop in anytime for that need to have item. The more you do the more we all help others!
Thank you to each of you and our blessings to all cancer victims, survivors and all their families!