Sebastian Rubino / [email protected]
Katie Murdock is the owner of Blue Orchid, a Woodland boutique that opened in November of last year.
Murdock sells items from local vendors in the Clark County area. Blue Orchid offers furniture, home decor items, new and used clothing, and homemade paint, among other things.
“I’ve been in the furniture remodeling business for probably 10 years,” she said. “I got to the point where I was like ‘I can have my own store instead of being in someone else’s. “
Murdock enjoys the furniture restoration process, which she finds “too stress-relieving.”
“You can find pieces of scrap or furniture that people will throw away, and turn them into something beautiful, something that someone will put into their home and love,” Murdock said.
The store also sells antiques that Murdock said were obtained from garage sales or goodwill.
One of the Murdock sellers highlighted in Blue Orchid is Allie Jean, whose dresses and children’s clothing are big sellers.
“Before she[Allie Jane]was here, she was just online. There was a huge demand for people to be able to actually touch and feel the material,” Murdock said. “When you’re online, you can’t, to be here. Really, she’s been able to meet that customer demand where they can feel it, and make sure it’s what they want, and I think she’s doing a really good job.”
There’s also Brent and Nichole Ellefson, who run Elf’s Woodshop and Project Feminesity. Elf’s Woodshop features woodwork and furniture made by Brent. Project Feminesity, operated by Nichole, sells artwork and operates as a nonprofit to make feminine hygiene products more accessible.
Since the store opened, Murdock said the business has been very good. I thought it would take longer to gain the client base it currently has. Blue Orchid is Murdock’s first business. She said it came with “stress, but big rewards.”
“I have people who depend on me and I have to make sure everything gets done when it’s supposed to – normal work pressures,” Murdock said. “However, just seeing people when they come in and find the perfect thing they were looking for is so rewarding. Having groups of ladies come in when they go out to do the day shopping and have fun, it makes me so happy.”
Your suppliers have long-term goals for the store. She would eventually like to open a second location but it likely won’t happen for another five years.
“I think one of my biggest goals is to make Woodland a more destination shopping district, a place for ladies to spend all day shopping, dining and having fun,” said Murdock. “Or if someone is moving into a new house, you can go to Woodland to do their shopping. I love Woodland and wish to see it was a destination city.”
Although she does not sell her restored furniture in the store, Murdock said she sells it as a side business from her home.
The Blue Orchid is located at 650 Goerig Street, Suite E, Woodland. The business is open from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday.
