Oxford's Nella Boutique Focuses on the Little Things

Nella, a women’s clothing boutique on the Oxford Square, brings experience in the little things. After three years of business, owners Jeff and Berry Johnson see their special touches paying off.

Nella owners Jeff and Berry Johnson

“It is little things like changing the windows twice a day, which people absolutely love,” Jeff Johnson says. “It is about the right quality and the emotional attachment. Those little things that we try to do everyday is sort of what separates us.”
“So the experience might be going to the back and pressing something so a customer can take the tag off and wear the dress to the game that day or rehearsal dinner that night,” Johnson explains. “We’ve tried to bring back all the little things that stores used to do back in the day when everybody was a merchant, as opposed to a retailer.”
The Johnsons’ attention to detail and service is apparent immedately from the clean smell of lit candles. The sleek, cozy boutique offers its customers refreshments, a television lounge, “try-on” high-heels and quality service.
“We’re trying to draw in the focus of being less ‘everything, everybody,” Johnson says. “I have a passion for running stores—men’s, women’s, whatever it may be,” Johnson says. “Selling dresses to people 25 and up, hands down, we are the best.”
Nella, at 103 Courthouse Square, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but also opens early and closes late during busy weeks and weekends. Visit them online at nellaoxford.com or on Facebook .
– Hillary Houston, The Media Store LLC