Pauline Naquin Henry
December 23, 2008Dec. 26
December 26, 2008
The name “La de Da” sticks out as a store’s name.
The owner of the Raceland business, 42-year-old Dawn Hodges, wouldn’t have it any other way. Her mother, Beverly Guidry, a longtime realty broker, helped her choose the name.
“My mom was like, ‘You know how people just blurt out “la-de-da” sometimes,” Hodges recalled. “That could be a fun name for your shop.'”
The name stuck. La de Da opened in central Lafourche in 2001. Hodge’s mother had a vacant building next to her firm, Beverly Guidry and Associates, in Raceland.
“I lived away from home for 15 years. But then I moved back home,” Hodges said. “The building was available, and I always wanted to own my own business.”
Hodges elected to open a gift shop, hoping to put her skills as a decorator consultant to work.
Growing up, Hodges learned the trade from her aunt and uncle, who owned the floral shop where she worked.
Later, she earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design and apparel merchandising at Nicholls State. Hodges spent the next 15 years honing her craft in Dallas, New Orleans and Jackson, Miss.
“I can make the store more inviting to my customers and I am able to put my creative genius to work when I am arranging the baskets and wrapping them,” Hodges said.
Creativity is essential when selecting merchandise to sell, she added.
“We have everyday merchandise. At any given time, we have something for all occasions,” Hodges said. “I go to the market to get items that I think will be appealing to my customers.”
La de Da carries an assortment of items including Tyler candles, soaps, lotions, body oils and an array of novelty items for Christmas, Mardi Gras, the home, birthdays or baby showers.
Ordered especially for the holiday, Hodges’ gift selection includes a selection of gourmet food items, including dips and spreads, spices and jellies.
“I try to choose items that will match the tastes of my customers’ tastes,” Hodges said. “Over time, you get to know their likes and dislikes.”
Christmas is, by far, Hodges’ busiest time of the year. She started preparing for the Christmas rush in January. This year, La de Da’s biggest-selling items are bath product gift baskets, gourmet food baskets and inspirational novelty items.
“I sell a lot of inspirational items because it seems that the people need a lot more inspiration in their lives these days,” she said.
Customizing gifts to customers’ tastes is what separates La de Da from the competition, Hodges said. She said her gift-wrapping techniques and her basket arrangements are never duplicated, unless someone requests it.
“My merchandise changes all the time. I don’t buy a tremendous amount of things because I want to keep trendy product choices in the shop at all times,” she said.
Equally as inspiring is La de Da’s products targeting relaxation.
“I was getting a lot of feedback from my customers and I decided to expand my selection to include more of the top products that are being used in the spas around the nation,” she said.
She calls the area where the body relaxation products are sold the “Body Boutique.”
A separate section of the store, the Body Boutique’s main focus is items to help people unwind: Oils, soaps, candles and body lotions by Thyme and Niven Morgan … anything to help customers relax after a long day.
Kimona Rose, a Thyme product, is the most popular seller this Christmas. Hodges said the floral smell is both relaxing and memorable.
Gold is the top Niven Morgan seller. “It has its own distinctive scent,” Hodges said. “It’s only found in specialty stores, which is also a plus for La de Da.”
The relaxation area also has a tranquility room that has a massage chair. Hodges said she doesn’t need to hire a massage therapist because the chair does all the work.
“My customers usually come in the room – which is filled with lit candles, aromatherapy scents and soft music – on their lunch breaks or after work,” she said. “They sit in the reclining chair and just let the chair massage their stress and worries away.”
Dawn Hodges, owner of La de Da in Raceland, puts the final touches on a package. Her gift shop offers unique ideas for all occasions. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN
