Retail Therapy provides shopping relief for area’s men, women

Aug. 11
August 11, 2009
Ruth Hills Blunt
August 13, 2009
Aug. 11
August 11, 2009
Ruth Hills Blunt
August 13, 2009

Retail: the sale of goods to ultimate consumers. Therapy: any act, hobby, task or program that relieves stress.


Together the two words spell out Retail Therapy, the name of a boutique for women and men on West 3rd Street in downtown Thibodaux.


“We wanted to be something that relieves tension while you are shopping and buying goods,” joked owner Renee Gros, a Houma native.

The eccentric 23-year-old opened the shop in May, and business has been nonstop since.


“Business has been good for us through the summer,” she said. “We pretty much sell out of our new items within three days. I have had to call all my vendors and ask them if they can speed up my shipments.”


She attributes her newfound success to her imagination and creativity. For instance, she does not call herself a business owner, but rather a fashion therapist.

“I didn’t want to be the disciplinary person over the store,” she said. “The word ‘owner’ was just so bold. I wanted to be the person in charge of the therapy. Hence, fashion therapist, because I am giving therapy with fashion.”


Her age of 23 screams, “young and inexperienced.” However, Gros’ retail background includes working at one of the premiere shopping centers in the nation, Beverly Center in Los Angeles.


Right before she decided to move back to Louisiana, she was promoted to fashion coordinator for Express’ main clothing floor.

She also has experience as an actress, model, and fashion consultant in Los Angeles.


Her boutique offers clothing for both men and women. In addition to that, she offers her own line of custom headbands, bows, picture frames and towels that are great for gifts. And she offers clothing accessories and bedazzling clutch bags in a collection she calls “Funky Junk.”

Gros went to California to attend FIDM, a world-class fashion institute in Los Angeles. Instead, she was accepted into an acting program and became a model and a fashion consultant.

However, her deep Cajun Country roots brought her back to the Houma-Thibodaux area. On her home turf, she wanted to indulge her fashion background by opening a clothing store.

“A lot of people don’t realize that they have so many fashion disasters because they don’t get the right clothing to fit them,” she said. “But if you knew your body type, then shopping would be a lot easier for you.”

Gros worked on a business plan on and off for about a year. Unfortunately, the hardest part of the plan was coming up with a catchy name. She came up with a list of cool ideas, but none came to fruition. She even surveyed neighbors, friends and family members for their input.

Then one day it hit her. Gros said she was so fed up with trying to figure out a name that she said, “I need some retail therapy,” and opted to go shopping. Presto! She had a name for her boutique.

Retail Therapy joins several other high-end clothing establishments in the downtown Thibodaux area offering residents a plethora of choices in the latest fashion trends.

However, she plans to offer something different. In Los Angeles, she was a personal shopper for an entertainment producer’s wife, tailoring the lady’s clothing to best fit her.

In a couple of months, she will offer a similar service to her customers.

“We want our customers to be confident and stylish,” Gros said. “We want to have the best fit for them. We will help them design a wardrobe scheme that includes the best colors, cuts and styles that look best on them.”

Retail Therapy manager Alex Tullos (left) and owner Renee Gros pick out some chic accessories. Gros prefers being called a “fashion therapist” rather than “owner.” * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF