Jul 1, 2024 By Melissa Gibson 3 min read

Cindy Rutherford worked in corporate retail for 30 years, buying the popular clothing for the new season, honing in on the latest home décor craze and developing an eye for what worked for her and others.

Of course, much of her skill has been there since the beginning.

“I think it’s natural. My mom and sister have ‘it,’ and I also gained a lot of experience over the years. It comes in handy when you’re putting things together in displays and working colors together for the different seasons,” Rutherford said.

Sixteen years ago, Rutherford decided to go out on her own and opened Vintage to Vogue in McMurray.

“I started in a smaller space, just doing consignment. Then, I found an old farmhouse for sale and it was the perfect space for my shop,” Rutherford said.

She loves the hunt for the perfect items, traveling to markets in Atlanta and other locations.

“I can get apparel, home decor and garden gifts under one roof. The large markets have everything you can possibly imagine from vendors from all over the world,” Rutherford said. “They also have a huge seasonal area and I do a big Christmas here at the shop so I can find things there.”

It’s a massive Christmas display; one she begins setting up in October and the perfect example of Rutherford’s care and concern she puts forth for her customers.

She’s focused on finding the perfect thing for loyal customers and enjoys keeping fresh and unique options on hand.

The popularity of boutiques as a rule, is the routine changes made on the racks and shelves. Customers like purchasing items you can’t find just anywhere else.

“I think a lot of boutiques carry the same brands but have a higher mark up. I have fair prices, and I’d rather have a constant turn around,” Rutherford said. “I like the unique, and I often add antique and vintage items into the mix.”

Customers seem to respond well to Rutherford’s style. They bring their styling questions to her and know they’ll receive the one-on-one customer service they’ve grown to expect.

“When you’re in business for 16 years, you end up seeing generations of customers come in, and so many have become friends. It’s another reason to keep things fresh and new because they’re coming in all the time,” Rutherford said.

Knowing what those relationships mean to her, the Vintage to Vogue owner works with other small businesses to create a network of support.

In her shop, some displays of handmade jewelry and other retail items come from local businessmen and women. On days of celebration, customers may even find pop-up businesses outside, sales and as always, friendly faces.

Walking away from the corporate retail world was the right decision for Rutherford and she’s planning on plenty more anniversaries in her future.

“I love being my own boss. I love the creativity, getting to hand pick the items and seeing the trends in home and fashion as they evolve,” Rutherford said.