Dahlia’s Prom Boutique has been a popular destination for dress shopping in recent years. Known for its friendly staff and wide selection of homecoming and prom dresses, Dahlia’s has become a well-known name among the community. While owner Mindy Banff can be thanked for the store’s success, both teachers and students within the area can also take credit for its rising popularity. 

   One teacher that has close ties with the store is art teacher Linda Deal. Deal, being friends with the owner, was chosen to design the store’s logo. Deal said, “I have a degree in graphic design so when my best friend, Mandy Banff, decided to open a store, she asked me to design the logo. She had a vision for the logo and sketched it out, from there I designed it on software. She uses it now on everything from the business cards, the neon sign on the wall, and the bags.”. Along with designing the store’s official logo, Deal also created the flowers that are front and center on the wall at the entrance of the store. “She and I learned how to sculpt paper flowers online and we worked together to make them and arrange them for the Instagram wall.” Deal said. 

   Besides being a popular dress store, Dahlia’s also provides work experience for students. Countless students have positive feedback from working at Dahlia’s and gaining traits that are necessary in future jobs. Deal said, “I think it is a GREAT job for a young lady in high school.  You get a lot of experience working with the public so it helps you build people skills as well as learning what goes into running a retail business.” 

    Banff takes pride in preparing employees for future jobs by providing them with advice whether that is social skills or other forms of constructive criticism. Banff said, “A great stylist can read expressions and listen to comments to pick the perfect dress. They gain experience with each appointment knowing what will look good on each customer and they make suggestions based on that experience.  They need to be able to listen to what the customer likes from each dress and what dresses we have in stock that has those qualities. They also learn how to make everyone including guests feel welcome and special during this exciting time.” She also praises her team for their ability to work collaboratively with each other and with customers. Banff said, “They learn that being part of a team and working together has many advantages as well.  If they don’t know what dress to pull next, they consult their teammates and work together to find the best options.”