The Dress Boutique at Merle Norman of Burlington — Attraction in Burlington

My friend and I went here as a first stop on our wedding dress hunts. As both of our families are out of state, we went together. To their credit, the ladies at the shop did a fair job at not seeming too shocked (once we assured them that no, we were not shopping for prom dresses). The salesperson did warn us that their wedding dress selection was limited at this time, which we were fine with since neither of us had previously been able to try on any gowns: we figured we could get a fair understanding of what styles we liked, and potentially order dresses through the store. The experience was fine until about halfway through when an older lady (the manager?) became very upset with our presence. I overheard her scolding the salesperson who was helping us while we were changing. Then, when we came out of the room, the older woman watched on while the salesperson grilled us about if we were planning on purchasing today. We responded honestly that we were unlikely to purchase (unless we discovered something amazing), given that this was our first opportunity to shop. The salesperson made it very clear that since we were not planning on purchasing, if it became busier, we would be expected to leave. We had been the only customers for most of our time there and by that point, there was only one other family shopping. While we of course agreed to leave if they became busier, I have never felt under such suspicion or so inconvenient to a store. It was very clear that since we didn't fit the "normal" customer base- big entourage, traditional style- we weren't worth their time. The manager's condescension towards us was palpable. I understand that gowns are valuable and delicate, and many such stores feel they have to prevent "just anyone" from taking up their time and potentially damaging their merchandise. However, our behavior did not warrant such a response, so it is very clear that we were being judged by our perceived age and lack of company. I am appalled that any store- especially one focused on making women feel good about themselves- would be so completely dismissive of customers. If you don't fit traditional gown shopping expectations, I urge you to avoid this place. And I hope that poor salesperson gets a job with a...

Exactly experience! We went in on a busy Saturday afternoon, were greeted by a lady at the desk near the entrance, and she helped us get in the waiting room line to try on prom dresses. She explained what to expect, how long the wait would be, and assisted us with how to browse the dresses in the boutique. The lady checked on us often while we shopped and answered all questions we had. She also provided helpful updates on our remaining wait time for a fitting room.

Observations, the store seems to be in the process of being rearranged/ repurposing areas for better use of the space. Additionally, there are so many racks of dresses that the isles are tight (couldn’t imagine bringing a stroller/ small children in with me while shopping), and there were only 6 fitting rooms in use. There were many shoppers in the tight space so it did lead to a crowded feel in some areas of the store. The Merle Norman portion of the store is definitely not the primary store purpose…it was almost an afterthought, but I was able to find ALL Merle products that I use with clearly marked (and reasonable) pricing.

Finally, we were matched with Ms. Dottie. 💕 Ms. Dottie was exceptional. She provided just the perfect eye for seeking out dresses to match my daughter’s explanations of aspects she preferred in dresses. Ms. Dottie gave appropriate and well timed feedback about dress fit and look that was perfectly professional. Her care and mannerisms mad us feel welcomed, supported, and well cared for during our first prom dress shopping experience. Once we selected a dress and shoes, Ms. Dottie led the store in a bell ringing celebration announcing that my daughter said “YES” to her dress. We had so much fun and will plan to return for other formal dress needs.

We send gratitude and appreciation to the Merle Norman and Dress Boutique team, but most of all to Ms. Dottie, thank you. Our experience was made perfect because of...

Are you the mom of a high school girl who needs the perfect dress for that upcoming Prom? Proceed immediately to the Dress Boutique at Merle Norman in Burlington. “Burlington?”, you say. “Really?” YES! We were so pleasantly surprised. Thank goodness my dear friend here in Greensboro recommended this boutique. Take the short drive and even caffeinate at the nearby Starbucks on your way in to shop for this blessed occasion. First and foremost, there are a ton of dresses in all sizes, colors, materials, cuts and degrees of sparkle and shine. They are thoughtfully organized by price range. Second, the store assigns a shopping assistant to the buyer to help select, unzip, fit, fluff and even accessorize each dress. I’m betting I’m not the only mom of a high school girl who was equal parts excitement and dread regarding this sacred outing. I actually got to sit back and enjoy watching my daughter try on formalwear while I sipped on a cold beverage and chatted with other moms from around the state. Praise! Third - and pay attention to this - they record which dress is going to which school dance - so you get the courtesy of a heads up before choosing a dress that someone else has already purchased for that same dance. What high school girl wants to waltz in like a copycat at the big event? Finally, this store celebrates with cheering, clapping and ringing bells for your daughter (literally) when she finally decides and officially “says yes...