This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

The growth of big box retailers and national chain stores has made it more difficult for smaller, independent shops to survive. I am always delighted when I discover businesses that have defied those odds, such as Hip & Humble.

Sisters Suzette Eaton and Sheridan Larsen have been filling their shops with fun and original items for almost 10 years. They credit their talented grandmother for instilling them both with a unique sense of style and continue to think of her while expanding a growing assortment of products.

Hip & Humble is a boutique with a wide variety of items including clothing, jewelry, house wares, handbags and furniture. The business also sell locally made products such as luxurious body cream and hand-printed onesies. Top-selling items include soft, comfortable women's pajamas, vivid-colored handbags and beautiful jewelry pieces. The business also stocks a supply of cleaning products with scents such as geranium, basil and fresh-cut grass.

Suzette tells me she and Sheridan have traveled all over the world to find some of the unique items they stock. If something makes them laugh, they like to sell it. Bright and fun are a definite theme the sisters follow, as evidenced by the vibrant colors decorating the walls of their store.

Hip & Humble is designed to be family-friendly and includes a play area for children. All customers are given a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie to enjoy while they shop, a trained staff member to help with gift selection and free gift wrap for any purchase.

Recently, Suzette and Sheridan expanded from their original Salt Lake City store into a second location in the Colonial Square shopping complex in Bountiful. Since they own both pieces of property, Suzette says operating costs are significantly lower, allowing for greater inventory. Additional expansion is possible, but for right now Suzette and Sheridan want to focus on their two existing Hip & Humble stores.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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