Name of business: Hazel James

Type of business: Women’s boutique

Location: 325 S. Center St., Turlock

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Contact information: 209-882-6021; shophazeljames@gmail.com; @shophazeljames on Instagram

Specialty: Affordable, trendy clothing

History of business:

Tiffany Karam has always exhibited a flair for fashion, and now the Turlock resident is sharing some of her favorite contemporary styles with the community at her new downtown boutique Hazel James.

The shop celebrated its grand opening on Saturday and is a dream come true, Karam said, since owning her own boutique had previously seemed like an unattainable goal. When her husband Chris Karam’s business, Cen Cal Detailing, moved into a location in downtown Turlock last summer, she jumped at the opportunity to utilize the property’s unused space.

Now, those who bring their cars to Cen Cal Detailing can peruse the racks of stylish clothing and affordable gifts at Hazel James, and shoppers who frequent the downtown core have another stop to add to their lists.

“I’ve always wanted to have a boutique — I just never thought I would be able to do it because rent is so expensive if you want to have a shop downtown...it worked out so that I’m able to help him with his business but also have my own business here,” Karam said. “It’s nice that I get to see him all day.”

From women’s clothing, jewelry and other accessories to candles, bath bombs and coffee mugs, Hazel James offers plenty of affordable options whether you’re looking for a gift or something to spark a little self-care. Sharing a space with Cen Cal Detailing allows Karam to save on rent, meaning items sold at Hazel James don’t undergo the same markups in price as products in other stores.

“Even jewelry-wise, I’ll try to find wholesalers who have reasonably-priced jewelry so customers aren’t spending $100 when they could be spending $30 on a necklace,” she said.

Karam finds pieces for Hazel James from high-quality, wholesale websites, she added, and often tries to find items that aren’t offered anywhere else. On Instagram, she encourages customers to share their looks using the hashtag #hazeljamesbabe.

“I definitely try to find things I would wear myself...I just try to find stuff I think is really cute,” Karam said.

Though it’s only been a few days since Hazel James opened, Karam is enjoying time spent meeting new customers and seeing community members appreciate the items she’s hand-selected. For others thinking about opening their own shops, she shared some advice.

“It’s always worth taking that risk. You never know if it’s going to work out, so just go for it,” she said. “If it doesn’t work, then at least you tried.”