Apricot Lane Announces Second Charlotte Store, New Hires

CHARLOTTE, NC, April 21, 2013 (Press-News.org) Apricot Lane, a popular national boutique featuring celebrity-inspired affordable fashions for the everyday woman, will open a second store in the Charlotte market this May. This new store will be located in StoneCrest at Piper Glen, off I-485 at Rea Road. Led by the franchise group Alpha Astra, LLC, StoneCrest compliments a recently reopened Apricot Lane in Huntersville's Birkdale Village and a third yet-to-be-announced location planned for the Charlotte area.

Additionally, Alpha Astra is announcing the appointment of three store leads:

Monica Gerberding joins the team with nearly 15 years in apparel retail experience ranging from visual merchandising to district management at big-brand stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria's Secret, The Limited, and most recently Neiman Marcus. Gerberding will be the store lead for the new StoneCrest location and also assist with franchise-wide buying.

Amanda Marsh has been with the Apricot Lane chain since 2010, proving an instrumental team member and working her way from sales associate to now co-lead of the Birkdale Village store. Marsh is also in her second year at Charlotte School of Law planning a focused niche in fashion law.

Michelle Le Cras has five years of industry experience, including previously owning her own retail furniture business that she began at the age of 21. A senior at UNC Charlotte pursuing a business marketing degree, Le Cras serves alongside Marsh as co-lead for the Birkdale Village store.

"Our store leads' extensive retail and fashion experience is such an asset to our organization and a perfect match for the mission of Apricot Lane Boutiques," said George Toulas, who along with his wife Carol, run Alpha Astra and the Apricot Lane stores in the Charlotte and Triangle markets of North Carolina. "Our talented team and prime retail spaces in StoneCrest, Birkdale and the Raleigh area are key to our rapid rate of growth and our continued aggressive expansion plans."

Alpha Astra is also working on a third Triangle store to open this June in Durham's The Streets at Southpoint. Its existing two stores in that market are located in Raleigh's North Hills Shopping Center and in Cary Towne Center Mall, both of which opened in late 2012.

All of Apricot Lane's Charlotte and Triangle boutiques focus on top-of-the-line styles straight from the L.A. fashion district. The fun, fearless fashion at affordable prices include new women's clothes, handbags, jewelry, other accessories and gifts arriving daily.

The new StoneCrest Apricot Lane is expected to open in mid-May and more announcements will be made soon regarding grand opening celebration dates and special discounts. For regular updates and to join in the conversation about the Charlotte boutiques, visit http://www.facebook.com/ApricotLaneCharlotte.

About Apricot Lane:
Apricot Lane Boutique is a national retail franchise that specializes in unique, one-of-a-kind items and brand names known for their quality and fashionable style trends, quickly moving the store to the forefront of chic boutiques. Featuring celebrity-inspired fashions and designer labels offered in the convenience of neighborhoods across the country, Apricot Lane carries an impressive collection of branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags and accessories to create looks seen right off the runway and in the pages of any current fashion magazine. Apricot Lane retail boutiques are supported by the franchise company Country Visions. For more information about Apricot Lane, visit http://www.apricotlaneusa.com.