Business Profile – Good Goods
Boutique Retail Shop Offers a Modern Mix of Old and New
By Rudy Arispe | Photography by Lynn Yao
D’Ette Cole, owner of Good Goods, invites you to discover a modern mix of old and new and everything in between on display inside her quaint boutique retail shop that she opened in 2019 at 1055 Austin Highway.
Like many, you’ve probably passed it a dozen or so times and wondered what exactly is inside the small, black building next to the U.S Post Office. Step inside and you’ll find a trove of retail treasures that will delight and make the perfect gift for every occasion, from the holidays to birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or that one special find you must have for yourself.
Cole, who is also an interior designer for residential and commercial spaces, opened Good Goods as part of her love of creating art. “I have retail in my blood, and that’s how I get to make art,” she said. “Putting this shop together is like putting on a show with all the color and texture, and you will see that design is prevalent in the store. It’s me getting to practice my art.”
Not only does Cole want you to experience a visual feast for the eyes while browsing the shop, but she also encourages you to pick up an item, whether it’s a wrap, a pair of earrings, or a pillow, and touch and feel. “It’s important to have a tactile presentation, which is why I’ve arranged things a certain way,” she said. “That’s what you get when you shop in person instead of online.”
A walk through the store reveals gifts galore and one-of-a-kind pieces that you might not find anywhere else. A top seller, Cole explained, is a collection of bright, block-print, 100% cotton dresses imported from India. “They’ll keep you cool and comfortable in the summer, and you’ll look good,” she said.
There’s also a line of light, breezy linen dresses made in Italy that come in teal, vivid blue, and green. “They have been a game changer for us,” Cole said. “Our customers love them.”
If it’s jewelry you’re looking for, you’ll love the unique assortment of necklaces, earrings, jade bangles, along with milagros, wraps, and whimsical artwork, including hand-cut collages from local artists. And throughout the shop, there are books, bandanas, incense, greeting cards, home décor, and candles at very reasonable prices.
Customers, Cole notes, travel all the way from Austin and Alpine to explore her little shop of treasures that many have heard about through word of mouth, or they’ve seen someone wearing a dress from Good Goods and inquire where they purchased it. Of course, people notice the retail shop when driving along Austin Highway. Cole originally opened Good Goods in 2015 in Dignowity Hill on Nolan Street, and customers have followed her to the new location.
“We have a different audience now that we’re on Austin Highway,” she said. “We get customers who have driven by several times and finally decide to stop by. Once they see what we have to offer, they usually come back and bring a friend. We’ve really evolved into a boutique because it’s customer-driven. Many people call it their happy place.”
