Meet Rachel Carter | Owner- This is the Finale

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
We have created an atmosphere that allows EVERYONE to feel like they have the space to be who they are, without judgement. We are size inclusive 0-3X and have been since we opened our doors in 2020. Being size inclusive to me means more than just carrying clothes beyond a size large, it means carrying clothes that make all sizes feel confident, happy and proud as hell to be who they are. I have always purchased clothing for extended sizes as I do our standard sizing- with intent. Everyone deserves jumpsuits, statement pieces and styles that turn heads.

When creating the space, it was very important to me that all fitting rooms were handicap accessible. I have never understood why it is commonplace to make someone with a disability wait until the one room created for them is available. Every space should be for everyone. Period. We also participate in Fashion is for Every Body’s annual fashion show which is the ONLY inclusive fashion show in the state, incorporating people of all ages, all sizes, all abilities on one runway.

When our drag queens were threatened, we created a t-shirt donating the funds back to the TN Equality Project. We have also partnered with the Oasis Center, Fashion is for Every Body and One Love Intentional donating back proceeds from our store events,

No matter the audience, we have hoped to offer support and a fun atmosphere for all. We strive to be the place where our customers feel heard, feel safe and feel fierce. From the ground up we were created with this purpose and we will continue to find ways to strengthen the communities we serve.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I opened This is the Finale in October of 2020. I signed my lease 40 days before the pandemic. I waited 20 years to start this business, so I immediately had the mindset that if we “Could survive a pandemic, a slow week or month would not intimidate us.” It has been this mindset that I have taken with me since opening our doors. The biggest thing that sets us apart is that we are a size inclusive (0-3X) women’s clothing boutique known for our statement pieces, hilarious gifts and fun vibes. No other store is muraled the way we are, curated the way we are and no one has the incredible team we have! We are the only store with a Resident Drag Queen available for private parties- Ms. Kennedy Ann Scott. We strongly believe community plays a vital role in what we do, so we have donated over $4000 to local charities through the years and look for creative ways to be involved in all the communities we cherish.

It was not easy. I do believe strongly that one of the best lessons I have learned is to trust your experience. It is the one thing they can never take from you and the one thing they will always be able to tell you don’t have. This will always set you apart from your competitors. I am so thankful for having both a corporate and small business background to fall back on. Also, remain true to what you stand for and what you’ve created. Some won’t understand it, some will try to mimic it and the rest will rest will shop with you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So my response to this much different know that I live outside of the city, but I’ll do a mashup of both Nashville and my new residence, Hendersonville! I had a baby in May of 2021 and this prompted us to move to the suburbs, so I have the hot spots for both city girl and suburban girl, ha!

In Nashville- if we’re brunching we’re definitely going to Cafe Roze, Sinema, Adele’s or doing Suzy Wong’s Drag Brunch. I obviously have to bring my people to L&L Market where my store resides and let them shop the 28+ amazing small businesses all under one roof. For dinner we’re going to Henrietta Red, Lockeland Table, The Optimist or 5th & Taylor. We’ll definitely hit up a local bar in the area, but we are not going downtown. It’s a deal breaker for me. We’ll definitely be spending most of our time in East Nashville, Germantown or West Nashville shopping.

In Hendersonville- my FAVORITE spot is Moby Dickies- a bar and restaurant on the water. The vibes are fun, casual and their pour is stout! For more elevated nights definitely Rosies or Edit. The butter candle situation at Edit is truly something. To have the best possible day in the burbs, you have to rent a boat from Sweetwater Pontoon Rentals. I promise you, you won’t regret it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and Foremost, my parents and my husband, Ryan. Without them, this dream would still be the thing that nags at me and would not have come to fruition. The continual push to accomplish this goal, came from their support and I am forever grateful.

Before opening and throughout the last 3 years, I have utilized the tools that Donald Miller provides in his books and his podcast, Business Made Simple. His ability to simplify your goals to build your brand and client loyalty has been a great foundational piece for our brand.

Along the way, you meet fellow entrepreneurs who will walk with you in your highs, your lows and everything in between. I have built a community of people that are honest, disciplined and passionate about what they do and we feed off of each other’s drive to help us continue to build what we’ve created.

Website: www.thisisthefinale.com

Instagram: thisisthefinale

Facebook: This is the Finale

Image Credits
Runway pics- Clint Searcy Headshot- Hunter Myers