I am currently in Sun Valley on business working with a family I have visited here with before…read more This is my second time visiting Maison et Cadeaux in the past two years. My first experience was pleasant and welcoming, which is why what happened today was so shocking and disappointing.
I am a woman of color, and although Sun Valley is a predominantly white community, I have felt incredibly safe and welcomed by the people here. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about my experience today with the owner of this boutique, Marcelle West.
I had been browsing the store for approximately 10 minutes while on the phone with my daughter, who loves Jellycats. I found two that I had not seen back home, took two photos to send to her, and continued looking around the store. I was also browsing other items and considering purchasing something for my newborn nephew.
While I was standing nearby reading a text message, I overheard Marcelle speaking loudly to the employee at the register about me. She said, loudly enough for me to clearly hear, that she did not understand why I was still in the store because I had been walking around for 10 minutes without buying anything. She also commented that I was taking pictures of merchandise and questioned why I was there if I was not going to purchase something.
I was honestly stunned. During the entire time I had been browsing, Marcelle had not once approached me to ask if I needed assistance. Instead, I was watched and then discussed negatively in front of me.
When she finally approached and asked if I needed help, I told her that what she had just done was extremely rude and made me feel unwelcome. I explained that I had simply taken two pictures of Jellycats to send to my daughter and even offered to show her the photos on my phone. She threw her hands up and told me she did not care.
She then continued defending her behavior by saying customers should not be taking pictures of merchandise because people sometimes find items online for a cheaper price. Whether or not that has happened to her before had absolutely nothing to do with me or how I deserved to be treated as a customer.
The conversation escalated to the point where she told me, "Whatever, you can just leave."
I told her God bless her and that what she had done was wrong, and I left.
What stood out to me even more was the kindness of the younger woman working at the register. She apologized to me for the way I had been treated and tried to explain what may have caused Marcelle's reaction. I genuinely appreciated her compassion because she clearly recognized how uncomfortable and inappropriate the interaction had become.
A short time later, Marcelle and another lady (not the employee) stood near the window looking at me and then walked past me leaving the store without Marcelle saying a word or offering any apology. I later went back inside only to ask the employee for the owner's name because I wanted to make sure I documented my experience accurately.
I left this store feeling profiled, humiliated, and unwelcome. Being a woman of color, I do not make that statement lightly. I can only speak to my personal experience, but being watched while browsing, having the owner openly question why I was in her store because I had not made a purchase within 10 minutes, and then being told to leave after I addressed how disrespectful the comments were made me feel that I was being judged before I had done anything wrong.
Customers should be able to browse a boutique, compare prices, send a picture to a family member, or simply decide not to purchase anything without being made to feel that they do not belong.
No one should have to prove that they can afford something or justify why they are browsing a store in order to be treated with basic dignity and respect.
My experience with Maison et Cadeaux today was deeply disappointing, and unfortunately, I will never shop here again.
The TWO jelly cats I sent my child!
