in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 25 ,2 02 1 | 2 Advertorial In October, 2020 Ruza Davis and Vicky Smith became the proud owners of the boutique located at 4019 New Street in Burlington. As customers, then employees and now owners, Davis and Smith's co-ownership of Jus B'Gauze was meant to be. Ruza has many years of retail and cus- tomer service experience and worked at Jus B'Gauze for two years."The previous owner, Donna, contacted me to help out again," explains Davis. "I always wanted to buy Jus B' Gauze, and when Donna decided to retire, I thought that would be a great time to take over. Knowing that she wanted to take the business to the next level, Davis reached out to Smith about joining her on this adven- ture. "In my early 20s, I worked several years in retail and I really loved it," explains Smith. "But I left to go into transportation sales and remained in the industry for 30 years. I've always had a great love for retail." When Davis approached Smith about joining her as an owner, she was thrilled. Taking over a local business in the COVID-19 era can be tricky, but the business partners are passionate about all that the shop and the online store have to offer and believe others will be too. The most popular line is Oh My Gauze. "It's our bread and butter," says Smith. The line features 100 per cent cotton pieces made from natural fibre, that was first popular with travellers. The line features versatile pants, tops, dresses, shawls and more. Davis spent her younger years living in hot, humid Florida wearing soft, comfortable gauze and linen clothing. It doesn't require ironing and is easy to maintain. "If you are at a hotel or cottage you can hand wash it, ring it out and hang it to dry - it's a low mainte- nance fabric." says Davis. Gauze is perfect for resort or cruise wear, but for the past year when travel and excur- sions have been on hold, customers are embracing the look and comfort to wear at home, work and at the cottage. Ruza and Vicky enjoy wearing this natural, soft fabric all year long with jeans or leggings. Over the years, Jus B'Gauze has expand- ed from cruise wear to casual and evening attire. And now, under new ownership, the ladies want to grow their fashion offerings. "We have brought in new lines, such as, Frank Lyman, BrynWalker, Ever Sassy, Pure Venice, Luc Fontaine, Uni Pour La Vie and Yul Voy. We are actively looking for North Ameri- can and European labels that are contempo- rary and offer excellent quality and value. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place for shoppers. Jus B'Gauze is part of the POST Promise. Participating organizations in the collective POST Promise are taking key steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by main- taining physical distancing, high- standard sanitizing, and proper face covering. A maximum of five guests can shop at a time, and there will be several commercial hand sanitizing stations throughout the store. The store is open Monday to Friday, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For those who would like to experience a personalized shopping experience within their social bubble, Vicky and Ruza are opening private shopping ses- sions on Sundays from 12 to 4 or 5 pm. Usually, Jus B Gauze is closed on Sundays, but it is now open for private parties at no additional cost. A group of five people or less can have the store to themselves, with refreshments provided. Call ahead to reserve a spot. "We've accommodated small parties of guests on several occasions, and it's been a lot of fun," says Smith. "We have enough room to accommodate physical distanc- ing of six to seven feet. They can take turns shopping around and trying on clothes to share with their friends." Customers who book private parties can receive a discount on any merchandise pur- chased that day too. Davis explains, "There's no rush during these private bookings. Customers can take their time shopping and safely socialize with their party." For those who want to shop from the comfort of their home, you can view online at justbgauze.com. Curb-side pick up and local delivery are available too. For more information about Jus B Gauze visit justbgauze.com, check us out on Face- book and Instagram or call 905-333-1071. Newowners bring their passion to JusB'Gauze Fashions New clothing lines at the established Burlington shop Jus B' Gauze is com- mitted to bringing the latest fashions to its customers because they deserve to feel comfortable and look great.