Elly Bethune

Elly Bethune

Elly Bethune has thrived in the fashion world for 18 years in her hometown of Columbia, Missouri and in both Southern and Northern California. Her passion for fashion landed her in retail. She opened and ran Elly’s Couture, a number one clothing boutique voted a local favorite by Columbia, Missouri each year it was open (2006-2016). In 2013, Elly and her husband Clay curated the website 9thandElm.com where they sold products handpicked by Elly, items created by independent designers across the globe. Elly is now pursuing her passion for helping entrepreneurs in the journey of opening up their own fashion boutiques.

18 years of experience in the retail industry.

  • Graduated Cum Laude from San Francisco State University in 2001 in Magazine Journalism with an emphasis in fashion.

  • Freelance fashion writer for San Francisco’s 7X7 Magazine and [X]Press Magazine, Missouri’s Missouri Living Magazine, Inside Columbia Magazine, Columbia Business Times, and Columbia Home Magazine.

  • Blog content writer and model for Elly’s Couture and 9thandElm.com. Many of Elly’s articles were published by mainstream outlets, such as Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, and Lucky Magazine.

  • Elly’s Couture was voted "Best Boutique" in for 8 consecutive years.

  • Has purchased over $15 million in boutique products over her retail world experience.

  • Experienced power-buyer in fast-fashion, handmade designers, and designer brands.

  • Developed an email list of over 80,000 subscribers.

  • Hand-picked to be a featured brand at New York’s Tech Week in 2014.

  • Modeled in San Francisco, New York, and Missouri.

  • Maintains and updates a large list of curated mainstream and independent designers.

  • Educated and experienced in all facets related to opening and operating a fashion boutique.

 
 

 
Best Of Columbia 2009 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2010 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2011 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2012 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2013 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2014 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2015 award winner
Best Of Columbia 2016 award winner
 
Clay Bethune

Clay Bethune

Clay Bethune is a devoted entrepreneur having created and sold 3 businesses in different industries. Clay has a passion for helping entrepreneurs and has been a trusted adviser and counselor for over 15 years. He has worked alongside his wife and business partner Elly for 10 years assisting with her boutique and fashion endeavors. Clay has vast experience in developing ideas and building processes to accomplish business objectives and goals.

  • 20 Under 40 Award Winner

  • Developed a partnership with a Fortune 500 company

  • Founded and sold 3 different companies

  • Panelist at Techweek 2014 in NYC

Clay and Elly have been featured or published in many publications. Below are just a few: