A Love Letter to our Plum Bottom Family

February is the month of love, and while we adore a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift (especially when it’s a stylish new pair of shoes!), this year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation for the people who make Plum Bottom more than just a business—our customers, our employees, and my business partner, Andrea Mason.

This year marks a special milestone—ten years of partnership between Andrea and me. A decade ago, after the passing of my father, Joe Correale, Andrea and I embarked on this journey together. My father built Plum Bottom on the foundation of quality, service, and a deep love for helping people find shoes that not only look beautiful but feel incredible. Carrying on his legacy has been an honor, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Andrea. She keeps me laughing (or at least keeps me from crying) as we navigate the often challenging issues of small business ownership. We support each other in business, encourage each other to stay mentally and physically healthy while leaning on each other as friends. 

I'll never forget when my father called to tell me about interviewing Lauren Trea for a job.  Fresh out of college, Lauren impressed Joe with her business plans and design ideas. He took Lauren under his wing and taught her everything he knew about the shoe business, as she traveled with him on all the buying trips to New York. Today Lauren and I get to travel together as we laugh (and cry) our way through shoe buying trips to Atlanta.  I'm always amazed at how our skills compliment each other as we pull together the collection of shoes that we love to share with you--our customers.

Of course, we wouldn’t be here without the rest of our incredible team. Several of our employees have been with us for twenty years (shout out Lynne and Danielle)—a true testament to the culture and community we’ve built together. Their knowledge, kindness, and commitment to ensuring every customer finds the perfect fit is what makes Plum Bottom so special. Whether they’re expertly fitting a customer for the right shoe, helping curate the perfect wardrobe addition, or simply sharing a friendly conversation, their dedication is the heartbeat of our stores. 

And then, there’s you—our customers. Your loyalty, your excitement over new arrivals, your trust in us year after year—it means everything. Some of you have been shopping with us for decades, bringing in friends, family, and now even new generations. You make what we do feel so much bigger than retail; it’s about connection, confidence, and making every step feel just a little lighter.

So, as we celebrate love this month, we want to say thank you. Thank you for being part of our story. Thank you for supporting small businesses. Thank you for making Plum Bottom a place filled with warmth, laughter, and (of course) amazing shoes.

With gratitude and love,
Carla