NORTHAMPTON — Several years ago, Heidi Weeks made the decision go into business with her business partner Tim Fisk, who runs Salon Herdis in Northampton. The two had the idea of opening up a boutique shop in Greenfield, where Weeks was living.

“Between the two of us, his business sense and my connections with the town, we found a perfect spot on Main Street in Greenfield. And we put it all together in a matter of months,” Weeks said. “We signed our lease, and two weeks later, everything shut down.”

Weeks had the misfortune of opening her new store, Plum, just before the COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruption across the entire retail economy. But, Weeks said, she learned to make the best of her situation.

“I like to say we had the longest, softest opening in the world. It gave me time to figure out how to make it happen,” Weeks said. “I had to source merchandise in a very unusual way, because I couldn’t go to any trade shows. But I did have 15 years of retail in my background working for the Artisan Gallery in downtown Northampton. I had a really big Rolodex of brands and labels and ideas that I wanted to bring in. So because of my history and my background, I could source that stuff on the internet.”

After four years in Greenfield, Weeks has now relocated her boutique shop to Northampton’s Main Street, just across from city hall. Walking inside, the boutique features various women’s clothing and accessories, under a lifestyle brand that Weeks describes as being “full of whimsy and joy, and brings happiness.”

French and Italian music plays throughout the store as shelves display unique items like scented candles from Minneapolis and handbags made in India out of recycled materials, with the name of the person who stitched the bag written inside.

Weeks said that when the store’s current space became available, the opportunity to move to downtown Northampton was simply too great to pass up. The 202 Main St. address had formerly been occupied by Port, another clothing store.

“I did create a really amazing group of core customers in Greenfield. I want to give them a lot of credit because during the pandemic and through those few years, it was really awesome to get connected with that community and be part of that community,” Weeks said.

“I just feel like there’s a more vibrant community down here. More of my customers are down here.”

Weeks also offers individual services for clients, such as meeting them at their home to edit their wardrobe, putting together outfits out of existing clothes and advising what to keep and what to toss out. She also offers to help replace items with personal shopping and styling, with customers offered 20% off store purchases through the services.

“I have one client that I’ve known her for over 10 years. I know her life and I know her lifestyle,” Weeks said. “So I’m able to go in and say to her, ‘no, I don’t think you’ll wear that again.’”

Overall, Weeks says she’s happy to be now a part of the downtown Northampton business scene, something she says plays a crucial role in the culture of the city.

“I feel like every small business represents downtown Northampton. And when you walk into a small business, you know, you’re going to ask the person that’s working there: ‘Where do I get the best coffee? Where do you like to eat? Where do you like to shop? What do you like to do?’ ” Weeks said.

“And you’re gonna get an authentic answer from someone who loves their town, their city.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.