Esprit de Couture, a boutique thrift store operated by veterans with proceeds benefiting veterans. In these trying times, the owners of the shop realized they could do a great deal of good by opening a thrift store with proceeds going to veterans.

“We brought on the expertise of Pauline Harris to help create a strategic publicity campaign, plan special events, and communicate with the media the workings of our small shop in Federal Hill,” states Amy Karpan, Co-Owner of Esprit de Couture.

Esprit de Couture is a local Federal Hill thrift store that was created in the spirit of service and in the spirit of giving back to help veterans. "It means giving something better or greater than yourself back to your community, back to your country," Karpan said.

Karpan served four-and-a-half years of active duty in the Air Force. Her husband, Thomas Strazza, is a retired 22-year Army veteran. "There is joy in being part of a whole and in serving something greater than yourself," Karpan said. "There's also joy in clothes."

She hopes shoppers who visit the store at 1126 S. Charles Street in Baltimore, find joy in a good bargain to benefit vets. Everything in the store is $5, $10, $15 and $20. After utilities, profits from every sale will go to veteran organizations.

"It's just traumatizing, and it takes a long time for psychology, government and public administration to catch up with the services and needs of individual people," Karpan said. She also said she is grateful for all the donations and is looking forward to getting people “IN” the door, so she can move the mission forward while helping others find a great deal.

For additional information, Pauline Harris can be reached at 410-336-2948 or pauline@spinllc.com.