NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — When Niles resident Jennifer would walk into boutiques as a single mother, she would be shocked at their items’ prices.

Later, when she attended a do-it-yourself craft class, she was shocked at that price, too. There were so many other things she could have done with the money she spent.

So, when she opened Thymeless Treasures on Sept. 14 in Niles Charter Township, she made it her goal to sell boutique clothing, rustic décor and creative classes at a price that fit the budgets of single mothers like herself.

“I want to be there to help people,” she said.

While Jennifer said the business had a tough start due to road construction outside her 2515 S. 11th St. location, she said her passion to provide the best shopping experience to others, her business’ unique niche in the community and her fiancé Steve Rogers’ experience in owning Automotive Plus a few doors down, has helped.

“The two of us kind of fed off each other,” Rogers said. “I’ve been in business 22 years, so I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly — I’ve seen the ’08 crash and everything,” Rogers said. “[Jennifer] wanted to do a boutique, and I said, ‘Go for it.’”

On top of low prices for items such as dresses and wall hangings, Jennifer said she also strives to buy local products and products made by companies that give some proceeds to good causes.

Roma, which makes her rainboots, donates a pair of their products for each item purchased. Some of Jennifer’s candles come from Kalamazoo.

The local business owner said she does this to maximize the benefits her store offers in a community without another store like hers.

“In Niles, I wanted to bring something to the community that was affordable to everybody and to keep ourselves in the community instead of having to drive 30 minutes to find what you need,” Jennifer said.

Recently, a young couple came to browse. Their favorite store of the same variety is in Granger 40 minutes away, but Jennifer said the two were surprised by the store’s low prices, from trinkets to storage spaces.

Rogers joked that Jennifer’s favorite part of the job is choosing items she likes for her store, but it is the stories she hears, and the friendships she makes from them, that Jennifer says she enjoys most in the day-to-day management of the shop.

“Yes, I love shopping and bringing this stuff in, but getting to meet the people here, their stories and their life and what they’re going through,” is most meaningful, she said.

She has found friendship in businesses around her, too. If a customer cannot find an item they were looking for at Thymeless Treasuers, Jennifer will recommend them to someone else.

Nearby businesses return the favor by sending their customers her way.

The relationship-based approach to a business sector is something that both Rogers and Jennifer appreciate and wish to see more of.

Their relationship with businesses could expand when Jennifer begins to implement her customizable shirt and sign machines to offer more products to more people.

For now, however, customers can visit Thymeless Treasures 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.