I have an 11-year-old daughter and she's quite literally my bestie. Having grown up in a family with two brothers, I always envied my friends who had sisters. But as my daughter Mary has grown, I've realized that what I have is even better than a sister: I have a beautiful daughter and our relationship keeps getting better and better. We're not quite Rory and Lorelai Gilmore just yet, but give us a few years, and I'm sure we'll be regulars at our local coffee shop and chattering away at the kind of fast-paced rate only possible with lots of caffeine.

Because of this relationship, when we narrowed down the nominations for this year's Small Business Spotlight series, a certain mother-daughter business in West Virginia stood out. The business, Cat & Kate, opened as a mother-daughter collaboration in Lewisburg, West Virginia, in 2021. Years of experience in the fashion and design industry gave matriarch Catherine (Cat) the drive to open her very own business and daughter Katie the confidence to climb aboard this wholly unique and unexpected boutique in West Virginia.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.

It takes a leap of faith to open a small business -- any small business, whether it's a restaurant, coffee shop, or bookstore. It also takes a leap of faith to go into such a venture with a family member.

And yet this is exactly the leap of faith mom-and-daughter duo Catherine and Katie took in 2021 when they opened the eponymous Cat & Kate Boutique in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Lewisburg, West Virginia, is a charming and surprisingly cosmopolitan town of 4,000 people that's known for its friendliness, history, and walkability.

It's a regular on "Best Small Town" roundups and arguably the darling of West Virginia. In short, it's the perfect place for a fashion-forward, globally influenced boutique.

This is exactly what Cat & Kate Boutique is: a celebration of fashion, family, and, well, fun. Step inside and you'll find yourself immersed in a sea of colorful clothing and accessories that celebrate global influences and local makers.

Growing up, co-owner Katie Kuliesh says she has fond memories of her mother, Catherine, regaling the family with stories of working in fashion.

"I loved hearing and witnessing her worldly adventures in this business," Katie says.

This is how Katie caught the fashion bug, but her passion for fashion didn't stop there. "My mom always encouraged me to be creative and go after my dreams... and still does! This is how our shop was born," she explains.

Together, Catherine and Katie source clothing, apparel, and wares from all over the world, everything from one-of-a-kind, hand-beaded bags procured from Italy to hand-poured wax candles made by local artisans.

Clothing is, of course, the main event at Cat & Kate, and the selection at this West Virginia boutique easily rivals anything you'd find in a major fashion metropolis like New York City or Paris.

"We pride ourselves on going above and beyond for our customers," says Katie, and this ethos certainly applies to the brands and designers the shop carries. High-quality, unique, bespoke fashion hand-picked by the owners makes for an ever-rotating carousel of fabulous clothing sure to make a statement.

For Katie, the creativity involved in running Cat & Kate Boutique is immensely rewarding. "Seeing the fruits of my labor" and "being part of a caring and generous community" fill her bucket. "We're proud to be women in small business in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia," she adds.

And speaking of community, Cat & Kate is a proud and active part of the town they call home in Mountain State. "We work seasonally with local charities and are excited to kick off our annual school supplies drive in the fall," explains Katie.

Cheers to this mother-daughter team for bringing fashion and flair to Lewisburg, West Virginia!

Many thanks to Katie Kuliesh, co-owner of Cat & Kate for sharing the story of this delightful small business in the Mountain State. Learn more about Cat & Kate at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Of course, Cat & Kate is just one of the many wonderful small businesses in West Virginia; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In West Virginia article. And be sure to follow Only In West Virginia on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Mountain State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.