CLEAR LAKE, Texas – For many small businesses, Black Friday is the most important sales day of the year, often compared to the Super Bowl for retailers. But for Moxie District 31, a family-owned boutique in Clear Lake, a crucial misstep has added an unexpected hurdle.
The boutique’s owners, the Lee family, had meticulously prepared for their biggest jeans sale of the year, expecting six boxes of denim to arrive Wednesday via UPS. However, those shipments never made it onto the delivery truck.
“I was checking my UPS deliveries all day,” said the owner, Abbey Lee. “Those six boxes were essential.”
Compounding the issue, Thanksgiving Day meant no deliveries were scheduled. UPS mistakenly marked Moxie District 31 as “closed” on Wednesday — despite the boutique being open and awaiting its shipment.
“When I checked the tracking, it said, ‘Business closed. Will deliver the next business day,’” the owner explained.
The jeans, crucial for Black Friday sales, were sitting just 10 miles away at a UPS distribution center in League City.
In a desperate bid to retrieve the shipment, the owner sent an employee to the facility. However, the effort proved fruitless, leaving staff and management frustrated.
“She came back in tears,” the owner said. “I was angry. These packages were vital.”
Moxie District 31 wasn’t the only business affected. Reports surfaced of other local retailers marked “closed” by UPS despite being open.
The boutique is now holding out hope that the shipment will arrive early Friday morning.
“We were told people start distributing packages at 5 a.m.,” Lee said. “I’ll be there at 4:30.”
KPRC 2 reached out to UPS for comment on Wednesday but has yet to receive a response.
For now, the boutique and its customers are holding their breath, hoping the jeans arrive in time for Black Friday’s rush. The store does already have some of the jeans in stock. They’re expecting a line Friday morning.
