Our Story

I went to Peace College in Raleigh, NC. I graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in business. When I decided against law school, I moved back to my hometown, a two-stoplight farming community. I started working for a local boutique and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, and enjoyed the process of searching for the perfect items to sell.

I eventually decided to help my father run our general merchandise store. Our store, McDougald’s Inc., has been in business since 1917. I am currently the fourth generation employee, owner, and anything else I need to be. I have learned a great deal from my father about running a small business and caring about your customers, especially when you live in a close-knit community.

With my growing experience in retail, I longed to open a boutique. My sister and I explored everything from opening a boutique to purchasing an established boutique to starting an online store.

In 2018, we decided on a name that would have a personal connection. My name is Camille, and when I was younger many people would call me Camel, hence Casual Camel. I purchased the domain for my website and waited until the time was right.

With an open retail space next to our family business, my sister trading in her sea legs to live on land again, and my mom agreeing to be an unpaid assistant, 2021 became the perfect time to start this journey. My sister agreed to be the marketing and website brains behind my dream, and I made Casual Camel a reality!

Having a business running for over 100 years and expanding from it is a blessing. I have learned the value of hard work and appreciation from each of my family members and customers.

I cannot wait to see this business unfold over the years and look forward to making each one of you feel gorgeous every day in our handpicked apparel, accessories, and shoes!

Camille McDougald
Founder & CEO