A historic yellow house at the intersection of Atlanta and Concord Roads in the heart of Smyrna is all a buzz. It's the home of The Honeybee, a shop offering unique women's clothing, jewelry and accessories as well as treasures for the home.

Prominently displayed in the shop is the Honeybee T-shirt that reads, "The bee is more honored than other animals not because she labors but because she labors for others."

Like the honeybee that is responsible for 1/3 of our food supply through pollination, the efforts of owners Betsy DiGiorgio and Lisa Rieves are far-reaching. When the two young mothers decided to open The Honeybee, they wanted to set themselves apart because "anyone could open another clothing store."

"The only way we wanted to (open a store) was to be completely different than any other shop open in Smyrna," Rieves said. "We had to be different and we had to have a different focus."

The Honeybee isn't just another clothing store. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, a place where the owners know their customers' names. "It's like you're walking into someone's house when you walk into the shop," DiGiorgio said.

This relaxed feel spills over to their distinctive inventory exemplified by comfortable, everyday clothes that have a flair and are affordable. "The clothes we pick out are definitely not department store clothes," Rieves said.

"We don't have a whole bunch of one thing. We want to have a little bit of one item so that we can have different things," DiGiorgio said, "so everybody isn't walking around in the same outfit."

Through their inventory the ladies also promote shopping local. They sell jewelry, T-shirts, and other accessories made by local artists. Some of their local vendors include Paddywax, Jill Massey, P.O.M. and KLR Designs.

Though the unique atmosphere and inventory continue to draw women from the metro area to The Honeybee, there's more to this beehive than just that. "Our focus is to really give back to the community," Rieves said.

At The Honeybee, DiGiorgio and Rieves give back through different avenues. They instituted the Honeycomb Credit Program where customers bring in their gently worn clothing and receive a store credit. The ladies in turn deliver the items to local charities. They offer a 10 percent discount for teachers, public servants and military personnel. They also give $3 back to www.helpthehoneybees.com from every sale of the Honeybee tee.

In a shop that Rieves and DiGiorgio compare to a honeycomb, these two worker bees continue to make a difference in the community.

Shop The Honeybee, located at 2968 Atlanta Road in Smyrna, on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Visit www.shopthehoneybee.com, call (770) 432-5120 or search for the store on Facebook.