Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104120203
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AMANDA BARRETT/ STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The two are mother and daughter, and Baker said most people hardly believe the two work so well together.
"One salesman said he had never seen a mother and daughter get along so well," she said. "When customers find out that about our relationship, they comment that they could never work that closely with their mother."
Baker thinks that it is probably the difference in personalities that helps the women get along. "Mom just doesn't get angry. But me, I'm a firecracker."
Mays and Baker have been in business for eight years. They started in April 1983 at The Best of Both Worlds on Walnut Avenue in Vinton. They moved to Virginia Avenue and changed the name of the business to A Touch of Class after the flood of 1985 wiped them out.
Before going into business for themselves, Mays was a secretary for an oil distributor, and Baker worked for a women's clothing store.
Neither has had any business or fashion courses. "We are doing it all on intuition," said Mays.
Baker said that the merchandise they offer has improved over the years.
"This is not a discount store. We offer a little better quality. Yet, we are not as expensive as most of the mall stores," she said.
Both Baker and Mays feel there are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to owning a business.
While they are delighted that they do not have to answer to a supervisor, they realize that one of them must always be there when the store is open.
"And if something goes wrong," said Mays, "there is no one to blame but ourselves."
"Being a small business helps us be like family to our customers," said Baker. "Sometimes, even if a customer is not going to buy anything, she will still come in and talk."
"And when we go to shows, we know some customers well enough to order items specifically for them," said Baker.
Baker and Mays said their goal is to stock nice clothing that working woman can afford. Even though they stock different sizes and styles, they try to cater to women 30 and older.
They said one drawback is that customers do not understand what it takes to run a small business. "They are used to going to stores and seeing huge markdowns on items, but we can't afford to do that because we don't have that big a markup," said Mays.
Competing with malls is very hard, said Baker, because most people would rather shop there than at boutiques. "Being located in Vinton can be difficult because the town is small, and the market here is not very big," she said.
The women offered advice to anyone getting into business for themselves.
"Don't borrow money to start up," said Baker. "Save money and plan your business before you embark upon it."
Mays warned against trying to live off the proceeds from the business. "You can't do it. You have got to have another way to live while you are getting the business off the ground."
Baker said prospective business owners should think about what they are getting into carefully. "If it is a hobby or something you are doing because you are bored, then don't do it. It is too much work to be a plaything," she said.
Baker gave one last piece of fashion advice. "If you walk down the street and no one notices you, go home and change clothes."
by CNB