| OCR Text |
Show Page (Da7 IB Lakeside Review Thursday, January 29, 1981 Juggling Home Lives, Careers w Women Find PuliHllllmeritf in Business Ventures By MARILYN KARRAS Staff Writer Women a variety start their own businesses for of reasons, but those who are successful share a common attitude about their experience they enjoy their careers, they wouldnt do special problems, and challenges for ' anything else, and they are deter- businesswomen, according to five who mined to do what it takes to make their own and operate businesses in the lakeside community. business ventures thrive. Two of the women, Patt Cave and Succeeding in what has traditionally been a mans domain poses some Fran Brown, own beauty shops and both have recently expanded their businesses into neighboring cities. Ann Harris is owner and manager of Anns Fabric Loft in Layton, and Gaylene Perkins owns Clearfield House of Flowers. Jane Goldens two womens apparel shops are located in Sunset and Roy. All the women are quick to give much credit for their accomplishments to those who encourage and support them from employees to family members. But, they admit, they spend many more hours working than they might if they were employees rather than em- ployers. If I had been paid wages for all the hours Ive put in, I would be wealthy, said Mrs. Harris. In business, you can acquire assets, but its not something you can go out and spend. Everything I earn goes back into the business. I dont even take a wage out, she said. If you take the cream off the top, you wont make it." For Mrs. Harris, owning a retail fabric store is an outgrowth of her first career teaching. A graduate of Utah State University in textiles and education, she taught clothing construction classes for high school students and adults at Clearfield High School. PHONE CALLS help keep days busy for beauty shop owner Fran Brown who owns salons in Kaysville and Layton. Through her teaching she found a need in the community for people with backgrounds in textiles behind the counter in fabric stores. That need, plus her desire for a new challenge led her to open her first store on the loft above Merlens Family Apparel in Layton 10 years ago. Six years ago, she purchased a building nearby which once housed the Layton City Fire Department. She had it remodeled and moved her business into it a year later. She has continued teaching and now holds classes in the new building from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, with some on Saturday. She teaches all the classes herself because, she says, I have my own way of doing things. That attitude is also part of the reason for a reduction in the number of Mrs. Harris employees from seven three years ago to two fulltime clerks and one parttime worker now. Youve got to be on top of what is she said. going on in your business, She and her employees are constantly going to school, and she wants to know that her clerks are using the new information. I have employees who have been with me 10 years and feel like its their business too, she said. I could never keep things going without them. Mrs. Harris hires an accountant for y doing yearly audits, but keeps books herself. She also handpicks every piece of fabric her store carries. Whether youre a man or a woman in business, youve got to have a lot of stamina, a lot of drive, and a need to succeed, she said. Too many people go into business as a sort of hobby and expect to spend a few hours a day at it, but that just doesnt work. Mrs. Brown, owner of Fran Brown and Company in Kaysville and the Super Cutters beauty salon in Layton, day-to-da- WOMENS SPORTSWEAR is sold by Jane Golden at her two shops, House of Togs in Sunset and Just Janes in Roy. ANN HARRIS believes in selling only has been in business for herself since 1976 and had been a hair stylist for 11 years before that. Ive always worked, she said. Its my life and 1 feel very dedicated to the working woman. Her goal is to open a beauty school in the Layton area. She said a positive attitude is very valuable to anyone starting her own business. She also advised anyone considering a business venture to go into a field where you have some experience. Mrs. Brown said she works long hours, and, though she owns the business, she comes in each morning, and spends most days styling hair alongside her 17 employees. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Brown share a similar feeling about a businesswomans responsibility to the community. I think every business person should give something back to the community, said Mrs. Brown. We all have a humanitarian job to do and its best to do those things when you are young enough to have the energy. Mrs. Harris voiced a similar opinion. ty merchandise in her Layton fabric store, called Anns Fabric Loft. If I can help make Layton a better The biggest thing to learn is that place to live, that is a debt I owe youre not going to make money for society. awhile, she said. When a woman Too many people sit back and want starts a business it can be pretty hard things, but dont want to get involved in at first everyone assumes you have to do it all so you do. getting them done, she said. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Harris are Mrs. Perkins said a businesswoman involved in Chamber of Commerce has to learn that companies, paractivities and other civic organizations. ticularly utility companies, can be very Gaylene Perkins primary reasons demanding. for starting her florist business were They (the utility companies) give economic. She was a widow and wanted you 10 days to pay your bill, then they a career to support her family that shut off the service, she said. would also allow her the flexibility she She said there is a lot to learn about needed to be with her two children when ordering supplies, and cash flow. I feel pretty tricky when Christmas they needed her. I didnt have any real skills I could Eve comes and I have everything we use to get a job that would have supneed, she said. Mrs. Goldens retail clothing business ported us, she said. As it happened, she remarried before occupies both her and her husband, the business got going, but decided to go Bernard, who is retired from a military ahead with her plans. career. Her interests in gardening and floral After his retirement, a friend said e at we should try running a store, she arranging were put to use Mrs. Perkins Clearfield House of said. Flowers in the Lakeside Shopping House of Togs was opened in Sunset Center, which opened two years ago. in 1969 and Just Janes in Roy in 1977. She learned about business a little at Mr. Golden does the books for his wife e a time, and now says the shop pays for and she works in the Roy itself. store. They attend sales markets five times a year and vacation together in January, during the business slow time. We wont get rich at it, but its lots of fun and something to take an interest in," she said. Patt Caves Magic Mirror Beauty Salon has been in operation in Layton for 11 years. She has recently expanded, opening another shop in Farmington. She started out as a partner with another woman who later decided to leave the business. I wanted my own business, so I bought out her share, she said. Mrs. Cave said she enjoys owning tTie business, but her first love is hair styling. I like having a lady come in feeling like she looks messy and then giving her a hair style that makes her look good," she said. The hours in Mrs. Caves business are from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on most long but she said she feels it is not days just a job, but a profession that gives her a creative outlet and an opportunity to be with people. She said her biggest problem has been keeping good stylists, but now she feels she has excellent employees. It takes time to build a clientele, and some girls are not patient enough to build up that business, she said. She said she has had some customers for 15 years. Mrs. Cave, who has two teenage children, said the biggest challenge of her career is to do a good job as a mother and homemaker while working six days a week. Her husband works at Hill Air Force full-tim- full-tim- , ARRANGING FLOWERS has become a full time business for Gaylene of Flowers. Perkinsjouuer of Clearfield House CREATIVITY is Patt Cave's biggest asset in her hair, styling business. She owns Magic Mirror salons in Layton and Farmington.' Base, and helps her with the Continued on Page 2B 7 |
