Trends
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“Really, it fits our store,” Charlotte said. “We try to carry a trendy, different type of clothing than you can just go anywhere and buy. When we go to market, that’s what we look for. Something different.”
Both women have other careers, Charlotte works in County Executive Kenneth Roger’s office and Stacey is a pharmacist, so the pair employs a full-time store manager, Susan Burks. Still, they enjoy spending some of their free time at the store.
“This is our fun job,” says Stacey. “I’ll come in and work on my days off.”
“Whenever we get some extra time we’ll come in,” Charlotte added.
Both say they especially enjoy going on buying trips.
“Stacey and I do most of the buying,” Charlotte said. “We go to Atlanta and we’ve been to Vegas.”
Both say they enjoy the business.
“It’s fun,” says Stacey. “It really is. Getting to see all the new styles and kind of bring them back here is what’s fun.”
Operating a mother-daughter company has worked out well for the pair.
“We have a ball at the market,” Stacey said. “Three days of shopping. What could be more fun than that?”
Charlotte says the difference in their ages is actually a benefit for the business.
“We carry sizes from 0 to large sizes,” Charlotte said. “Stacey is young enough that she can still do the ‘junior’ look, and I feel like I’m old enough that I can do the ‘mature’ look. And that way, when we go to market she buys mostly for the young and I buy for the older market. And I think that works well because we try to carry both in our store. So the age difference really helps.”
Stacey agrees.
“We’ve got mothers that come in with their daughters,” Stacey said, “and we’ve got something for both of them. Even the grandmothers.”
“Yes, we’ve had three generations come in before and buy,” Charlotte said.
“We have something for all of them,” Stacey added.
Trends offers a variety of products and services to its customers.
“Of course clothing,” said Charlotte. “We have jewelry, we have shoes, we have purses, sunglasses, accessories.”
“Everything you need to complete an outfit,” Stacey said.
“We also carry formal wear,” Charlotte said, “for girls for the prom, pageant dresses, things like that.”
The pair says they will set up appointments after hours if needed to help customers build a wardrobe and provide fashion advice on mixing and matching to get the most out of customer’s choices.
They also offer “Trends Parties” where someone can host a party after store hours, bring refreshments, and then receive in-store rewards based on sales.
More than anything, Charlotte and Stacey say they try to stay true to the store’s name and do the research necessary to keep the business trendy and fresh.
“We look at the fashion magazines to see what’s in style in New York and everywhere else,” Stacey said. “We try to look at what’s in style and bring it back here.”
Charlotte says customers from other towns have remarked on their selection.
“We’ve had different people from Murfreesboro, Manchester, come in and say, ‘We can’t find stuff like yours in other stores.’ And that’s what we’re looking for,” Charlotte said.
We try to keep it different than anywhere else,” Stacey said.
Trends is located at 918 Sparta St. downstairs from Southern Traditions. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 Mon. – Fri., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store can be reached at 931-507-8808.