Strictly Business: Active-duty soldier opens custom clothing store in downtown Fayetteville
Sam’s Club has announced that it is offering members live, virtual sessions with Santa Claus.
Here we are near the end of November, and Black Friday is passing on the baton to Small Business Saturday.
Besides those scattered throughout the city, many small-business retailers in Fayetteville are in the downtown area.
"Small Business Saturday shines a light on the importance of supporting the small businesses that form the backbone of the economy in our local community," according to publicity material put out by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber.
One of the newest stores in the downtown district is Washington Apparel Co., at 100 Hay St., Suite 708.
Eric Washington is the founder and CEO of the custom clothing store.
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Washington, 38, is an active-duty soldier with the rank of sergeant first class stationed at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division. A Dallas native, he has served 18 years in the Army.
How does he have the time to be both a clothier and service member? That would seem difficult to do.
"Oh, wow. Well, it's not easy," Washington said. "I started the business when I was overseas serving in Korea. I met a couple of tailors, and they kind of introduced me to the business. I started in October 2015. When I started, I was just doing online sales. Just taking family and friends."
But after a few years of online sales and improving what he called "the processes," Washington decided to try his enterprise as a brick-and-mortar store in Fayetteville while stationed at the nearby post.
He returned to Fort Bragg on Aug. 1 after a previous yearlong assignment here.
"When I was in Korea," he said, "I had the option to (request a) permanent change of station. I could have moved anywhere. I really like the feel of downtown because it kind of reminds me of where I'm from — Dallas. The nuances of the old historic buildings and the environment like that. I felt this is a good market to test.
"You can see the city is investing a lot in downtown," he said. "I feel like it's where we fit the best."
Washington likened Washington Apparel Co. to "a personalized consultation. ... We're recreating that old tailoring experience and kind of revising it with a new spin on it. We use our fabric to make your style. As far as what the customer wants, we allow them to be as creative as they want to be. That's from having that large inventory of fabric."
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Once a customer enters the shop, he'll see standard-size suits and tuxedos for those who want something off the rack. The business does alterations, too.
"Then we have fabric books, sponsored by Samsung. We have a partnership with Samsung," he said. "The customer picks the buttons, lining and furs — all the little things that make a suit what you want it to be. We do suits, tuxedos, overcoats, shirts and accessories."
His customer base for tailored clothing includes newlyweds, business professionals and members of the clergy.
"They might need something," he said.
"I think our customer is right between 25 and, I'd say, 55. Those who enjoy something a little nicer," he said. "They have that little additional cash to spend."
Washington Apparel Co. has a seemingly unlimited inventory of fabric and the ability to deliver on a short timeline of 14 to 21 days. Remember, this is tailored attire — like country cooking in a custom clothes shop.
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Hours are by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. That's partially because he's still active-duty military. On Saturday and Sunday, the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but reservations are not necessary.
And don't forget: After Small Business Saturday is held this weekend, the baton will be passed on to Cyber Monday. After all, the holiday shopping season has arrived.
Virtual Santa in a world leaning v
Sam’s Club is offering members live, virtual sessions with Santa Claus.
That's certainly different from my day. As a child, I got to sit on Santa's lap in the downstairs toy department of the old Belk department store in downtown Wilmington when my family drove more than 45 miles to the old Southern port to do most of our Christmas shopping.
That was the big city to a punk country kid from Rose Hill in Duplin County. And I loved the faster pace on the concrete sidewalks and the various downtown aromas, including the exhaust from the city buses that dropped folks off.
I still can't believe my parents just let me wander downtown in that city.
'Cause I did.
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Belk was the first store where I rode up and down an escalator. Boy, did I ride it, too.
If we missed Santa at Belk, why, we were able to catch him at the former Sears on Oleander Drive in Wilmington. That came later.
Well, now you can visit Old St. Nick from the safety and comfort of your home.
Sam's Club members can go online to https://www.samsclub.com/santasession to book their live visit. They will be able to choose from a diverse group of Santas and they can also enter kids’ details for a more personalized session with Santa.
For each live video call, a photo and video will be provided to share with friends and family and on social media. Sam’s Club encourages families to share their experience with #SamsSanta so all can follow along.
Aldi supermarket on board with Holiday Troop Support
For the second straight year, the Aldi supermarket company will donate $1,000 to the 82nd Airborne Division Association (Fayetteville Chapter) to host the fifth annual Holiday Troop Support.
According to a news release, the donation will help the association purchase and distribute holiday meals to 1,000 families of junior enlisted members and families of deployed troopers over Thanksgiving and the December holiday season.
“We’re excited to have Aldi as a generous donor for the second year in a row as we provide troops and their families a well-deserved Thanksgiving meal,” Bill Bauer, executive director of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, said in a news release. “Making sure our troops and their families are taken care of is the most important part of what we do, and we’re grateful to have support from Aldi.”
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See something sprouting up or closing down around town? Have tips, questions or comments for Strictly Business? Contact staff writer Michael Futch at mfutch@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3529.