Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Morrow.
Hi Anne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always wanted to be my own boss, it was definitely a feeling and became very strong when I worked for Baker Furniture. I would daydream with my co-workers about having my own store with my own flair, it was a strong pull for me – this needs to create my own way. I eventually left my corporate career in 2018 and still didn’t have a store, I did have a booth in the Antique Gallery of Houston where I sold my painted furniture, antiques and other home goods. It was NINE LONG MONTHS and I received several phone calls that a space had just opened up in Old Town Spring. I wasn’t the first in line though and for two weeks, which felt like an eternity – I prayed and I prayed hard and honestly cried – I had to get a store or go back to corporate.
I got the call I had prayed for, the first in line decided to wait and I was up next. I hadn’t seen the inside of the building and I drove over to the landlord and wrote her a couple of checks and it was mine! February 1st, 2019 we got started!!!!! My mother and I scrubbed and painted, and friends and family came over to help as well – on February 15th we opened our doors! I was so excited – I did it! I will say my first year was the hardest! Honestly, there were days I would cry and other days rejoice, but one thing that has remained is I always prayed. My mother has been my rock, she even worked in the shop with me for free, she has definitely been my biggest cheerleader and prayer partner.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh no, like I said our first year was the hardest! Our sales were low, I felt like I was struggling with getting people in the door. I wasn’t sure what I should do. I decided to go to a paint conference in 2020 right before the pandemic closed us down. I met an amazing mentor, Dustin Van Fleet of GA, that was so encouraging. The pandemic hit – I beefed up my website, we sold paint like crazy on our website and then Dustin encouraged me to go live on Facebook, I did and it grew our business! After we reopened we had a lot of people come in that had seen my lives and came to shop with me and get advice from me regarding remaking their pieces and even cabinet painting. (I will tell ya, I have well over 20 years of painting experience – I can talk paint for days).
2021 there was another shift, those new paint hobbies were put on hold when our clients started going back to the office, and they needed something to wear. I had just remodeled the front of our store to make it more inviting and created the big beautiful windows that I had always dreamed of! (I will say the remodeling process was a bit overwhelming and stressful and it was right in the middle of the freeze)! I dressed my windows with my painted furniture and dress forms and started expanding our clothing offerings. Every few weeks I would add a new rack to a wall to hold our expanding clothing lines. My focus was on clients like me – 45 and up. Comfortable, yet stylish and easy to care. I try my best to source as much American-made products as possible. I had managed the Chico’s in River Oaks many years ago, so clothing and dressing women come naturally for me. I am always looking for new and unique pieces to add to our collections. We rarely buy an item twice, my clients know when they see it, get it as it won’t be there later.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am super passionate about Old Town Spring, I firmly believe in community over competition. I am kind of known for being a little tech nerd I guess you could say. After a merchant meeting, I was thinking of a way to create a map of sorts for customers that would encompass ALL of Old Town Spring shops. And it hit me – an app! So I start calling a few other shops – “hey, do you know how to create and app??” and they all said no, but that it sounded awesome. So I get home and start researching, I find a site I can create and app – so I pitched it to several shop owners and they helped pay for it (thankfully they believed in me as well!) I had it created in about a month and it went live a week or so after I completed it. That is what I am most proud of, we have an app for Old Town Spring which is supported by several shops for our clients to download for free! Of course, I did not stop there – I just finished an app for my store at the end of 2021, and that one was way easier to create!
What are your plans for the future?
Just keeping an eye and ear out for changes so I can pivot, as we did during the pandemic. Buying smartly, investing in our business and growing our team. I know I cannot do it alone and it sure makes a huge impact having a staff I can trust that can help run a business. If you don’t think you can afford an employee, you can’t afford not to have at least one! It is hard to do ALL of the things and having another hand, eye and ear make the world of difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pierceandbelle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pierceandbelle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pierceandbelle
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PierceandBelleAtHome
- Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/old-town-spring/id1500931969
