Alterations & More: Stitching Together a Successful Business

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times of SWLA




Helen Santos is stitching together a successful business – both literally and metaphorically.

Santos, 59, is the founder of Alterations & More, a home-based sewing business, located at 1438 W. McNeese Street in Lake Charles. The business offers a variety of alteration services – everything from simple pant hems to custom tailoring and dress making.

Her handiwork can be seen throughout Southwest Louisiana on pageant runways,  during Carnival season on Mardi Gras royalty, and on brides dressed in full regalia.

She started her professional career not as a dressmaker, but as a college instructor in the Republic of the Philippines – her native country.

“I started working in a school teaching a myriad of subjects from English to management,” Santos said. “I even taught graduate school.”

Her education includes a Ph.D. in business administration. In addition, she completed coursework and began working on a doctoral thesis towards an Ed.D. in education administration.

Taking care of business

Her practical business experience included working 23 years as a civilian employee for  a U.S. Military base at the Philippines.

“The U.S. facility was was the biggest employer, second to the Philippine government,” she said. “It was also the best employer.”

She worked on the base until 1990, the year the U.S. military began closing all of the military bases in her country.

When the bases closed, Santos worked as human resource director at a college close to the bases.

“The pay was not good,” she said, adding she wanted to come to the United States for the opportunity to create a better life for herself.

Santos found she was eligible for special immigration status as a U.S. Military employee.

“As long as they have more than 15 years of continued service, civilian employees were eligible for special immigration,” she said.

Coming to Lake Charles

Santos said it took five years to process the necessary paperwork. There was a final caveat.

“The U.S. Department of Justice required that I move to a state where someone could vouch for me during a period of unemployment,” she said. “My sister, Violy Briscoe, was living here in Lake Charles. She had been living here for 25 years when I came here.”

Even though Santos was very well-educated and had many years of work experience, she had difficulty finding employment.

“I couldn't find a job,” she said. “I was told I was over-qualified.”

Her sister suggested working as a seamstress until she could find work within her field.

“My sister was a seamstress,” Santos said. “She had worked in an office, but she made more money as a seamstress.”

She followed her sisters advice and began sewing at home.

While working as a seamstress, however, Santos continued looking for other employment.

“A school – Williams Career College – hired me part-time to write the curriculum for a business education department,” she said. “It was an allied health school, but they wanted to add business administration courses. My title was Business Education Director.”

In addition, Santos learned that a local dress shop was looking for a seamstress. She got the job. She worked both jobs and continued to send out resumes.

A large corporation expressed an interest in her qualifications, but she didn't get the job.

“They never even sent a letter to notify me of the status of my resume,” she said.

Never giving up

Santos got more bad news.

“Both the school and the dress shop where I was working within the same week,” she said. “I panicked. I had bought a house on Lake Street. I kept thinking – How can I pay for my house?”

The businesswoman considered opening an alterations shop in her home, but parking was an issue.

“The city was repairing the road, so I could not accept alterations,” she said. “There was no parking, I had to park a block away from my home.”

Santos didn't give up.

Instead, she leased space in a building on W. McNeese Street, which is directly across the street from the shop's current location.

Santos made it a success.

“I started with one customer and it became an overnight success,” she said.

Santos said her customers referred their friends and her business began to grow, where more space was needed.

“This house came up for sale and I purchased it,” she said.

That was before Hurricane Rita. The property suffered a great deal of damage requiring a new roof, walls and flooring.

“I felt like getting on the first plane back home,” she confessed. “When you are old and by yourself there's nobody to help you.”

Santos didn't give up. She hired a contractor with some insurance money she received and worked to re-open the business.

“Then there was Gustav and Ike,” she said. “It's difficult, but I can't just run away. I have the house on Lake Street, the house here and my business. These are all my responsibilities.”

Beginning as a hobby

Santos learned to sew at age 10, in her home economics class in the Philippines.

“In fifth grade, that's when everything started,” she said. “I had a very good teacher at the time.”

Her teacher taught the class to make aprons, towels, skirts, dresses and more.

“Out of necessity and poverty in the Philippines, my parents couldn't afford to buy us clothes,” Santos said. “I started making my own clothes, dresses for my sister, Violy, and my mom. Then I began to branch out and make dresses for my classmates and teachers – all for free.”

Even throughout her career as a college instructor, Santos was making clothes for friends.

“I made clothes for gifts for my friends and wedding gowns for my friends, who were getting married,” she said. “Some of them would ask me to make a certain dress. They would purchase the pattern and fabric for me to make the dress. That's how I was able to develop the skill.”

Santos is able to look at a picture of a dress and create her own patterns. She continues to do this for very special customers.

“I have some very special customers, who are very nice to me,” she said. “If they can't find dresses for special occasions, I will make dresses for them.”

For more information, call 562-9130, or visit Alterations & More at 1438 W. McNeese Street, Lake Charles. Fittings are by appointment only. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri.

The Business of Love: Wendi's Flower Cart

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times of SWLA

 

Love means big business for several types of businesses this time of year – especially floral boutiques like Wendi's Flower Cart.

“This is the busiest season for us,” said Ray Bustillo, who owns the business with his wife, Wendi.

Wendi's Flower Cart, located at 3617 Common Street in Lake Charles, has been serving the area for more than 25 years. The friendly staff is dedicated to both creating the perfect arrangement and making sure it gets delivered on time.

“Try to order as soon as possible,” Bustillo suggested. “Normally, we run 10 trucks on Valentine's Day, but this year, it falls on a Saturday.”

He expects Friday will be another heavy delivery day this year.

“We deliver on Saturdays, but a lot of guys prefer to have their flowers delivered to where their wives, or girlfriends, work,” Bustillo said.

You can stretch the celebration into a nice, romantic weekend that way, he said.

What does it all mean?

“For Valentine's Day, the No. 1 selling flower is the red rose,” Bustillo said.

He said roses are available in many colors with meaning associated with each. For example, here are some of the traditional meanings:

Red – Love, of course

Coral – Desire

White – Innocence

Lavender – Love at first sight

Yellow – Friendship

Still, many have their favorite flowers and it's all a matter of preference.

Bustillo said his customers prefer fresh-cut flowers, with roses being the favorite.

“We're a full-service florist,” he said. “We do everything. We sell a lot of mixed arrangements, live plants, candy bouquets, silk flower arrangements and Teddy bears.”

The season brings heavier traffic than the others because one day is at the heart of it. People start calling about Valentine's Day ideas in January. Bustillo said business picks up steadily and doesn't ease until the holiday winds down.

But that's okay with him – he, Wendi, and their floral designers love every minute of it.

“This is very much a people business,” Bustillo said. “And, you don't see people sending flowers to someone they're mad at, or hate. It's very pleasing to be in this kind of business.”

Not for women only

If you think floral arrangements are just for the women, you're wrong, Bustillo said.

“This might surprise some people, but 20 to 25 percent of our Valentine's Day business is girls sending to guys,” he said.

Sure, some guys might act embarrassed, but they “really do like it,” he said.

Children are another good group to shower with flowers or other fun gifts, according to the florists.

It's not uncommon for them to deliver candy bouquets and Teddy bear arrangements to  local schools.

Valentine's Day isn't just for sweethearts, it's for young and old. The florists suggest sending something to your parents to make the day fun for them, too.

“It's for all the loved ones in our life,” Bustillo said.

Wendi's Flower Cart is really in the business of love all year.

“Mothers Day is our second busiest holiday,” Bustillo said. “Secretary's Week is third. Christmas is fourth. Prom season starts in March, followed by spring and summer weddings.”

This is a year round business, and while birthdays and anniversaries and holidays appear on calendars well in advance, illnesses, deaths and other occasions call for flowers on the spur of the moment.

“Death is the hard part of what we do,” Bustillo said. “But, it's a privilege to help someone and talk to them when they come in to order flowers or a casket cover. The hardest part is when children pass away. It's very sad. My wife and I have three kids and three grand kids.”

He said they have helped families through marriages, deaths, births and every occasion in between.

“We get to welcome babies being born and be there as young people plan their weddings,” Bustillo said. “One of our floral designers, Linda, specializes in weddings.”

There's always an occasion for flowers, he said.

“Our business deals with human emotion,” Bustillo said. “Flowers convey human emotion really well.”

Customer satisfaction

Hand-crafting the arrangements and giving each one a special sparkle – down to the color and size the customer wants – is what keeps business blossoming, according to Bustillo.

“Nobody can succeed 100 percent of the time, but we succeed 99.99 percent of the time,” he said. “We always strive to give people what they want. After all, they are the ones who pay our bills.

“We appreciate our customers and we know they can go other places. It sounds cliché, but we treat people the way we want to be treated. We believe in that.”

For more information, call 474- 5236, or (800) 882-0992; or visit, at 3617 Common Street in Lake Charles; or online, at www.wendisflowercart.com.

The Smell of Sweet Success: Delicious Donuts & Bakery

By Lisa Yates
Times Editor


Bakeries that want to succeed in today's supermarket culture must do more than assure their products are fresh.

Their ideas must be fresh, too.

When Paula Stevens and her brother, Lucas Verret, founded Delicious Donuts & Bakery 15 years ago, they included freshly-baked king cakes among their repertoire of mouth-watering treats.

“The most popular fillings are pecan praline, and pralines-n-cream,” Stevens said. “Half of all of the king cakes we sell are these.”  Along with fruit flavors – like bananas foster, blueberry, lemon, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and pineapple – the bakery also offers Bavarian, chocolate, cream cheese and the traditional, cinnamon. There's also Zulu and a combination of fruit and cream cheese fillings on the menu.

Each year, Stevens and her “krewe” gets together to create a new filling just in time for Mardi Gras.  “One year it was bananas foster, another year we added peaches and cream,” she said. “We even had a peanut butter and jelly filling one year.  Stevens and the bunch would not divulge this year's new flavor, but added it will be out at the end of January.

“We're still sampling prototypes – it's a tough job, but someone has to do it,” she joked.  Delicious Donuts & Bakery sent The Times staff a Bavarian-filled king cake fresh out of the oven. Everyone agreed it was the best king cake in they had ever eaten.  But readers don't have to take their word for it. They can do a “Google search” and see what travel writers around the world have to say about these king cakes.

“When travel writers come to Louisiana, they travel throughout the state – New Orleans, Lafayette, all over – to see and do different things,” Stevens said. “When they come here, the tourist bureau takes them to the Mardi Gras museum and asks us to come give a king cake demonstration.”

She explained that a king cake demonstration involves bringing “naked king cakes” - those without icing and decorations – and letting visitors add the rest.  “We also tell them about the history of the king cake,” Stevens said. “We tell them it's a tradition for the person who finds the baby to host the next party. Most of thim don't know about this and they love it.”

When the writers get finished decorating, she arranges to have the cakes shipped to their homes. They sample the demo cake eagerly anticipating who will get the piece with the baby.  “It really makes an impression on them,” Stevens said. “Sometimes they'll send a copy of an article and we'll see that a third of it is dedicated to us.”

She said it's a lot of fun and something she enjoys sharing with others.  “It's very gratifying to start from scratch and end up with a product that puts a smile on someone's face and a taste they can remember,” Stevens said.
 
Many of her travel writers end up as loyal customers, ordering king cakes and sharing this Southwest Louisiana tradition with family and friends.  In fact, anyone can order king cakes. Cakes are shipped year-round through the Delicious Donuts & Bakery Web site at www.deliciouskingcakes.com.

During Mardi Gras season, king cakes are ready to go, baked fresh each day at the store on 2283 Country Club Road, in Lake Charles.  Customers can also call ahead to reserve a king cake with their favorite filling.

Delicious Donuts & Bakery has more than just the hottest king cakes in town, the shop specializes in donuts, kalotchies, cookies, cakes, and party trays – including miniatures – bite-sized appetizer versions of the full-sized pastries.
“We get orders from L'auberge du lac for the miniatures,” Stevens said. “They order them for their V.I.P. Guests.” 
Stevens and Verret not only own the shop, they work alongside their small kitchen staff making pastries and waiting on customers.  “I'm an arts and crafts person – I like to make things,” Stevens said. “Like art, you start from scratch and create a finished product – only ours you can eat!  “It's very gratifying to put a smile on someone's face and create a taste they can remember.”  Through a viewing window, customers can watch as dough is rolled out, hand-cut, and shaped for baking.

Stevens said there's an art to hand-cutting pastry, which is a key factor to making products look and taste good.  “After all, if it doesn't look good, nobody is going to eat it,” she said.

“We make it fresh on site; and, we're here every day to maintain quality control. We don't even try to compete with supermarket products. Ours are made fresh - they don't have that privilege.”

For more information, call (337) 479-2986, or visit Delicious Donuts & Bakery, at 2283 Country Club Road, in Lake Charles. The store is open from 5 a.m. To 6 p.m., seven days a week.

The Perfect Fit: Uniquely Fashionable

 

By Lisa Yates 

The Times Editor





Barbara DuBose owns and runs the The Perfect Fit, a highly
successful ladies' boutique for new designer clothing and
special orders. Haute couture devotees are unlikely to visit
any other designer boutique with such an informal and relaxed
atmosphere – anywhere.

“The way it works is, someone calls saying she needs certain
types of clothes, or a dress for a particular event,” she
said. “Then, we'll sit down together and look at sketches or
pictures of different designs.

“I have books with sketches and fabric samples in different
colors to look at - we work from there. For example, if a
customer finds a dress she likes, but she wants a different
collar. We can do that, because it is custom made and fitted
to her. We also get a lot of designer samples in the store and
do trunk shows.”

Arguably Southwest Louisiana's best-kept secret, the volume of
regular customers speaks for itself - customers who come for
something special, or to browse at leisure through selections
of casual wear labels, such as Forty Grand, Ingenuity, DaRue,
and JSS Knitwear of New York, to name but a few. Handbags by
ALGO of Switzerland and La Neige are in stock, or can be
special-ordered.

The Perfect Fit has a large selection of evening wear
available, too, including full-length dresses, cocktail
dresses, jackets, tops, skirts and trousers. Labels include
ALGO of Switzerland, Vionie of Germany, Christian Weber of
Italy, Lourdes Chavez of California and David Hayes of
California.

“It's not too late to order for Mardi Gras,” DuBose said. “I
can have it ready in time. I do a lot of Mardi Gras orders,
especially for kings, queens, princesses and their parents.”
Her Mardi Gras gowns start at $850, but each design is unique
in color, fabric and fit, put together by highly-skilled
dressmakers whose wizardry makes the magic real!

“Nobody in town will have that same dress.” DuBoise said.
The magic begins with the fit, she said.  “You can take a
$3,000 dress, but if it doesn't fit your body, it won't make
you look good,” DuBose said. “On the other hand, you can take
a $300 dress - fitted perfectly to the body - and it will look
great.”

Hence, the name of her business – The Perfect Fit.
The Perfect Fit also offers a selection of summer clothes and
swimwear suitable for winter cruises in warmer climates.

“I do a lot of cruise and resort wear, too,” DuBoise said. “In
fact, I have some in the back I am working on, now, for a
customer.”

Making designer labels more accessible to customers
Customers do not have to travel to Houston or New Orleans to
shop for fashion.

“I've noticed all throughout the years, people will say they
have to go out of town to shop, but they don't,” she said.
In fact, there are those in Houston modeling their businesses
after The Perfect Fit.

“Vendors tell me that we were one of the first in the nation
to establish a storefront like this,” DuBose said. “An agent
said there's now one in Houston and one in Florida.”
In this couture atelier, everything is finely crafted,
tailored and coordinated for the client – even those clients
with more modest budgets.

“Some people say, 'I can't afford you,'” DuBose said. “It
hurts me to hear people say that. I love people and want then
to be comfortable here.”  She said, designers send in samples making designer labels
more accessible to customers in Southwest Louisiana.

“Our Ingenuity line is geared more towards the career girl,”
DuBose said. “The most expensive piece is $225.”
Another misconception she wanted to clear up was a mistake
appearing in the telephone directory.  “We are NOT a resale shop,” DuBose said. “We are listed that
way in the phone book, but it's a mistake. I've been trying to
get that mistake cleared up for years.”

She said the store sells new merchandise only. An unusual
selection of jewelry is always available and changing with the
seasons, including Starfire jewelry by Charlie Wharton.  Currently, the store is featuring a trunk show by David Hayes
of California.

From February onwards a large selection of wedding outfits is
available - suitable for the Mother-of-the-Bride, or guests.
References on where to get hats, shoes and bags to match are
provided.

“I have a fashion agent from Seattle,” DuBose said, revealing
her source.  It's best to begin preparing in advance during the wedding
season, she said.

“We ask for at least three months,” DuBose said. “Of course,
we can get it done more quickly in some cases.”  Before a dress is ordered and sent to the designer, the
client's measurements are taken.

“When the dress arrives, 95 percent of the time it arrives
fitting perfectly to the customer,” DuBose said. “If during
the fitting it requires adjustments, our seamstress, Edith
Lee, provides expert alterations.”

Jamie Scimemi is also a part of the team at The Perfect Fit.
“Jamie does the bookkeeping; and, she helps with everything,
including weddings,” DuBose said.

The shop owner also works with numerous models.  “One of our models is modeling in Germany for Vionie, now,” DuBose said. “She is one of our 15 house models.”

These models participate in a style show each year to benefit
the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana.
At this year's show, DuBose modeled one of her original
designs – it's breathtaking!

A seamstress

She started in business as a seamstress.  “I've always had a thing about clothes,” DuBose said.
She began sewing as a young girl on her mother's sewing
machine in Roberts Cove, La.

“My mother did all of the sewing for the family – I was one of
10 children,” DuBose said. “She didn't want us to touch her
sewing machine, but when she went out I would sew.”
She said she got caught every time!

Like her mother, she sewed for her own family – her husband,
Stephen DuBoise, and their five children.  "I never worked (outside of the home) until my children were
grown,” Du Bose said.

In 1983, she went to work part-time for Mr. And Mrs. Maurice
Kleinman, who owned The Fashion.

“Mrs. Kleinman started me out in the dressing room,
introducing me to customers,” DuBose said. “I got to see how
she treated the customers. She kept me under her wing and I
began doing some designing on my own, at home. The major thing
I learned was customer service – that's the bottom line. You
have to bend over backwards for your customers. The customer
is always right.”

When the Kleinmans retired, Robert and Debbie Nolan bought The
Fashion. DuBose said she continued in their employment until
the store closed.  Afterwards, she worked for Bill Lawton, who owned a retail
store called Mary William.

“I worked for him until he retired,” DuBose said. “I then
worked for his granddaughter, Marcie Duhon Harper, managing
her store - Mary Margaret - for seven years.”  Throughout the years, customers encouraged DuBose to open her
own store.

“My customers kept encouraging me,” she said. “When I turned
65, I opened the store. On January 24, 2006, I had my first
trunk show – it was phenomenal. It's been a success story.”

For more information, call 433-5855, online at
www.perfectfitlc.com, or visit The Perfect Fit, 312 Pujo St.,
Lake Charles. Store hours are by appointment; or, 10 a.m. - 4
p.m., Mon. - Fri.

A Family Tradition: Meaux's Western Wear & Shoe Service

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times



For the Meaux Family, running a successful business is all about service so memorable that customers come back for generations.

The family owns Meaux's Western Wear & Shoe Service, located at 3911 Common Street, in Lake Charles.

How it all began

“Jimmy's dad, Edward Meaux, started it in Iowa, in 1957, as a shoe repair shop,” Carol Meaux said. “We took it over in 1978. Back then it was on Kirkman Street and Prien.”

She said her father-in-law died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving the business to her husband.

“We had just opened a dental lab six months before,” Meaux said.

She said she and her husband closed the dental lab to run the family business.

“In 1991, we opened another location in Sulphur, but we kept the shoe repair business in Lake Charles,” she said. “We closed that store in 1993, and moved back here. It just got too hard driving back and forth for the shoe repair.”

During road construction, the store moved temporarily from its Common Street location to Ryan Street.

“When they widened Common Street, from McNeese to I-210, we moved the store to Ryan Street for three years,” Meaux said. “If we wouldn't have done that, we couldn't have survived.”

She said some area businesses had to close their doors as a result of the lengthy construction project.

“Construction went on for six years,” Meaux said. “I counted.”

The store today

Today, Jim and Carol run the store on Common Street, along with their daughter Jana Meaux – a third-generation owner.

The service that makes Meaux's stand out from other western wear stores is the attention to detail and making sure customers don't just buy a hat or pair of boots right off the shelf, without being fitted correctly.

“I like to shape a hat to a person's face and style,” Meaux said. “It's like a haircut – it has to match you.”

The store specializes in better western clothing and boots. Boot brands include Ariat, Twisted X, Cowtown, and Roper.

“Cowtown boots are Texas-made,” Meaux said.

She added, steel-toed work boots and work clothes can also be found at Meaux’s.

The store also carries top brands in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, such as Roper shirts; Ariat shirts; Cinch jeans and shirts; Cruel Girl jeans and shirts; and, Scully leather jackets. Western accessories include Tony Lama hats, Montana Silversmith jewelry, and a wide-ranging selection of belts.

Just as when it began, Meaux’s shop is well-equipped for all kinds of saddle, shoe and leather goods repair. And, everyone there has real-world experience with horses and equine activities.

“Five years ago, we put in monogramming,” Meaux said. “We can monogram leather; and, we do silk-screening here. We’ve had to diversify some through the years to get us through the summers.”

She said during the hot summer months, jeans and boots don’t sell as well. With casual dressing as the norm these days, leather jackets and sports coats have become seasonal.

“Men used to wear sports coats out to dinner,” Meaux said, noting dressing for dinner isn’t typical anymore. “People's needs have changed over 30 years. The sizes of people have changed, too. People have gotten larger and bigger.”

To illustrate, she said that 30 years ago, “medium” was the average men’s shirt size – today, it’s an “extra-large.”

“In men’s boots, 8 ½ was the average size,” Meaux said. “Now, 10, or 10 ½ is the average.

Fashionable western wear

While western wear is timeless and classic, styles within this genre change with fashion. For example, the 1980 Urban Cowboy look is out. A more contemporary western style has emerged.

“There’s a lot more bling, today,” Meaux said. “It used to be that western wear was six months behind the fashion industry, but now it’s neck and neck.”

What’s in?

For men, it’s the square-toed boot, according to Meaux. Just like fashion shoes, squared-toe is in, she said.

The tall-crowned cowboy hat is out, she said. The stylish cowboy hat, today, has a lower crown with a wider brim.

In jeans, Meaux said pick a pair with a bit of flare. The super-straight, skinny jean is out these days, she said.

Fashionable accessories include fun pony-printed flat wallets and rhinestone-studded everything!

“Lake Charles has kept a lot of its western flair,” Meaux said. “Cattle and the oil industry have always been prominent here.”

The economy hasn't hurt business

While most of Meaux’s customers are working-class people, refinery workers, farmers, construction workers and truck drivers, the recent economic downturn hasn’t hurt business.

“Business has been up every month this year,” Carol Meaux said. “Jimmy’s dad said when the economy is bad, business goes up. People fix their shoes, rather than buy new ones. Also, when the oil industry is up, people here make money; and, they have more money to spend on things like new boots. It’s a blue collar thing.”

Following Hurricane Rita, she noticed a similar trend in business.

“After the storm, Jimmy and Jana came back to check on the property,” Meaux said.

She said the family allowed tree cutters and electrical workers to park their trucks on the property as they worked for weeks to restore power to the community.

“It was a win-win situation,” Meaux said, noting the workers’ presence provided a measure of security. “They also bought merchandise.”

Even though the store had closed for two weeks and re-opened without electricity, it didn’t lose money.

“For two weeks we were closed, but in the following two weeks we made up for it with business from the tree cutters, who bought boots,” Meaux said. “We were very blessed.”

Giving back to the community

The family also believes in giving back to the community. Throughout the years, Carol estimated the family has given thousands of dollars worth of merchandise to high school rodeo competitions.

“I look at it as an investment in children,” she said. “This is our community. If we can give away a belt buckle, or give away a pair of chaps, it’s our responsibility to do that.”

Meaux said that participating in rodeos and in 4-H Club programs helps to build character in children and helps to foster good, healthy competition.

“Most people don’t remember it, but McNeese State University came about as a result of  rodeo,” she said.

It’s true.

The Southwest Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association worked with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the federal government to establish Lake Charles Junior College, because the organization wanted an exhibit area for livestock shows and rodeos. The college became John McNeese Junior college in 1940. Later, in 1950, it parted from the LSU system, becoming McNeese State College. Finally, in 1970, the school gained university status.

Continuing the family tradition

The Meaux family plans to continue its tradition of supporting local rodeo competitions and 4-H clubs, but has no plans to expand the business right now.

Carol and Jim said their grandchildren – Jaden, 16, Saydee, 9, and Edward, 7 – will have to decide if they want to take over the store one day. If they do, the children will become the fourth-generation to carry on this family tradition.

Nine-year-old Saydee said she wants to work with animals and ride horses, like her aunt Jana. Seven-year-old Edward says he’s interested in running the store one day.

“I want to,” he said.

For more information, call (337) 477- 7901, or visit Meaux's Western Wear & Shoe Service, at 3911 Common Street, in Lake Charles.

The Perfect Gift

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times


Get a head start on the season's hottest gift trends at The Perfect Gift – a Cottage Shop boutique.

“The biggest thing this year is anything with initials,” said Carol Henry, the owner. “Monogrammed wine stoppers, flat wallets, wine glasses, garden flags, and note pads – anything with bright, colorful initials is big right now.

She said these personalized gifts for women, men and children not only make great holiday presents, but are great for birthdays, anniversaries or any occasion.

If you like shopping, you will love The Perfect Gift, located at 2712 Hodges Street, in Lake Charles. The store is filled with beautiful displays of gifts and home décor – trinkets, treasures and inviting fragrances – the solution to Secret Santa gift-giving.

“I try to find fun things – unique things – where you can find gifts for all occasions and something fun for yourself, too,” Henry said.

Best-selling items include circle flap handbags, she said. She added, they come in a variety of stylish colors and make great gifts for the serious “fashionista” on your Christmas list.

What's new?

New items include designer-inspired, long-sleeved cotton tees and knit tops.

“I've just started getting into clothing,” Henry said as she opened a box containing a new collection arriving at the store. “These are fun tops – with LSU and Fleur Di Lis designs.”

Upscale OKA b's footwear is also a new item at The Perfect Gift.

Reflexology-inspired, these fashionable shoes feature an ergonomic footbed enhanced with massage beads to pamper feet with every step. But unlike a lot of therapeutic-type shoes, OKA b's are cute and come in a variety of colors and styles - sandals, mules and clogs.

Not only are the shoes fashionable, they have made headlines for being eco-friendly. Customers can send their old pairs to the company's corporate headquarters, where they will be ground and mixed with virgin material to create a new product. Tre' chic!

For the kids, The Perfect Gift has one of the hottest Christmas toys this season – the Elf on the Shelf.

“He's one of Santa's little helpers and he makes trips to the North Pole every night,” Henry said.

She explained “Elf on the Shelf” is a book set with an antique-style Elf, formed to sit on a shelf. The book explains what the Elf does.

“He has a job,” said Henry. “This Elf is assigned to watch over your family and report back to Santa each night about who has been naughty or nice that day. By morning he's back but he's usually in a different place in the house. If you see him move, he loses his magic.”

It's a new family tradition created by a very creative mother, as a way of keeping her kids behavior in check on the holidays.

“Kids love playing the daily hide-and-seek game with the elf,” Henry said. “Parents love it too, because they have no trouble getting their kids to bed. They want to go to bed, so they can wake up the next day to see where the elf is next.”

A little something extra

As with any gift, presentation counts.

A beautifully wrapped present heightens the fun and anticipation. That's why The Perfect Gift offers complimentary gift wrapping with purchases.

“We all lead such hectic lives these days,” Henry said. “We have some customers who will call us and tell us what kind of gift they are looking for hand how much they want to spend. We'll have it wrapped and ready to go when they get here.”

It's like having a personal shopper. The store owner just calls it good customer service.

“It's just so hard to find good customer service nowadays,” she said.

As a boutique owner for many years, Henry said it's a key reason for the success of her business.

“I enjoy helping people; and, enjoy the merchandise,” she said. “You have to love what you do to be successful – and, I do. I thoroughly enjoy it.”

The Perfect Gift has been a part of The Cottage Shops of Lake Charles for 10 years, according to Henry. She purchased the store in February, 2000, after her husband retired.

“I had owned a boutique years before,” she said. “When my husband retired, this just fell into my lap.”

It was a good fit for Henry, who loves talking to people and getting to know them. When her out-of-state customers pass through town, they stop in for a visit.

“They say, 'We just had to stop in and see you,'” Henry said. “That makes you feel so good!”

A civic-minded shopkeeper

As a natural “people-person,” Henry is very active in the community. This includes serving on the board of directors for the local Better Business Bureau, and serving on the Executive Board of the Women’s Commission of Southwest Louisiana.

“I believe it’s important to give back to the community,” she said.

She said that’s a quality she shares with the other business owners of The Cottage Shop district.

“We’re all locally-owned, women-owned businesses,” Henry said. “We support our local schools, our churches and sports activities. We give back to the community.”

That’s something to think about this holiday season, she said.

“People need to realize how important it is to shop their locally-owned businesses,” Henry said.

She said there are many benefits to shopping local, including helping the local economy. In fact, local money helps to promote entrepreneurship and create local jobs.

Through paying local taxes, shoppers also help fund neighborhood, community and city projects.

“The tourist bureau sends out-of-town visitors to The Cottage Shops, because we have a variety of different shops here and we offers customers quick and easy parking,” Henry said.

She added that over time, local merchants develop more personal relationships with their customers.

“We connect with our customers and form relationships,” she said. “We know them and we care about them. We find that people like to do business with friends.”

Think outside the box

By thinking outside the big box stores, you’ll find affordable one-of-a-kind gifts, all while making friends with small businesses in your community, keeping money in the local economy and creating a more unique town.

Instead of spending cash on the same cheaply-manufactured gizmo everyone else is getting at chain megastores – shop local.

“If you only have a few dollars to spend, stop and think how and where you will spend those dollars,” Henry said.

Shake up your shopping habit this season. Find the most thoughtful and unique holiday gifts at The Perfect Gift.

For more information, call (337) 439-7693, or visit The Perfect Gift at 2712 Hodges St. in Lake Charles. Store hours are 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mon. – Fri., and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., on Saturdays.

Seafood Palace: C' est Bon Cajun Cuisine

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times of SWLA

If you're going for white linen table cloths and a sommelier, don't bother. The décor at Seafood Palace is uber-casual, with tables decked out in red vinyl, and on the walls – mounted fish on fishing nets, Louisiana-themed posters and neon beer signs. But the Cajun food is phenomenal!

Located at 2218 Enterprise Boulevard in Lake Charles, Seafood Palace features authentic Louisiana specialties such as boiled crabs and crawfish, po-boys, and a wide selection of menu items -- all available for take out.

Famous for gumbo

Over the years, Seafood Palace has become the city's favorite spot to enjoy Cajun cuisine, especially gumbo. There are two varieties of gumbo to choose from -- chicken and sausage, or shrimp and crab.

“We're known for our gumbo,” said David Papania, who owns the restaurant along with business partner, John Larocca.

Papania pointed to the autographed Little Chenier movie poster hanging behind the cash register. He said the star of the movie signed it when dining at the restaurant.

“The star of Little Chenier, Fred Koehler, ate here and loved our gumbo,” Papania said. “He's coming back, again, this Thanksgiving.”

What makes the gumbo so good?

Seafood Palace uses only great-tasting, fresh food and premium-quality, fresh ingredients for its gumbo, according to Papania. He added, having a great cook to put it all together is another essential ingredient.

“Stella LaVerge is our gumbo cook,” Papania said. “She's been cooking gumbo for a long time – more than 30 years.”

Opened more than 30 years ago, the highly successful Seafood Palace serves thousands of meals a year, and has been written up in publications throughout the world.

“Back then, it was called Crab Palace,” Papania said. “Alice Gaspard owned it, originally. My business partner and I bought it seven years ago, in 2001.”

They changed the name to “Seafood Palace” and tweaked the menu adding more items, even “gator wings.” Gator wings look like buffalo wings, but are made from Louisiana Alligator meat and they are delicious!

“Fresh-broiled crabs and crawfish are best-sellers, along with the gumbo,” Papania said. He stressed the restaurant uses only fresh, local seafood.

“We get our crabs daily from Hackberry; and, we buy our crawfish from local crawfish farmers,” he said.

The menu

For those who love seafood, there's plenty of choices on the menu, including a variety of tasty dinners.

Served with a salad, French fries and Texas toast, dinner entrees include: fried popcorn shrimp, shrimp, catfish, oysters and combos.

There's also a large selection of a la carte choices, such as crawfish, and crab, patties; stuffed crab, and shrimp; frog legs; crawfish tails; and, a seafood platter. For those who don't want seafood, there's chicken.

“In addition to our fried food, we also have grilled dinners for those who are watching their waistlines,” Papania said.

He said there's also a large number of appetizers to start off the meal. Boudin balls, stuffed pistolettes, fried catfish filet, fried okra, stuffed shrimp, frog legs, shrimp and crab jalapeños are just a few to mention.

There's a kid's menu for those age 12, and younger.

It's a family-friendly place, to be sure. However, adult beverages are available for those who enjoy an occasional cocktail.

Business is good

Papania said business is good, even in this tough economy.

“Our business has been steady,” he said. “We have a lot of regular customers and a lot of repeat business.”

He said the restaurant does a brisk business at lunchtime as people are drawn from nearby hospitals and law offices downtown.

“I guess you can say we have the best, worse location there is,” Papania said. “We're a little off the beaten path, but we've been here so long that people know where to find us.”

He said the location is far enough from the hubbub in some areas so as to avoid wasting time in traffic, but still close enough to allow diners to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time.

The service

Although patrons come for the food, the service is always polite and efficient, even during busier times. The wait staff is very attentive, making sure their guests are enjoying their meals and helping out as needed.

That's what keeps folks coming back, according to Papania.

“That's why we have been successful,” he said. “We have good food, excellent service and a casual, friendly atmosphere.”

Papania can always be found greeting people warmly and talking with patrons to make sure their visit is as pleasant as possible.

“People like seeing an owner present,” he said. “That way, we can make sure that things are done correctly; and, we can take care of any problems that might occur.”

He said that the restaurant business is a people-oriented business.

“I like to be around people,” he said. “I've been in this business all of my life. My family had an Italian restaurant, so it just something I know how to do – and, I like it.”

Hard-working mom finds opening business pays off

By Lisa Yates
Editor

Wedad Abrusley opened Oasis Foods, Inc. because small businesses needed a distributor willing to handle small orders.

In 1978, her husband, Eddie, was working as a salesman for a food service distributing business in Beaumont, Texas. The company was bought by a major company and soon implemented a new policy -- it quit filling orders of less than $700.

“Many of my husband's customers were small mom and pop businesses,” Abrusley said.
“These were people in Abbeville and Port Arthur...Good customers, but small businesses.”

Her husband suggested they start a company to fill the void. It was a good opportunity and it would help these small businesses, he told her.

Abrusley, 60, wasn't excited about the idea. Instead, she wanted to purchase an import store franchise from a company in Houston. Besides, the timing wasn't right.

“At that time, I was expecting our third child,” she said. “I was six months pregnant. I did not want to lose the insurance.”

However, she took a chance.

“We borrowed $25,000 on our home – we took out a second mortgage,” Abrusley said.

Without a personal vehicle, the couple purchased a truck for pick-ups and deliveries.

“I took orders over the phone with three kids screaming at me in the background,” Abrusley said.

In addition to taking orders by phone, she divided onions and potatoes in her garage. Then, she helped load the produce onto the truck for her husband to deliver. She did this while caring for her three small children at home, while her husband delivered orders throughout Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

“I was a wife, a mom, an employee – I did the invoices, mailed out statements while I took care of the kids,” Abrusley said. “I cooked and I cleaned; and, I worried about him on the road. There were no cell phones back then. My blood pressure – it raised from worrying so much.”

The big break

Her first big break came when a chain of convenience stores became customers.

More money became available, but rather than purchase personal luxuries, Abrusley put money back into the business. The company hired employees and purchased new equipment – freezers, storage facilities and delivery trucks.

Growing up without luxuries in Syria helped Abrusley to prioritize and to invest wisely in her business. She said it also helped her appreciate the opportunities and luxuries many take for granted in this country.

“We had no electricity,” she said. “We had no refrigerator.”

At age 33, Abrusley's father became disabled and had to retire. Her mother supported the family, which included seven daughters and two sons.

“My mom is my hero,” Abrusley said. “She would sew one dress for seven children to wear. She taught us a lot. I am 100 percent like my mom. She had no refrigerator, but she always had a smile. She worked hard and built a house for us in Damascus – the capital city.”

Even though Abrusley didn't speak English – only Arabic, and some French -- she wanted to go to college in the United States of America. She wanted a better life.

“In America, I know I could do it,” she said. “I know I could cut grass, wash cars – there is freedom here.”

She followed her dreams and came to this country. A family from her church – Judy and Frank Mousa, of Houston, welcomed her into their home. She helped care for their baby, while attending college.

“I never will forget those people,” Abrusley said. “They made me a part of their family. When I got married, they even paid for my wedding.”

The leap from college student to business owner took many years, but she did it.

With her husband and children, Abrusley built a successful company, which has been in business for 25 years.

Challenges

Along the way, Abrusley said she faced many challenges – including customers who let her know that they did not want to do business with a woman.

However, one of the biggest setbacks occurred when she lost her largest customer – a chain of convenience stores she had done business with for 16 years. The chain hired new management, who went with another distributor.

Abrusley remembered thinking “God, help us.”

“We had 26 employees, then,” she said.

Like the Boy Scouts, her motto has been: “Be prepared.” Being prepared helped her weather many storms.

“You have to be very patient, smart, and you have to prepare,” Abrusley said. “When one window closes, you have to open another one. Always in business -- if you lose a customer, you need to have another.”

For example, she took action when Harrah’s Casino came to town. She filled out vendor applications and got some business from that company.

By providing excellent customer service, she has managed to work with other area casinos, including L’Auberge du Lac, Delta Downs, and Isle of Capri.

“I would say that about 80 percent of our business is with casinos,” Abrusley said. “But, we have no guarantees – no contracts. We just have a history of giving the best quality service.”

Other challenges

The 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., had chilling effects on many Arab-Americans, including the Abrusley family.

“One of our best customers came into our lobby and starting yelling (obscenities) at us,” she said.

Besides being disturbed by this outburst, Abrusley -- a life-long Christian – said she was surprised that people here did not know Syria's significance in the history of Christianity.

“He did not know history, or geography,” she said. “The persons responsible for these attacks were not from my country.”

Even after 25 years in business – paying taxes and giving back to the community, some still eye her with suspicion, she said.

Despite this and other challenges, Abrusley continues working as she has done her entire life. Her husband, who is recovering from major surgery, spends less time at the office.

Following in their footsteps

Following in their parents' entrepreneurial footsteps, the couple's children – grown now -- are developing their own businesses.

Their daughters, Sami and Omaia, are opening Regalia at 411 W. College Street in Lake Charles – formerly Spain's Gift Shop. Shadi, their son, founded Southwest Marketing and Distribution – a wholesale distributor of premium liquor, spirits, wine, kitchen equipment and smallwares.

“I am very proud of them,” Abrusley said. “They work very hard – seven days a week.” Just like their parents.


For more information, call (337) 439-5262, (337) 439-4405, or visit 2222 Kirkman Street in Lake Charles, or online at www.oasisfoodsinc.com.