Trendy New Shop Opens Near Campus
By: Sierra Henderson
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Student Life
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The shop, Trendz Boutique, 886 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, (near Joseph E. Lowery Blvd) celebrated its grand opening by passing out flyers for 20 percent off of all purchases.
Young dapper employees, most of whom are CAU students, attract attention to the small shop set against the backdrop of Atlanta's Historic Westside Village.
From the outside, a passerby might not believe that such a discreet location could house a clothing store, but Trendz has an exclusive selection of authentic brands. Pierre Delva, an employee and CAU sophomore considers this an advantage.
"You'll never see too much of one item, so everyone won't be wearing the same thing," Delva said..
With names such as Ed Hardy, LRG, Rocawear, Akademiks, AppleBottom and Baby Phat lining the walls, and a floor display encasing accessories including Coach and Louis Vuitton handbags and Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses, Trendz appeals to the fashion forward connoisseur who boasts, "You ain't got these!"
But the most remarkable thing about Trendz is undoubtedly the owner. Kathryn Pratcher, 27, is working on her third successful business venture. When people first meet her, they may assume she comes from a wealthy family, but this petite paper-chaser has an exceptional rags-to-riches story.
She grew up in the surrounding area and lived with her sister and her mother, who was addicted to drugs at the time. Pratcher had her first child when she was 15 years old. She said she didn't grow up with a lot of money, and she tried a lot of different things before she broke through with the clothing boutique.
This was the logical next step for Pratcher, who also has an income tax service and dabbles in real estate. "I love clothes. That says who I am. That's my style."
And if that wasn't enough, this self-made, self-paid, young entrepreneur has a heart of gold. About 90 per cent of Trendz employees are Clark Atlanta students who came in off the street looking for a job. Even though she was already over staffed, Pratcher said she couldn't turn anyone down. She hired some of the business majors on a commission-only basis just to help them acquire skills they may need later on.
"Part of the owner's mission is to uplift the community," said Thierno Dialo, 19, an employee and a junior studying Supply Chain Management.
In fact, anyone who knows her might tell you that Pratcher likes to help people. She supports black-owned businesses, features local designers and artists, and makes time to spend with her five children, ages 12 to one.
Freshman Business Management major, Marcus Kendrick, hopes to learn the ins and outs of merchandising from Pratcher. He describes his boss as "an energetic, straight-forward, playful big sister." He said Pratcher has a keen business sense and matches employee personalities to avoid clashes.
Even after a break-in last week that cost her a considerable amount in merchandise, Pratcher still has faith in her employees and the community. She hopes the surveillance video will identify the culprits, but she always looks on the bright side and continues to view her boutique as an opportunity to help people.
Pratcher attributes her success to God's grace and her own perseverance. The ambitious Pisces said she uses her instincts and takes calculated risks. She advises other aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and anticipates future growth in the community.
The condominiums being erected across the street are a testament to the area's ongoing revitalization. Trendz is no exception. The historic site was renovated and furnished with a chic décor courtesy of a custom decorator. Its parlor-like atmosphere hosts a spring selection of polos, tees, designer denim shorts, sandals and Air Force Ones essential to riding out Atlanta's pre-summer heat waves.
Though the prices are what one might expect of a boutique, Trendz offers generous discounts. Employees receive a 20 percent discount and are often times permitted to use them for friends and relatives. Additionally, every week there is a 25 percent discount on a specific brand.
There's even a special discount for birthdays. Pratcher remembers as a child the disappointment of always seeing something she wanted but could never have. As a result she now offers 50 percent discounts on the day a patron celebrates their birthday. AUC students can also expect an additional 10 percent discount above any other valid discounts offered.
When asked how she can afford the markdowns, Pratcher said all of her merchandise is prepaid. She invests the profits from her other businesses and prides herself in providing merchandise that people like.
