Introducing this year’s inspiring group.
This year, we’re celebrating three family businesses across the South that foster community.
We bleed Carolina blue.
They also come by their love of fashion honestly.
Lea attributes her style savvy to her grandmother too.
My moms mom was a boutique owner in North Carolina in the 1980s, she says.
Here in the South, game day is an experience, says Lea.
Its not just a football or basketball game.
Its an event, and you come dressed to the nines.
Its exciting for us to be a part of that.
But for the mother-daughter duo, its about more than school spirit.
We dont take that lightly.
On her first day on the job, Hay learned Croghans approach to customer service.
My mom said, Take these three bracelets to the back door of the hospital.
Dr. So-and-So is operating, but hell come out and pick one.
Youll bring it back, wrap it, and then take it to him, she recalls, laughing.
Years later, this extra-mile mentality is still engraved in the Croghans ethos.
Theyve also taken care to remain relevant in a changing retail landscape.
When Outten moved back to Charleston in 2009, she set to work establishing the shops online presence.
Now, their Instagram has around 44,000 followers from all over the country.
Social media puts you in touch with your people, says Outten.
A lot of things change, Outten says.
But a lot of things dont.
Seeing all these families with their children shopping and looking around and drinking our horchatait feels good.
Its this strong tie to their Oak Cliff communityand to each otherthat makes CocoAndre so special, notes Puente.
To me, small businesses are the bread and butter of your neighborhood, she says.
They make you feel at home and know your name and who you are.
Check out the2020and2021Southern Living Tastemakers.
