Today we’d like to introduce you to Doris Dower.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Stella’s Bridal began nearly 60 years ago. I am the third owner. The store began in historic Highlandtown. The original Hairspray movie ( Mr. Pinkey”s store) was filmed there. Demographics for downtown changed drastically, so in 2014 w moved the store to Westminster. We are located in an building originally built as a school. Became a bed and breakfast and then stood empty for 9 years until we came along. It has been a very successful move for the business
I began my career as a seamstress, making and altering wedding and formalwear gowns. When the opportunity presented to move my business into Stella’s as a part owner, I was thrilled. While not sewing anymore, I still had my hand in the alteration dept. I delight in helping women look their best for this special occasion.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been some bumps in the road but we have weathered them well. Because our building was once a school, the walls are thick ad we have individual rooms, so when we were able to reopen after the Pandemic, guests were separated making it an ideal experience. We thrived!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The creative side of me was displayed i the gowns I made. Owning the store, was like a blank canvas, choosing wall and carpet colors, decorating each room released the creative juices.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
You have to be able to take risks to be a business owner. Trends come and go. The owner must make informed decisions about them. Balancing cash flow while providing products that are saleable is often a challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loveitatstellas.com/
- Instagram: love.it.at.stellas
- Facebook: love it at Stellas’s
