Leader in Business: 01.18.09
Stephanie Harrison, co-owner of Baby and Belly
Stephanie Harrison and Sarah Graf are co-owners of Belly & Baby and Hopscotch. Harrison says supporting local businesses is a good way to keep the local economy healthy. 'Residents just need to give Corpus Christi a chance,' she said.
Address: 3818 S. Alameda St., Suite 36
Phone: 991-2540
Company description: designer maternity and baby clothing
Hometown: Corpus Christi
Years in business: 3
Tenure in position: 3 years
Education: Incarnate Word Academy, 1995; Del Mar College, 2000
First job: I was 17 and got a job at Christmastime at Kirkland's in the mall. I worked the register and mainly did crowd control. People are very territorial about ornaments and tree toppers they spot from a distance. I didn't like it because I was young and that time of year is extremely busy. I had no desire to do retail for quite a while after that.
Biggest career break: Becoming pregnant about six years ago. I have a 5-year-old son, James, and I had to buy all my maternity clothing out of town during my pregnancy. When I became pregnant with my second child, Hannah, I realized I needed to bring designer maternity brands and style to Corpus Christi. Women should not have to alter their style once they become pregnant. There are many designers that also produce maternity lines.
Business turning point: We opened in March 2005 in Crossroads Shopping Center in a 900-square-foot site. In November 2007, I joined my sister and co-owner, Sarah Graf, and moved to our new location at Lamar Park Shopping Center. It has more than 2,400 square feet. With the move, partnership and the chance for customers to register for their baby showers, we started offering children's clothing up to a size 14. Customers often comment that they're surprised we were here.
Business philosophy: We treat our customers how we want to be treated. Everyone is treated like an old friend when they walk in. And we firmly believe in helping the customer find just the right item, even if that means sending them to another local store.
How would you improve Corpus Christi's business climate? We understand that this is a difficult and trying time for many people but I would remind residents to shop locally. You would be surprised how many wonderful things are available here in Corpus Christi without having to travel to San Antonio. You don't have to spend the additional money on gas, food and accommodations. Many local shops carry name-brand high-end designers such as Nicole Miller and Diane von Furstenberg. Residents just need to give Corpus Christi a chance. The more business local shops get, the more it encourages business owners to branch out. We buy items from local designers. Those dollars spent in the city stay in the city. They go to local wages, which pay local taxes and help the overall economy. It's all hand-to-hand and we need to help each other.
