Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 23, 1994 TAG: 9411230107
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Babies & Children also ranked No. 1 in the general votes as the place to shop for gifts.
And a student poll voted Toad'ly Kids and Spencer's as tops in children's and gift categories, respectively.
"It's a wonderful store for grandparents," one man said when he phoned in his vote for Babies & Children.
The stores' popularity, said owner Anne Willis, is explained by quality clothes at affordable prices, great sales, good service and "the best customers in the world."
Willis confessed that she knew some customers were "nominating us."
She and her husband, Fred, opened the first Babies & Children in Rocky Mount nine years ago. They then added stores at Martinsville Plaza, on U.S. 221 near Forest in Lynchburg and in Roanoke's Picadilly Square. The Roanoke store recently moved to a separate building on Franklin Road near Kmart.
In addition to clothing for children up to about age 12, the store carries gifts, cribs and bedding.
Her husband does most of the store management, Anne Willis said, because she is busy with her own babies and children, ages 10, 8, 4 and 1.
"We have a lot of the same customers we did when we started. They've watched my children grow up," she said.
Their store wasn't the only Rocky Mount connection in the poll. J&J Fashions, a downtown Rocky Mount women's clothing shop, had a strong showing in its category.
J&J is 27 years old and owned by Benjamin and Jewell Hunt. After 13 years as a buyer for Leggett in Rocky Mount, Jewell Hunt decided she could do the same thing for herself, so she set up a place that sells sizes 2-20 in a price range of $80-$300 for dresses.
J&J's way to reach customers?
"Service," Jewell said. "We offer free alterations, free parking, free gift wrap, and we never carry merchandise over from season to season. It's always fresh."
A third small shop also popped up in the survey: Clothes Harbor at Lake Drive Plaza in Vinton. Vyrl Amos started this boutique after several years as a Sears manager.
"Lots of silks," wrote reader Linda Mayhew in her nomination of Clothes Harbor.
Our poll doesn't pretend to be scientific; it's heavy on individual preference. Customers told us about stores that simply make them feel comfortable. Or where the manager is pleasant. Or where it's fun to wade through the piled-up clothes, or where the price is right.
Yes, Wal-Mart was No. 1 with the general readership, but Wal-Mart shoppers also must be frugal with their stamp money because the late Sam Walton's chain didn't sweep the contest as it has America. This was the occasion for recognition of places like La De Da, The Columns and R. Coffee Ltd. in Lynchburg.
The big winners are listed in the accompanying graphic, and include the votes of two Cave Spring High School marketing classes that wanted to test their preferences against the general public's. Wal-Mart was second with the students.
Several people sent notes with their votes, pointing out that Roanoke needs a better selection of stores. They particularly yearned for department stores such as Dillard, based in Little Rock, Ark., and Proffitt's, based in Alcoa, Tenn.
"The money is here. Why allow it to go to other excellent shopping areas?" a reader said. The reader noted that Roanoke has only four out of the top 10 national stores listed with this column two weeks ago.
Another reader had these observations:
Wal-Mart is "messy," Sears is "noisy and crowded" and J.C. Penney isn't what it used to be, especially in service. Kmart, she wrote, is "OK for low prices if you can find what you want. Much of it is junk."
"I vote for better services," she said.
by CNB