When the door opens at Summerville Rags, sisters Nancy Bowers and Donna King greet their customers with a hug and a warm smile.
Patrons are ushered into a world of fashion, from the racks, graced by the latest designs, to the walls, which include a classic picture of Audrey Hepburn in a chic black dress.
To the average person, it might seem like only a clothing boutique, but for its customers, the shop is a place where women gather to celebrate the events of their lives.
"Our business is about our relationships with our customers," Ms. Bowers said. "We've had great experiences. We have laughed and cried with our customers."
They've assisted women with both "happy and sad" moments, she said.
Whether it's for a wedding, school reunion, job interview, party or funeral, customers visit "their sisters" for fashion advice, to laugh or shed a few tears and lean on them for support.
The sisters' love for clothing influenced them to purchase the business 10 years ago, Ms. Bowers said.
When the previous owner of the retail store at the corner of Monte Sano and Central avenues wanted to sell, Ms. Bowers said that she leaped at the opportunity to live out her dream.
Ms. King, her ideal choice for a partner, eagerly agreed to join her sister. Ms. Bowers said they are "perfect partners."
The sisters were both in their 50s at the time, but they didn't let their age hold them back. They worked tirelessly six days a week -- for the first five years -- to ensure the business would be successful.
"We worked with no salaries for one year," Ms. Bowers said. "You do whatever it takes to build your business."
Mark Garland, the owner of Mark Garland Studio in Atlanta, said the sisters have "amazing taste."
He has worked closely with the two since they purchased Summerville Rags and meets with them when they visit Atlanta for seasonal buying or trade shows.
His studio, which is one of hundreds located at AmericasMart, one of the largest apparel and gift-buying centers in the world, works with customers from across the globe.
Mr. Garland describes the sisters' style as "classic, sophisticated and modern."
"I remember when they first came in the showroom," Mr. Garland said. "Donna was the first buyer who came in who had on Chanel. I immediately noticed the label and said, 'Who is this lady?'
"With their taste level, I knew when they bought the business that they would take it to the next level. They understood fashion and what it took to dress the modern woman. They're a class act and a joy to work with."
Ginger Flanigan, a longtime customer, shopped at Summerville Rags even before the sisters purchased it.
"When they bought the store, it changed dramatically. Not that the other shop wasn't great, but Nancy's got such a sense of style," Ms. Flanigan said. "She knows her stock beautifully and can listen to you and go right up and pick out pieces."
Ms. Flanigan admires the store for its original selections and attentive service.
"I don't like going to a big mall, and it's nice to walk into a small shop where everybody knows you. There's a large selection for the different events that are going on in your life," she said.
"Both of them are very honest about what the clothes look like on you, and I like that."
Dressed up
The sisters, who are five years apart with Ms. Bowers the elder, grew up in Augusta during the 1950s. They said they are a "product of their era."
Their parents, Thomas and Doris Heath, who are still living, brought their daughters to church every Sunday at Crawford Avenue Baptist Church and raised them to have good morals and a strong work ethic.
Like other young girls, they were also groomed to one day get married and become mothers, which was typical of the times, Ms. Bowers said.
Mr. Heath, a World War II veteran, was an engineer on the Atlantic Coast Line, where he drove trains throughout the Southeast. For several years, he worked seven days a week.
In his spare time, he was a volunteer fireman for the Washington Road Fire Department, which served areas outside the city limits.
Their mother was a bookkeeper at Richmond Produce Co. at a time when few women worked outside the home.
"I didn't have another friend whose mother worked. That was very unusual," Ms. Bowers said.
Among their favorite childhood memories is the playhouse their father built for them. It remains at their childhood home even today.
Each summer, they would wake up and sweep out their playhouse. They enjoyed gathering their dolls and "playing house."
"I would get fussed at if I didn't fold up my baby-doll clothes and put them up," Ms. King joked.
The sisters were surrounded by women throughout their childhood. Their maternal grandmother, Marie Bennett Bentley, lived with them, which enabled their mother to work.
"Donna and I felt like we had two mothers," Ms. Bowers said.
Before Ms. King was born, the United States entered World War II, and Mr. Heath went overseas to fight. The women lived alone together during the war years, and their aunt, Katherine Bentley, came to live with them because her husband was also fighting in the war.
The sisters grew up in an era when fashion was key, with a strong Hollywood influence, Ms. Bowers said.
"Our mother's influence on clothes is why we have a store," Ms. Bowers said. "She loved clothes and she loved dressing us."
Their mother would dress them for all occasions, even a small trip down the street to visit relatives, or to showcase the latest styles, such as when Bermuda shorts became popular, she said.
Ms. Bowers fondly remembers her mother and aunt wearing gloves and hats to attend movies in downtown Augusta.
"Men went to the bank in suits back then," Ms. King said. "You wouldn't dare go in a bank without a suit on."
The sisters particularly looked forward to shopping trips with their mother. They said that she probably worked so that she could treat her daughters.
During her teenage years, Ms. Bowers said that everyone dressed up for Richmond County's Thanksgiving football games. One year, she wore a wool suit with a fur collar and a chrysanthemum corsage with purple and gold ribbons, which was worn by all girls in attendance.
The sisters both attended Augusta College, but they said they were urged to marry for security, which was typical of the times. They both married in their teenage years and later gave birth to their children.
Motherhood
While their children were growing up, Ms. Bowers and Ms. King were able to be stay-at-home moms. Ms. Bowers, whose husband Ronald is a dentist, has four children, and Ms. King, whose husband Wayne worked in real estate development, has two.
Over the years, the sisters spent a lot of time together doing creative projects for the holidays, throwing dinner parties and volunteering in the community.
"We loved that phase of our lives. We loved being home and raising our children," Ms. Bowers said.
They took an active role in their children's educations and participated in Boy Scouts and Brownies, served as soccer moms and attended field trips.
"It was a privileged life, and I enjoyed it. I think we both feel lucky that we had the opportunity to do all of those things," Ms. Bowers said.
Ms. Bowers has been married for 48 years; Ms. King is now divorced. Their children have careers and families of their own, and the sisters knew it was time for a new phase in their own lives.
"It was time to move on to something else. It's good to know when it's time to make a change," Ms. Bowers said.
The 50s
The sisters believe that business runs in their blood. Their ancestor, Frenchman Louis Cantelou, came to Augusta in 1797 after being wounded in the Revolutionary War and opened Cantelou & Co., an all-purpose store on Broad Street. Their uncle, Hubert Bentley, operated a successful furniture store.
Ms. Bowers said she was finishing a large volunteer project with the Symphony Guild when she received a call from Trish Zetterburg, the previous owner of Summerville Rags. She asked Ms. Bowers if she knew someone who might be interested in purchasing the business.
"It was something that had been in the back of my mind for a couple of years," Ms. Bowers said about opening a clothing store.
She mentioned the idea to her sister and asked her husband for his opinion. He agreed that they were "perfect partners."
At the time, Ms. King was working at the Augusta Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. She agreed to go in business with her sister, and with some help from their parents, the purchase was finalized in August 1998, in just a few weeks.
"People said, 'Why at your age would you want to go into business?' We've got a long time, we think," Ms. King said.
Their grandmother lived to almost 98 years old, and their mother and father are 89 and 90, respectively.
The sisters acquired some of Ms. Zetterburg's merchandise, but they added their own, little by little. Ms. Bowers said that they budgeted a great deal in the beginning, and it took them almost a year to build their merchandise.
During the first year, Ms. Bowers worked at the shop five days a week, and Ms. King maintained her full-time job. On Saturdays, they worked at the shop together, completing a six-day work week.
Ms. King joined the business full-time the following year, and for the next five years, the women continued to work six days a week.
"When we stopped doing that, we looked back and said, 'How did we do it?' " Ms. Bowers said.
Being a female business owner isn't easy, and the sisters said they are sometimes annoyed at other people's perception of their business.
"People think this is a frivolous business," Ms. Bowers said. "Sometimes I felt like people thought we were doing this because we were bored or it was a hobby. It was none of those things. It was a serious undertaking."
The owners said they learned about the clothing business through trial and error. They admit that they were scared when they were first getting started.
"You'd better be scared when you go into business," Ms. King said. "You don't need to have too much confidence. You need to have some fear to keep you on your toes."
Their accountant, Abram Serotta of Serotta, Maddocks, Evans & Co. in Augusta, consulted with the sisters when they purchased the business and has continued as their business consultant over the years.
"They have lots of energy, ideas and creativity. It's a pleasure to work with them," Mr. Serotta said. "They want happy customers, and not just someone to buy their merchandise."
The sisters are "very hard-working and a good team," he said.
Ms. King does most of the administrative work, while Ms. Bowers handles the creative aspects of the business.
Under their ownership, the business has grown, he said, despite the normal ups and downs of the retail industry.
"There are many people who don't make purchases without consulting with them. They depend on them for their image and look," Mr. Serotta said.
One of the biggest lessons the sisters had to learn is how to buy merchandise. They've designated Summerville Rags as a "bridge store," meaning that it offers items which fall between "moderate to designer lines," ranging from party dresses, suits and casual wear. They make it a priority to offer the basics; some of their brands include Lacoste, Blue Ice, Ming Wang and Babette. The store also sells jewelry, handbags and other accessories.
They travel to Atlanta several times a year to participate in trade shows and buying seasons at AmericasMart in downtown Atlanta. The fashion business is challenging because they have to select merchandise months ahead of time. This month, they're placing orders for Spring 2009.
"It's not a shopping trip. It's a risk of a tremendous amount of money," Ms. Bowers said. "It's trying to make the best guess that you can about what your customers are going to buy."
Ms. Bowers said they look at thousands of clothes when they attend trade shows. They work for three days straight, viewing merchandise and making decisions, often working late into the night.
"There's an unbelievable amount of merchandise on the market," Ms. Bowers said. "One of our jobs is to edit. It's unbelievable how big lines are and how many there are."
Mr. Garland said that many designers look forward to seeing the sisters in the showroom each buying season at AmericasMart.
"We love those women. They're fun and they always have a smile on their face. They're always dressed to the nines," he said. "I think they're exceptional in this industry."
"I would put them up against any store in Atlanta or any buyer that I deal with. If it's hanging in Summerville Rags today, it's probably hanging in another specialty store across the nation.
"It's a lot of work to run a business in today's economy and make a profit, and those women do it."
Suited for life
"People come to us for the events in their lives," Ms. Bowers said.
A customer once came to the store because her husband was receiving an award that night, and he had forgotten to tell her about the banquet. She needed a dress -- and in a hurry. She found a dress, changed inside the store and rushed straight to the dinner.
In another instance, a young woman came to the store looking for a suit to wear to her medical school interview. She later told the sisters that not only was she accepted, but she was "the best dressed at the interview."
Recently, an elderly woman whose sister had passed away, came to the store to buy a suit to wear to the funeral. Ms. Bowers met the woman at the door, comforted her with a hug and took her by the hand to help her find a special outfit. She stayed outside the customer's dressing room until she made her final selection.
Barbara Coleman, a customer and marketing professor at Augusta State University, said the sisters know each customer's name and always ask about their families.
"They take a personal interest in every person who comes in their establishment, and they really mean it. It's not about selling; it's about relationships. I think that's why they're so successful," Ms. Coleman said.
In their downtime, the sisters and their employees love trying on clothing in the store.
They believe that clothing is more than simply a garment.
"Clothing seems like such a frivolous type of thing, and in some ways it is. But it's also very important for our self-esteem and confidence," Ms. Bowers said. "People need to be comfortable with their look. When you walk out the door, you need to feel good about yourself."
Jane Quarles, a part-time employee at Summerville Rags, remembers how she came on-board at the store. She had known the sisters for years and stopped by to check out their merchandise.
The store was bustling with customers when she arrived, and Ms. Bowers instructed her to "put her pocket book down and get behind the counter."
"I ended up working for the rest of the afternoon," Ms. Quarles laughed. "We've become sisters over the years. I'm the matriarch. It's a fun place to work."
Ms. Bowers said operating the store has also given her the opportunity to work with her daughter-in-law, Angie Bowers, who was looking for a career change.
"It's been a real joy to have a deeper relationship with her," Ms. Bowers said.
During the past few years, the sisters have experienced some life-changing events of their own. Their mother is suffering with Alzheimer's disease, and two close relatives are battling cancer.
Until recently, the sisters had hobbies and were active in the community, but their routine has since become more rigorous. They juggle running their business with caring for children and grandchildren, aging parents and sick relatives.
While the demands are tough, they said there are many other people in similar situations.
The business has brought the sisters closer, Ms. Bowers said.
"I'm not sure that another business partner would understand the demands that we've had," Ms. Bowers said.
They offer advice to other women who have a dream.
"If you have a dream about doing something, don't give up," Ms. Bowers said. "It's not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile is going to be easy to do."
"Donna and I both love this business. I think we would have missed so much if we had not done it. We're different people for having done it."
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
NANCY BOWERS
TITLE: Co-owner of Summerville Rags
BORN: Nov. 14, 1943
EDUCATION: Attended Augusta College
FAMILY: Husband, Ronald; children, Bill, Beth, Bart and Bennett; and grandchildren, Heath, Jack, Hill, Sadie and Ava
CIVIC/EXTRACURRICULAR: Heritage Garden Club, All Seasons Garden Club, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Historic Augusta (past member), Symphony Guild (past member), Summerville Neighborhood Association (past member)
HOBBIES: Reading, traveling, art
DONNA KING
TITLE: Co-owner of Summerville Rags
BORN: Oct. 31, 1948
EDUCATION: Attended Augusta College
FAMILY: Everette Morris, significant other; children, Carter and Katie; and grandchildren, Emily and Elizabeth
CIVIC/EXTRACURRICULAR: Historic Augusta, All Seasons Garden Club, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Junior League (past member), American Cancer Society (past member), March of Dimes (past member)
HOBBIES: Reading, music, history
Comments
This is a great story about these two sisters. I would one day like to open a small shop somewhere in the South Augusta area. This would be a great outlet for a lot of people in the area, especially when you get to know them as these ladies have. I am also very fond of clothes and the appearance of how each outfit makes me look and feel. I will be retiring in a couple of years and this will be something to think about. This story gives me even more inspiration and I wish them continued success.
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![Summerville Rags is at the corner of Monte Sano and Central avenues. Its merchandise falls between "moderate to designer lines," the owners say. Michael Holahan/Staff](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/spotted/49/491874.jpg "Summerville Rags is at the corner of Monte Sano and Central avenues. Its merchandise falls between "moderate to designer lines," the owners say. Michael Holahan/Staff")
