Jeremy Addy is a Clemson University sophomore, majoring in economics and finance. Like many of his classmates, he likes clothes. In his time at school, Addy has frequented M.H. Franks, a clothing store in Clemson, where he became good friends owner Steve Poteet, who has encouraged Addy to put his ambitions to action.
"Jeremy is a real go-getter,” says Teresa Addy, Jeremy’s mother. Jeremy talked his mom and dad, John, into investing in Craig Reagin Clothiers. “He did not want the business to operate in a strip mall,” Teresa says. So the store opened on Main Street in Lexington last April.
“We are doing very well,” says Jeremy.
He is in at the store at 9 a.m. every day of his break from classes in the summer and on holidays. Teresa works in the family business when Jeremy is away at school. “In December, this place was packed,” Teresa says.
The business is developing repeat customers. The idea to open in downtown Lexington came with some issues. “We gutted this building,” Teresa says of the original brick-wall store that has old, hardwood flooring. “We had to rewire it and bring everything up to code.”
She says the decision to locate downtown has been a good move, but up-fitting the building for reuse could have been made easier with a process that is more business-friendly. But using an existing storefront is in keeping with the shopping experience the Addys are establishing for Craig Reagin Clothiers. “We want people to be able to come in and shop in Lexington. It will keep them from having to drive all the way to Columbia,” Jeremy says.
Teresa believes that Jeremy’s ability to stay in close proximity to his market has been a considerable asset for the business. “Jeremy likes clothes. He knows what college students are wearing and what they want to wear,” she says. “Jeremy also likes to talk to his customers and he is responsive to what they are looking for.” Jeremy is also quick to use modern marketing tools, like e-mail, to make sure his customers are kept aware of his new inventory. “It’s a business I like. And I plan to be in a long time,” he says.