CityView Magazine

44 | March/April 2017 Are you always talking business? Donna: Yes. Megan: Pretty much. Donna: Megan and I have always worked together because we are farmers. I raised all of my children on the North Carolina State Farmers Market. When they graduated college, I realized I couldn't do that anymore because I wasn't working side-by-side with my children. I came home crying and I told my husband I was just a lady selling produce. I said, I'm not going to do to it anymore. at's when I started. I opened up three different booths in antique malls and this just grew from there. What did working at the Farmer's Market teach you? Donna: I've always told my young people when I was training them, "Sales is sales, no matter if you're selling squash or Mercedes. Sales is sales." e reason we out sold everybody was because… Megan: ...because we were having fun. Donna: It's the atmosphere and the friendly customer service that draws people back. Do you all have any conflict? Donna: I met with my CPA a couple weeks ago and he was drilling me with all these questions relating to conflict. We've just never had that in our family. I won't say it won't happen—I mean, life happens, but we try to be very considerate of one another. I try not to make any decisions without Megan and I think she does the same. We have two stores, and I think that helps. We're not always together. Usually I'm at one store and she's at the other. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Donna: Megan brings the young in, obviously with the social media. I do not like sitting down! I'm happier mopping the floor and cleaning the store and I pretty much do the decorating. Megan is great at buying. What do you gain in your partnership? Megan: Family. Mary Adaline gets to see her grandparents pretty much every day and customers love seeing a baby walking around, even if she's making a mess, which is most of the time. Donna: When Megan started working in Raleigh, I think that was the best thing. She had to work eight to five and was fighting that Raleigh traffic. She realized how many hours away she missed from her child. Even though we might put in 14 or 16 hour days, we still have Mary Adaline with us. You can't put a dollar sign on that. What's the best, best, best part of doing all of this? Donna: I love my job. Not many people can say, "I can't wait to get up." We put in so many hours, but I can't wait to get to work. I love it. Painting. Decorating. Fashion. Buying. What woman doesn't love to buy clothes? Megan: I love buying the clothes. And, family. Raising Mary Adaline, being with "Miss Personality,"… it's important.

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