Barb Jerry says as long as she can remember she’s always loved fashion. When her youngest child started school she was having a mid-life crisis, so she opened Barb’s Clothes Closet in Stayner. That was in August, 1976, and 50 years later, at the age of 89, she’s still going strong.
“We’ve always been in this location,” muses Jerry. “I always knew I wanted to be in business for myself and I used to come into Edith Brown’s Ladies’ store, which was in the centre section of what is now Barb’s. I used to tell her when she was ready to retire, I’d like to take over, and one day she told me she was ready.”
The business has changed a great deal in 50 years.
“Back then it was mostly cash, with just a few cheques," recalls Jerry. "There were no credit cards. In the beginning, we didn’t even have a cash register. People used to dress up more. We sold a lot of suits and dresses. Now, it’s much more casual.”
When Jerry decided to go into business, she approached the bank for a loan of $10,000 and was turned down.
“They didn’t think I’d last," she said.
Her husband fronted her the money and she set about building a loyal client base.
Barb’s Clothes Closet's slogan is “your destination for fashion,” and the store has truly become that. These days, clients regularly come from Barrie, Toronto, Thornbury, Meaford and Owen Sound to shop for the latest styles from Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman and Tribal.
“Tribal has been around as long as we have. At one time they were just pants but they’ve expanded to a full line of casual clothing.”
“We don’t cater to a very young clientele,” said Jerry. “Most of our customers are 40-plus and we have some customers who are in their 90s. These days people live longer and care about their health and their appearance.”
When she’s not travelling, Jerry still goes into the store every day and does the books. Her daughter Lisa Hare has taken over most of the buying, and looks after the windows. When asked if her daughter will eventually take over the business, Barb laughs, “She says, 'Mom, when you’re done, I’m done too.'”
Jerry has been painting all her life.
“I used to do oils and acrylics, but after I lost my husband 10 years ago I took some lessons from Martha Bull and absolutely fell in love with watercolours," said Jerry. "I try to spend at least an hour a day in my studio painting, and one of my favourite things is to pack up my paints and head for the cottage near Parry Sound. I’m very happy to be up there on my own.”
One of Barb’s sons has a cottage near hers. The other son and her daughter live close to her in Stayner. She has seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Barb’s business has been largely unaffected by online shopping.
“We’re busier now with shorter hours than ever before.”
She credits her loyal customer base, and Lisa’s effective presence on social media. “We’ve been very fortunate. It’s been a good living, but if someone came along and wanted to buy the store, I would have to think about retiring.”
