February 19, 2014 at 3:58 p.m.
'I Buy Local' Spotlight
'I Buy Local' Spotlight
Name of business:
Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie
Owners:
Mary Taylor
Address:
15 S. Brown Street, Rhinelander
Phone:
(715) 369-3669
Website:
www.lundandtaylor.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Lund.and.Taylor.Bridal.Gallerie
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed Sunday.
Type of Business
Retail store for bridal, formalwear and special occasion dresses.
When Business Opened:
Opened in 2001 as full bridal, Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie, but I started out in 1986 as a seamstress and tux rental as Mary's Stitchin' Nitch, making wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses.
What makes Rhinelander special?
Rhinelander is a very caring community. People from out of town always tell us how friendly everyone is here.
What types of products or services do you offer?
We sell everything you need for a wedding, we can work with any budget and we have tux rentals. We also have little girls dresses and accessories for weddings, first communions and baptismal gowns. We have all the accessories: jewelry, shoes and spanx. We have dresses for every occasion: prom, social occasions, cruise wear and dresses for going to a wedding. We also do invitations and new for us is Crystal Marie's flowers and event planning.
What are some the challenges your business faces?
Challenges for us are trying to compete with the Internet and getting people to shop in their own hometown. We get the same dresses as the big city shops, but people think if they go out of town they will get something different. It is amazing how many people come here after they have shopped the big city and realized they had the same thing and better in their own backyard, finding things here when they couldn't find it elsewhere.
What aspect of your business makes you most proud?
I'm proud of the fact that we can provide the same quality merchandise as the big city and still keep that small-town friendly service. We hear that all the time, how we make the customers' experience here enjoyable.
What benefits can your business offer for consumers who buy local?
Buying local is more convenient for the customer, they don't have to travel for alterations on any dress they get, we do all our alterations here. We have an easy layaway program and for our prom girls we register our prom dresses so no two girls will have the same dress, which only works if you buy local. If the small local businesses are successful the community is successful.
What is your business relationship with the community?
I think our biggest community project is our bridal expo that we do here every year. This year was our biggest turnout yet; we had brides coming from all over the surrounding communities. We had great vendor support from the Minocqua area and, of course, the Rhinelander area. It was free to the public with a food pantry donation. We received approximately 200 pounds of food to donate to the food pantry. It brought a lot of people downtown and to the Rhinelander area. We also support area fundraisers, Rhinelander High School and downtown events.
What makes your business stand out?
One thing that makes us stand out, if you come downtown, is our window displays. We love having the windows downtown decorated for the people coming downtown, we are always getting compliments on our windows. We really like to work one-on-one with our customers. If you want to browse on your own you are welcome to but we like to give everyone special attention.
What products or services do you offer that are unique?
We are unique in what we do in this area, we are a one-stop-shopping bridal shop. Everyone in the wedding party can get everything they need, plus the guest can find something to wear. We register our prom dresses for that one-of-a-kind dress. We have our alteration department here in the store. We dye shoes here. We have the only place in the area to get the original spanx. We have camouflage dresses and accessories.
What is your personal relationship and involvement with the community?
I was born and raised in Rhinelander. I've lived most of my life here, I do live in Merrill now, but my work, my church and most of my family is in Rhinelander. I'm an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, I have worked with the NATH house (Frederick Place homeless shelter), the high school prom exchange, the Oneida County Fair, I have been involved with the Camp Fire USA and the Coffee and Company project.
Why do you think it is important to buy local?
Buying local will keep businesses going in this challenging economy, we need to give people a reason to come to Rhinelander to vacation or live. It will create jobs and give job security to those who already work here. The money has to stay in the community to make the community thrive. We need to give the younger generation a reason to stay in the area, or come back and raise their families.
Do you have any special events planned in the near future?
We are doing the Bridal Expo in Merrill on March 30.
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