WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:45.218 --> 00:00:48.288 Linda Ostovitz: Hello everyone and welcome to Real Talk, Real Growth. 00:00:49.038 --> 00:00:54.008 I am thrilled to have with me as our guest today Betsy Wendell, who 00:00:54.008 --> 00:00:59.358 is the owner operator of Octavia Boutique in Cross Keys in Baltimore. 00:01:00.248 --> 00:01:06.298 And I think I first became aware of Octavia many years ago when 00:01:06.748 --> 00:01:11.558 my grandmother needed to get a special dress for a family wedding. 00:01:12.478 --> 00:01:18.768 And my aunts and my mom were taking her to Octavia because that was 00:01:18.778 --> 00:01:23.188 the place to get the special dress for the most special occasion. 00:01:23.948 --> 00:01:28.748 Now, I was a kid then, and now I'm a bigger kid and I've gotten to get to 00:01:28.748 --> 00:01:34.358 know Betsy personally in connection with her support of a Pretty in 00:01:34.358 --> 00:01:38.308 Pink event that happens at Turf Valley in Howard County every year. 00:01:39.008 --> 00:01:42.478 And benefits an organization known as Blossoms of Hope. 00:01:43.698 --> 00:01:50.328 And through my interaction with that organization, I've come to really 00:01:50.368 --> 00:01:53.828 admire who she is and how she does it. 00:01:54.268 --> 00:01:57.318 This is a family run business. 00:01:57.328 --> 00:02:03.798 It is a small intimate shop she has but she is so supportive and so wonderful 00:02:03.798 --> 00:02:09.438 to deal with and has such incredible fashions that make me feel beautiful 00:02:10.148 --> 00:02:14.458 that I thought i'm going to talk to betsy today on a Real Talk, Real Growth. 00:02:15.138 --> 00:02:19.668 She's also faced some significant challenges in recent years with having 00:02:19.678 --> 00:02:25.788 to deal with Covid and reconstruction in the place where her shop is located. 00:02:26.408 --> 00:02:31.018 So with that bit of background Betsy welcome and thank you so much for saying 00:02:31.018 --> 00:02:33.383 yes to come and talk with us today. 00:02:33.788 --> 00:02:35.408 Betsy Wendell: Thank you for having me. 00:02:35.408 --> 00:02:38.268 I'm very touched that you would think so much of me to have me on 00:02:38.268 --> 00:02:41.218 your Real Talk, Real Growth podcast. 00:02:41.668 --> 00:02:44.133 Linda Ostovitz: Well, it's my pleasure that you said yes 00:02:44.828 --> 00:02:45.628 Betsy Wendell: Oh, of course 00:02:46.123 --> 00:02:48.913 Linda Ostovitz: So Octavia started as a family business. 00:02:48.943 --> 00:02:50.043 Am I correct about that? 00:02:50.538 --> 00:02:51.198 Betsy Wendell: It did. 00:02:51.248 --> 00:02:59.698 Octavia Dugan started her store in 1965 and she had raised a 00:02:59.698 --> 00:03:01.758 family or was still raising it. 00:03:01.768 --> 00:03:03.618 Her husband was a surgeon. 00:03:04.218 --> 00:03:07.508 And she worked in little shops around Baltimore. 00:03:08.018 --> 00:03:12.278 And I think someone said to her, why don't you open your own shop? 00:03:12.588 --> 00:03:17.903 Actually Jim Rouse, who built, of course, Cross Keys, Columbia, the 00:03:17.903 --> 00:03:21.243 South Street Seaport and other things. 00:03:21.263 --> 00:03:26.783 He was a visionary in community development, and so he built these 00:03:26.783 --> 00:03:33.993 beautiful condos and townhouses and then built this retail mall, which we didn't 00:03:34.263 --> 00:03:36.593 really know what a mall was in 1965. 00:03:37.023 --> 00:03:40.853 So he built this concept and asked her to become part of it. 00:03:40.913 --> 00:03:45.373 She was one of the first stores to open in the village of Cross Keys. 00:03:46.603 --> 00:03:55.013 So family run since 1965, I'm third generation her granddaughter in law, so 00:03:55.373 --> 00:03:57.673 that's how I ended up in the business. 00:03:58.143 --> 00:03:58.923 Linda Ostovitz: Wonderful 00:03:59.203 --> 00:03:59.633 Betsy Wendell: Mm hmm. 00:03:59.633 --> 00:04:03.363 Linda Ostovitz: It's interesting you mentioned Jim Rouse because I live in 00:04:03.363 --> 00:04:07.453 Howard County and practice in Howard County and my particular Offit Kurman 00:04:07.473 --> 00:04:12.933 offices in Howard County and my first job where I actually got a paper paycheck 00:04:12.943 --> 00:04:16.443 was at Herschel Cohn in Columbia Mall. 00:04:17.023 --> 00:04:17.873 Betsy Wendell: Oh, nice. 00:04:18.123 --> 00:04:20.713 Linda Ostovitz: But even before that, I remember my first trip to 00:04:20.713 --> 00:04:22.503 Columbia Mall as a teenage girl. 00:04:22.503 --> 00:04:23.883 I remember what I wore. 00:04:24.343 --> 00:04:27.873 It was a big deal to go to a mall as a 13 year old teenager. 00:04:28.483 --> 00:04:33.213 And times have certainly changed, but I understand the significance of being 00:04:33.213 --> 00:04:40.658 the first in a mall and yay to that first woman who did that it opened up. 00:04:41.138 --> 00:04:46.268 So tell us all I know what your shop looks like tell us what you offer at your shop 00:04:47.478 --> 00:04:51.228 Betsy Wendell: Well, so the shop is, again, in the village of Cross Keys, 00:04:51.228 --> 00:04:55.438 and it's a beautiful quaint little setting, it's actually an outdoor mall. 00:04:55.808 --> 00:04:59.808 You can drive up to it and then you enter into these breezeways 00:04:59.818 --> 00:05:01.918 that take you inside of the mall. 00:05:01.938 --> 00:05:06.238 So they're beautiful trees and lighting and music. 00:05:06.708 --> 00:05:17.413 And our store is located in the center and we carry, let's say everything from almost 00:05:17.413 --> 00:05:20.263 like a sweatsuit to an evening gown. 00:05:20.383 --> 00:05:23.813 So we do mother of the bride and groom dresses. 00:05:23.853 --> 00:05:29.453 We do mother of the bar mitzvah suits and dresses cocktail for 00:05:29.483 --> 00:05:34.603 any occasion, and then a myriad of sportswear for the working women. 00:05:35.013 --> 00:05:37.303 Jackets is our big thing. 00:05:37.403 --> 00:05:39.913 Everybody who needs a jacket seems to come to Octavia. 00:05:39.913 --> 00:05:40.683 It's really fun. 00:05:40.733 --> 00:05:46.313 And then we have a more athleisure wear section, which is everything from 00:05:46.313 --> 00:05:52.343 jeans to sweatsuits and everything tends to have a dressier flair to it. 00:05:52.363 --> 00:05:53.573 It's a little special. 00:05:53.573 --> 00:05:56.973 Everyone said they come to us for something really special, something 00:05:56.983 --> 00:05:59.037 unique and It's really fun. 00:05:59.648 --> 00:06:04.298 Some clients have said that they don't want to share it with their friends 00:06:04.338 --> 00:06:07.508 because they want to keep it all to themselves, which is awfully cute. 00:06:08.633 --> 00:06:11.863 Linda Ostovitz: I understand that because you deliver special and 00:06:11.863 --> 00:06:16.253 unique and I want to be the only one in the room wearing your clothes 00:06:16.388 --> 00:06:17.438 Betsy Wendell: Oh, how sweet. 00:06:17.483 --> 00:06:21.902 Linda Ostovitz: Let's just make it all about me you talked about 00:06:21.902 --> 00:06:26.059 the physical setup where you are, but you've just had to deal with a 00:06:26.059 --> 00:06:28.709 renovation recently a reconstruction. 00:06:29.069 --> 00:06:33.699 Which I assume had some impact on your business and you are a business woman. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:37.329 How did you navigate that and maintain your customer base? 00:06:37.624 --> 00:06:41.054 Betsy Wendell: We're still under construction right now, but the 00:06:41.054 --> 00:06:48.104 property built in 1965, of course, had some issues, structural and mechanical. 00:06:48.584 --> 00:06:53.814 So they worked on a lot of the systems that you don't see, like a boiler system 00:06:53.844 --> 00:06:56.394 that provides us heat and all that. 00:06:56.864 --> 00:07:01.044 And then they worked on the exterior and they did an amazing job. 00:07:01.124 --> 00:07:04.684 It was Caves Valley Partners in Towson who did this for us. 00:07:04.684 --> 00:07:07.854 And Arsh Meerman is heading up the project. 00:07:07.864 --> 00:07:10.564 And he used to go to Cross Keys as a child. 00:07:10.864 --> 00:07:14.624 So he remembered how special it was when he was younger. 00:07:14.624 --> 00:07:20.874 So he has pumped in about $25 million into the property. 00:07:21.024 --> 00:07:25.288 So we did have some hiccups in the resurfacing of the parking lot, the 00:07:25.594 --> 00:07:27.534 moving of some of the parking lots. 00:07:27.544 --> 00:07:29.944 And so parking became an issue. 00:07:30.434 --> 00:07:33.694 And I had clients call me and say how do I get in there? 00:07:34.104 --> 00:07:38.414 And I feel like some of them who didn't bother to call might have just 00:07:38.414 --> 00:07:39.834 stayed in the car and drove home. 00:07:39.834 --> 00:07:41.664 So it was a challenge. 00:07:41.674 --> 00:07:45.334 But people are really excited about what's happening there now. 00:07:45.434 --> 00:07:49.554 There are slated to be seven restaurants that will open. 00:07:49.554 --> 00:07:51.224 I think we have five now. 00:07:51.814 --> 00:07:56.624 CeCe's Roland Park, which is a Cordish Company Group restaurant 00:07:56.654 --> 00:08:00.024 who has the casino out near you. 00:08:00.664 --> 00:08:06.114 And they've built a beautiful fine dining location with a Michelin star chef. 00:08:06.264 --> 00:08:11.824 There's an easy, like Sunday all day breakfast place, which is dynamite. 00:08:11.824 --> 00:08:12.454 It's packed. 00:08:12.474 --> 00:08:13.784 There's always a wait list. 00:08:14.354 --> 00:08:17.444 Zavino's pizza and wine store. 00:08:17.994 --> 00:08:24.224 needs, which is a pataracas group breakfast place and lunch and dinner as 00:08:24.224 --> 00:08:26.074 well as fresh breads and baked goods. 00:08:26.074 --> 00:08:27.334 So that just opened. 00:08:27.384 --> 00:08:33.284 And then we're got a Chinese restaurant and a Mexican restaurant 00:08:33.284 --> 00:08:35.094 coming next with the Atlas group. 00:08:35.094 --> 00:08:38.104 So that's what we have so far. 00:08:38.104 --> 00:08:43.094 So it's really bringing people into the community, into Cross Keys. 00:08:43.094 --> 00:08:44.954 The parking is much easier now. 00:08:44.964 --> 00:08:46.284 People tend to love it. 00:08:46.874 --> 00:08:49.004 So it's been really nice. 00:08:49.004 --> 00:08:54.684 We just had a blue Mercury makeup store open, which has drawn in a really nice 00:08:54.684 --> 00:08:57.624 crowd of people into the location. 00:08:57.634 --> 00:08:59.804 They have really high end cosmetics. 00:08:59.814 --> 00:09:01.564 They stand behind their cosmetics. 00:09:01.564 --> 00:09:03.464 If you have a problem, you just take it back. 00:09:03.474 --> 00:09:06.064 It's just, it's been a great thing for the neighborhood. 00:09:07.129 --> 00:09:12.499 Linda Ostovitz: My perception Betsy is that your clientele is a loyal clientele. 00:09:13.274 --> 00:09:17.914 And will come to you and will walk over concrete barriers if they have 00:09:17.914 --> 00:09:23.964 to that I assume presented themselves during this construction phase. 00:09:23.964 --> 00:09:28.354 Did you find that to be the case that people still came even 00:09:28.354 --> 00:09:31.864 though it was difficult and if so, how did you make that happen? 00:09:33.219 --> 00:09:34.509 Betsy Wendell: Yes they still came. 00:09:34.509 --> 00:09:36.329 I, they knew where they were going. 00:09:36.329 --> 00:09:40.569 So luckily we're a destination, even though we're in a mall, they are adding 00:09:40.599 --> 00:09:42.239 additional stores and restaurants. 00:09:42.239 --> 00:09:46.639 But during that phase, I really felt like it was just me out there. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:50.989 We sign up our customers into our email base. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:56.759 You receive our emails, also text messages and we have a loyalty program now, so 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.199 we encourage customers to come and shop. 00:09:59.709 --> 00:10:03.769 They earn points, and then they get discounts off of future items. 00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:05.939 And they are dedicated to it. 00:10:05.949 --> 00:10:06.649 They love it. 00:10:07.089 --> 00:10:10.929 And when they need something, they're gonna find us, and they have found us. 00:10:10.989 --> 00:10:12.329 We lucked out with all that. 00:10:13.064 --> 00:10:15.004 Linda Ostovitz: How about this scenario instead? 00:10:15.074 --> 00:10:17.984 You're worth it for them to find you 00:10:18.189 --> 00:10:19.069 Betsy Wendell: Oh, thank you. 00:10:19.462 --> 00:10:24.023 Linda Ostovitz: You also had to deal with Betsy as a business owner COVID and go 00:10:24.023 --> 00:10:27.773 through that experience and part of the reason you're sitting here right now is I 00:10:27.773 --> 00:10:30.073 look at you and I think, she's still here. 00:10:30.673 --> 00:10:32.253 She swung through all of it. 00:10:32.263 --> 00:10:33.853 She is still here. 00:10:34.333 --> 00:10:40.963 So how are you still here after having to deal with COVID and the 00:10:40.963 --> 00:10:43.033 consequences of that on your business? 00:10:43.253 --> 00:10:43.583 Betsy Wendell: Right. 00:10:43.603 --> 00:10:44.803 That was a tough one. 00:10:44.893 --> 00:10:50.953 I originally like we knew it was coming and by I think it was like a Saturday, 00:10:51.373 --> 00:10:53.153 there were no customers in the store. 00:10:53.153 --> 00:10:55.553 So I think they watched the news more than I did. 00:10:55.553 --> 00:10:56.493 But I'm like, it's on. 00:10:56.503 --> 00:10:57.203 It's on its way. 00:10:57.203 --> 00:10:57.783 It's coming. 00:10:57.793 --> 00:11:00.023 Who knows when the shutdown will happen. 00:11:00.023 --> 00:11:01.803 So it did happen that weekend. 00:11:01.823 --> 00:11:07.643 And in my mind, I said, this is probably going to be a two week kind 00:11:07.643 --> 00:11:09.893 of turnaround, I thought in my mind. 00:11:09.953 --> 00:11:13.563 And so my kids came home from college. 00:11:13.923 --> 00:11:14.443 It was nice. 00:11:14.443 --> 00:11:16.543 I took advantage of it being with my kids. 00:11:16.573 --> 00:11:21.333 And then as it progressed, it really surprised me. 00:11:21.393 --> 00:11:24.603 There was no sort of opening the store in the dark and letting 00:11:24.603 --> 00:11:28.533 someone in the customers were not going to be out and about. 00:11:28.633 --> 00:11:33.843 We just waited it out and I actually enjoyed the time away from the store. 00:11:34.353 --> 00:11:36.343 I treated it like a sabbatical. 00:11:36.373 --> 00:11:39.673 I ended up driving across the country, which was interesting. 00:11:40.183 --> 00:11:40.723 And. 00:11:42.103 --> 00:11:45.703 really opened my eyes up to how beautiful our country is. 00:11:45.713 --> 00:11:48.353 There's so much to see just right here. 00:11:48.353 --> 00:11:51.603 People think of Europe and elsewhere, but there's so much to see and it was fun. 00:11:51.613 --> 00:11:55.883 So a lot of things were closed of course, but I know that every store 00:11:55.883 --> 00:11:59.553 I went to, every hotel I stayed in, I tried to support the gift shops. 00:11:59.583 --> 00:12:03.763 Every store I went into, I made sure I walked out with something and let 00:12:03.763 --> 00:12:07.403 them know, there's light at the end of the tunnel when we get through this. 00:12:07.703 --> 00:12:14.963 Eventually, as it started to come to a close the county stores opened, but the, 00:12:15.143 --> 00:12:19.253 we're actually in Baltimore city, close to the county line, but we were not allowed 00:12:19.253 --> 00:12:26.243 to open and I pleaded to the mayor as well as with other stores in this city, 00:12:26.473 --> 00:12:32.638 we were able to get some TV traction news and beg the mayor to let us open. 00:12:32.968 --> 00:12:36.388 So what was happening was customers were dying to get 00:12:36.398 --> 00:12:37.838 out there and do some shopping. 00:12:37.848 --> 00:12:42.898 So they were going to the county stores, which was a little bit scary. 00:12:42.958 --> 00:12:46.158 I decided just to open like I asked him. 00:12:46.198 --> 00:12:47.388 I wrote him a letter. 00:12:47.438 --> 00:12:53.818 I pleaded to him on TV and then I just opened a soft opening and I notified my 00:12:53.818 --> 00:12:57.178 customers and they came out in droves. 00:12:57.298 --> 00:12:58.608 It was like a homecoming. 00:12:58.618 --> 00:12:59.848 It was so beautiful. 00:13:00.228 --> 00:13:03.828 The really interesting thing about that was I did do a promotion on 00:13:04.468 --> 00:13:08.348 my email and I asked people to buy gift certificates to the store. 00:13:08.358 --> 00:13:15.418 So some very kind, friendly friends, customers purchase 00:13:15.438 --> 00:13:16.608 these gift certificates. 00:13:16.618 --> 00:13:21.518 So when they came to the store after the store open, I would remind them, 00:13:21.518 --> 00:13:23.158 I'm like, you have a gift certificate. 00:13:23.168 --> 00:13:26.078 Some of them were 500, which is so touching. 00:13:26.568 --> 00:13:32.518 And I, the customers said I know that, but I'm not spending that money yet. 00:13:33.138 --> 00:13:39.188 And some refuse to spend it at all, which just tells you how dedicated 00:13:39.188 --> 00:13:41.058 and beautiful our customers are. 00:13:41.618 --> 00:13:42.888 Linda Ostovitz: Gave me chills. 00:13:42.908 --> 00:13:44.918 I just got chills when you said that. 00:13:44.938 --> 00:13:46.598 I thought that's where you were going. 00:13:47.118 --> 00:13:52.528 It's that people thought so much of you and how you take care of them 00:13:52.528 --> 00:13:53.958 that they just wanted to help you. 00:13:54.323 --> 00:13:55.263 Betsy Wendell: yeah, it's true. 00:13:55.713 --> 00:13:58.563 And I was like you have a gift certificate and some would say later, let's get 00:13:58.613 --> 00:14:00.363 the wheels of business turning again. 00:14:00.373 --> 00:14:02.643 So that, that's just so touching. 00:14:02.773 --> 00:14:06.033 I feel like I'm in this business because I want to help people. 00:14:06.033 --> 00:14:08.973 I feel like God put us on this earth to help one another. 00:14:09.503 --> 00:14:12.243 And in the. 00:14:12.598 --> 00:14:18.548 business of clothing, fashion, we have everyone, we have every fine experience 00:14:18.548 --> 00:14:22.528 that any family could ever experience and we get to experience it right 00:14:22.528 --> 00:14:26.778 along with them, all the joys, all the bride zillas who come in, no mom, 00:14:26.778 --> 00:14:28.178 that color doesn't look good on you. 00:14:28.178 --> 00:14:29.548 Oh, this, that, the other thing. 00:14:30.078 --> 00:14:31.088 It's hilarious. 00:14:31.423 --> 00:14:35.663 But even, their send off clothes for the end of life, like they come in and 00:14:35.713 --> 00:14:39.263 they want to buy something from Octavia because mom or grandmom would have 00:14:39.263 --> 00:14:42.263 wanted to be in that for her send off. 00:14:42.273 --> 00:14:43.423 It's so touching. 00:14:43.433 --> 00:14:47.223 So I really feel like, I'm doing my part. 00:14:49.058 --> 00:14:51.158 Linda Ostovitz: So how long were you actually closed? 00:14:52.413 --> 00:14:53.963 Betsy Wendell: I think it was three months. 00:14:54.073 --> 00:14:57.773 So March, April, May, June, yeah, March, three months. 00:14:58.478 --> 00:15:02.828 Linda Ostovitz: And when you reopened, you described people came back in droves and 00:15:02.828 --> 00:15:05.858 they were so anxious to get back to you. 00:15:06.408 --> 00:15:08.838 To what do you attribute that desire. 00:15:09.108 --> 00:15:09.528 Okay. 00:15:09.828 --> 00:15:12.968 I'm getting out of the house for the first time in months, which most of us 00:15:12.968 --> 00:15:15.048 were and guess where I'm going to go. 00:15:15.188 --> 00:15:17.238 I'm going to go see Betsy at Octavia. 00:15:17.468 --> 00:15:18.968 How do you explain that? 00:15:19.318 --> 00:15:20.138 That loyalty? 00:15:21.063 --> 00:15:22.273 Betsy Wendell: That's a beautiful thing. 00:15:22.363 --> 00:15:26.933 I'm sure that, we provide all the fun in life and they came out, 00:15:26.933 --> 00:15:30.683 girlfriends came together and they came out shopping together. 00:15:30.703 --> 00:15:32.003 It was like a party. 00:15:32.013 --> 00:15:33.263 It was such a beautiful thing. 00:15:33.263 --> 00:15:34.543 I should have served champagne. 00:15:34.543 --> 00:15:38.143 I normally serve a little Prosecco in the store when appropriate, but 00:15:38.143 --> 00:15:39.833 I should have done it on that day. 00:15:40.383 --> 00:15:40.403 Yeah. 00:15:40.978 --> 00:15:44.648 But I mean it's hard to say, just, I think just letting them know that we 00:15:44.648 --> 00:15:49.418 were open and this is what we were going to do, and I think they just wanted to 00:15:49.418 --> 00:15:53.978 support and who wouldn't want to go to a beautiful place like ours instead of 00:15:53.988 --> 00:15:55.788 going to the grocery store or something, 00:15:55.848 --> 00:15:58.248 Linda Ostovitz: okay, so let me say it because you sound 00:15:58.248 --> 00:15:59.948 like you don't even know this. 00:16:00.488 --> 00:16:05.048 The reason they came in droves is because Betsy's there. 00:16:05.228 --> 00:16:06.718 Her people are there. 00:16:06.878 --> 00:16:08.398 We know who they are. 00:16:08.458 --> 00:16:10.068 They know who we are. 00:16:10.328 --> 00:16:12.158 They greet us when we come in. 00:16:12.198 --> 00:16:14.228 It's like you're part of the family. 00:16:14.228 --> 00:16:17.558 It's like you're dealing, shopping with friends. 00:16:17.803 --> 00:16:19.582 And 00:16:19.738 --> 00:16:20.998 Betsy Wendell: feel like that too. 00:16:21.128 --> 00:16:22.258 We feel like that too. 00:16:23.178 --> 00:16:29.678 One of our customers mom's turning 100 in a few weeks and so we all have our she 00:16:29.678 --> 00:16:33.688 wants cards for her birthday, so we want to make her make sure she gets to 100. 00:16:33.698 --> 00:16:37.718 So we have all these birthday cards for everyone to sign to send to 00:16:37.988 --> 00:16:40.518 Norma Jean on her 100th birthday. 00:16:40.518 --> 00:16:42.158 But we feel part of it. 00:16:42.188 --> 00:16:43.648 We feel it's a family too. 00:16:44.903 --> 00:16:46.883 Linda Ostovitz: well, and you certainly make that people 00:16:46.883 --> 00:16:48.463 feel that way when they come in 00:16:49.223 --> 00:16:51.153 Betsy Wendell: we're a little like, therapists, too. 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:55.903 They bring us their problems, their woes, their issues, and we 00:16:55.903 --> 00:16:57.303 all work through them together. 00:16:57.303 --> 00:16:58.943 It's like therapy, free therapy. 00:17:00.298 --> 00:17:00.908 Linda Ostovitz: that's good. 00:17:00.908 --> 00:17:02.068 Retail therapy is a 00:17:02.133 --> 00:17:03.403 Betsy Wendell: Retail therapy, right? 00:17:03.578 --> 00:17:04.968 Linda Ostovitz: It is a real thing. 00:17:05.323 --> 00:17:05.663 Betsy Wendell: Yeah. 00:17:06.778 --> 00:17:10.428 Linda Ostovitz: So when a Preakness comes around, we normally see Betsy on 00:17:10.428 --> 00:17:18.228 television being interviewed by the news stations because Betsy and Octavia often 00:17:18.478 --> 00:17:23.088 dress Preakness attendees in their finest. 00:17:23.098 --> 00:17:24.438 How did you come to do that? 00:17:24.813 --> 00:17:25.693 Betsy Wendell: That's you know what? 00:17:25.693 --> 00:17:29.433 I've always had a love of horses and horse racing, even though 00:17:29.433 --> 00:17:34.283 there's some, harsh realities with horse racing, but it's Baltimore. 00:17:34.573 --> 00:17:37.443 in the international spotlight. 00:17:37.543 --> 00:17:39.863 So it's a big event for us. 00:17:39.863 --> 00:17:44.733 And I think if you're a local, you almost don't really think 00:17:44.733 --> 00:17:47.033 about how special that event is. 00:17:47.043 --> 00:17:49.053 So I've always been a fan of it. 00:17:49.073 --> 00:17:50.303 I've always liked to go. 00:17:50.303 --> 00:17:52.143 It's always been a nice little party. 00:17:52.583 --> 00:17:57.413 I remember way back when being invited to the corporate tent area in the infield. 00:17:57.413 --> 00:18:01.803 So you walk across in your high heels, but sometimes sink into the mud and 00:18:01.803 --> 00:18:05.663 get over into these beautiful tents with the crab cakes and it's all the 00:18:05.673 --> 00:18:11.353 who's who in Baltimore and beyond now superstars are going to the event. 00:18:11.363 --> 00:18:17.363 So it's a really big deal, but I've always had a real love of that event. 00:18:17.443 --> 00:18:21.613 And now with the Black Eyed Susan event, which happens the day before, which 00:18:21.613 --> 00:18:27.003 is a cancer fundraiser to it's ladies day at the racing, but that's becoming 00:18:27.013 --> 00:18:30.003 almost as big as the Oaks in Kentucky. 00:18:30.013 --> 00:18:36.008 So being a huge fan of wearing hats as well as The Preakness. 00:18:36.048 --> 00:18:39.598 I've always had a fondness for dressing the ladies for The Preakness, 00:18:39.598 --> 00:18:42.908 and we've always been known as the destination of where to come, what 00:18:42.908 --> 00:18:44.558 to wear, et cetera, et cetera. 00:18:44.618 --> 00:18:49.918 We always recommend that you come and buy your hat first and we 00:18:49.918 --> 00:18:54.698 like to remind you that it's a big venue, so we suggest a very big hat. 00:18:55.378 --> 00:18:58.768 And then you dress the rest of yourself from there. 00:18:58.778 --> 00:19:03.458 So find the most spectacular hat you can and have it fit your personality, 00:19:03.468 --> 00:19:05.188 et cetera, and then go from there. 00:19:05.628 --> 00:19:08.621 We're fortunate enough to dress some first ladies. 00:19:09.076 --> 00:19:16.356 Their hats became very important and also as this media turned toward fashion and 00:19:16.806 --> 00:19:21.476 covering it people started covering the first ladies and their hats and we got 00:19:21.476 --> 00:19:27.586 a lot of publicity from them and having them look great on the national stage. 00:19:27.586 --> 00:19:28.466 So it's a lot of fun. 00:19:28.898 --> 00:19:29.958 Linda Ostovitz: You always look great. 00:19:29.998 --> 00:19:34.498 I'm not surprised that you love it because you look just like you belong there. 00:19:34.653 --> 00:19:35.233 Betsy Wendell: Oh, thank 00:19:35.428 --> 00:19:37.038 Linda Ostovitz: But dress with the hat first. 00:19:37.038 --> 00:19:38.268 Okay, that's interesting. 00:19:38.328 --> 00:19:41.118 I would have thought hat comes last, but what do I know? 00:19:41.328 --> 00:19:43.128 Fortunately, we have you as an expert. 00:19:44.033 --> 00:19:46.783 Betsy Wendell: I'd start with the hat, always start with the hat and 00:19:46.783 --> 00:19:48.623 then the venue determines the brim. 00:19:48.713 --> 00:19:52.873 So if you're out in the, 90 degree weather, it's nice to have a big brim to 00:19:52.883 --> 00:19:55.633 cover yourself from the heat and sunlight. 00:19:56.708 --> 00:19:57.398 Linda Ostovitz: Very good. 00:19:57.868 --> 00:19:58.458 Very good. 00:19:59.528 --> 00:20:02.908 Betsy, you are a success as a businesswoman. 00:20:02.998 --> 00:20:06.818 Do you do marketing on a regular and consistent basis that has 00:20:06.818 --> 00:20:08.418 contributed to your success? 00:20:09.283 --> 00:20:12.573 Betsy Wendell: We do a lot of internal marketing. 00:20:12.583 --> 00:20:18.703 So our emails are text messages, people. 00:20:19.808 --> 00:20:23.688 Almost get a text message and show up within 10 minutes of receiving it. 00:20:23.688 --> 00:20:25.068 It's pretty uncanny. 00:20:25.468 --> 00:20:31.088 Then we are marketing in the community is actually part of 00:20:31.088 --> 00:20:33.288 it is how I met you originally. 00:20:33.328 --> 00:20:37.998 We like to do events outside of the store to capture new client bases 00:20:37.998 --> 00:20:43.318 who might not know about us or might have forgotten that Cross Keys 00:20:43.368 --> 00:20:45.228 is in the Village of Cross Keys. 00:20:45.228 --> 00:20:50.438 They just, you just forget you get in your routine, but partnering with Claudia 00:20:50.438 --> 00:20:55.038 Mare Cancer Research Fund and Pretty in Pink Fashion Show with Turf Valley 00:20:55.108 --> 00:20:57.578 Resorts was just a beautiful thing. 00:20:57.628 --> 00:21:01.188 I think this is our 12th or 13th year we just signed up for. 00:21:01.798 --> 00:21:03.248 They do a beautiful event. 00:21:03.268 --> 00:21:08.408 They ask cancer survivors to participate in the fashion show so 00:21:08.408 --> 00:21:12.378 they become the models and we get to dress them and it's like a nice 00:21:12.418 --> 00:21:17.138 opportunity for them to feel good about themselves through a difficult time. 00:21:17.728 --> 00:21:21.878 Then we do a little boutique there and the ladies are invited for 00:21:21.888 --> 00:21:26.723 champagne and shopping all throughout the morning and then the show in 00:21:26.723 --> 00:21:28.053 the luncheon in the afternoon. 00:21:28.303 --> 00:21:30.723 So we do lots of events like that. 00:21:31.243 --> 00:21:37.153 In the community sororities, many sororities have us to their events. 00:21:37.153 --> 00:21:42.143 We just did a crab feast at Martin's West, which was absolutely fabulous. 00:21:42.193 --> 00:21:42.863 And fun. 00:21:42.923 --> 00:21:44.253 We had a good time doing that. 00:21:44.273 --> 00:21:48.293 So just getting out and reminding people that we're still here. 00:21:48.343 --> 00:21:51.013 That's part of our marketing campaign. 00:21:52.243 --> 00:21:56.493 Linda Ostovitz: Do you have any plans to open other shops or 00:21:56.493 --> 00:21:58.473 other locations at this point? 00:21:59.428 --> 00:22:02.398 Betsy Wendell: My plans now are probably somewhere in Florida, 00:22:02.518 --> 00:22:04.588 like another location down there. 00:22:05.028 --> 00:22:09.378 And still maintain the Baltimore location and all of that. 00:22:09.448 --> 00:22:14.778 A lot of clients have moved to Florida or they winter in anyway. 00:22:14.808 --> 00:22:18.528 So that's something in the, on the horizon that I'm looking to do. 00:22:21.568 --> 00:22:26.618 Linda Ostovitz: I so appreciate you spending the time with me and sharing 00:22:26.718 --> 00:22:33.188 your success story and really giving my listeners an opportunity to get 00:22:33.188 --> 00:22:37.918 to know Octavia and the experience that it is to be there and to deal 00:22:37.918 --> 00:22:39.678 with you and to deal with your folks. 00:22:39.678 --> 00:22:40.138 So 00:22:40.708 --> 00:22:43.018 thank you so much being with us. 00:22:43.578 --> 00:22:48.608 I will look forward to seeing you in April on the 25th at Turf Valley 00:22:49.628 --> 00:22:52.718 at the Pretty in Pink event that you described. 00:22:53.258 --> 00:22:56.728 My best friend Betty and I always beat feed it to you first. 00:22:56.728 --> 00:23:00.208 We go through the door and don't say hello until we get to you. 00:23:00.338 --> 00:23:03.548 Betsy Wendell: Have some champagne on your way, but that's a beautiful event. 00:23:03.558 --> 00:23:07.568 And I ask all your listeners, anyone to come into the store, mention you, 00:23:07.568 --> 00:23:09.128 and we'd love to take care of you. 00:23:10.248 --> 00:23:10.998 Linda Ostovitz: that'd be great. 00:23:11.298 --> 00:23:12.188 Thank you so much. 00:23:12.188 --> 00:23:13.428 I look forward to seeing you soon. 00:23:13.428 --> 00:23:16.248 And again, I very much appreciate you being here and I can't 00:23:16.258 --> 00:23:18.438 recommend Octavia Boutique enough. 00:23:19.143 --> 00:23:23.603 If it wasn't already clear not only for the lovely fashions, 00:23:23.693 --> 00:23:24.903 but for the people who run it. 00:23:25.103 --> 00:23:26.663 So thank you, Betsy. 00:23:26.888 --> 00:23:27.448 Betsy Wendell: You're a doll. 00:23:27.448 --> 00:23:27.968 Thanks, Linda.