Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Jakubauskas.
Hi Lindsay, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started this business with my mom, Mary Lynn Harper, and aunt, Carol Furr. My mom and aunt, plus their other sister, started a business in the early 80s called Kittie Kyle. They went to lace school in Switzerland, where they learned to design and make custom wedding dresses out of vintage European lace. They came back and started the business, selling to brides in the Memphis area, then grew to sell in places such as Saks, Barney’s New York, and Bergdorf Goodman.
Fast forward to 2013, and my husband had just retired from playing professional baseball, and we settled in Nashville. I was ready to start my own business in the fashion and clothing world! I jokingly say I pulled my mom and aunt out of retirement to start another business with me. They agreed, and that is when Sidney Clark was born! We initially started with jewelry, making one-of-a-kind pieces with vintage components and findings that we had all been collecting in our everyday jaunts and travels. The business later morphed into an upscale women’s clothing store.
Soon after, the clothing aspect was brought in, and we haven’t looked back! My mom is in Trenton, TN; my aunt is in Memphis. We have a website and do many pop-ups and trunk shows in and around TN, MS, AL, and KY. We opened a space at The Painted Tree in Franklin last year, and we are about to open up another space in The Painted Tree Murfreesboro in late September. We also have a space in Paris, TN, in a business called Off the Square. Working with family is truly SO much fun for us! All three of us have an outgoing, dynamic personality yet compliment each other very well. Our mission with Sidney Clark is simple: We want women to look AND feel their very best.
We want the experience with Sidney Clark to leave them feeling happy, excited about their new goodies, and confident. We also want them leaving knowing they have made three new friends in us!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle for any small business, in my opinion, is name/brand recognition. We have to constantly be thinking of new, inventive ways to stand out from the sea of boutiques and stores that are also vying for the customer’s attention. That is why it is crucial to me that we infuse the brand with who we are as the owners and what makes us “tick.” I always want to show our personalities and relationship, which is what makes Sidney Clark so special and unique!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sidney Clark is known for the creative and interesting ways we put together our outfits and clothing. We are three unique, different women: in age, in shape, and in what we gravitate towards. Time and time again, what we hear from our customers is something along the lines of, “Wow! I would have never put together this outfit – or these two contrasting things – but we love it and get so many compliments!” And in hearing that, there is a sparkle in the eye and confidence in the voice that is just magical to us! Getting “outside the box” – and staying there – is what really makes us excited about style.
We are most proud of the fact that we can dress anyone from age 15-97. The clothing we carry and the way we put things together have no age limit, which ultimately makes women feel so good! They know we take care in finding fun, timeless things that can be worn again and again – and in almost any stage of life. Lindsay, when pregnant, wore Sidney Clark throughout her pregnancy – and afterwards during that delicate period of time where most things aren’t fitting or looking like they used to! (ha) We have customers in high school, and we have a 97-year-old customer that loves our things, too! Those three examples show that we try extra hard to find things for almost every stage of life, which makes us very proud to say that.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
A big shift we have seen in the fashion industry is that smaller boutiques are starting to pop up both online and in small towns all over the U.S. We see it in each of our hometowns and on our travels. We think that is a great thing, and it also keeps us (and all other business owners) on our toes! People want to offer fun and affordable clothing, and being in a small town or area isn’t stopping them!
The onset of all of these boutiques popping up really makes it that much more important, though. We really feel bigger chain stores will have to change their business model if they want to compete and “keep up” with all of these emerging businesses. Watch out, world! Small business is taking over! Always trying to stay ahead of the curve, offering unique and interesting things, and staying competitive always needs to happen in business.
Contact Info:
- Email: sidneyclarkdesigns@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.sidneyclarkdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidneyclarkdesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidneyclarkdesigns
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC52gO1F02lDkVsGbK_RX7fQ
