12/19/2001

Glenmar's Antiques-Collectibles & Tea Emporium

""Our dream could not have become a reality without the help, knowledge, and encouragement of the SBDC. They shed light on all the dark foreign areas of marketing, demographics etc. Without their help and resources, we might still be just looking instead "

Marion Brown and Glenda Harris are two Pensacola nurses who developed a sincere love for antiques as a hobby. They spent many Saturdays searching in every available nook and cranny for beautiful antiques to lavish their homes and bestow upon their friends and families. They were able to find lovely pieces in the oddest places. They soon came to realize that they were running out of places to store their finds. From this, they put their heads together and decided they wanted to cultivate their hobby into a full-time business. Marion and Glenda arrived at the SBDC on March 12, 2001, with the dream of opening an antiques retail store complete with a tearoom and bakery style café. They had looked at several possible locations and were eager to learn how to start a business and secure funding. Laura Garrett, a Certified Business Analyst at the SBDC, helped them collect research materials and develop a winning business plan. A $30,000 line of credit was established with Compass Bank. This funding was used as working capital to secure the location for two months until enough booth renters could be secured to cover operating expenses. A site was selected in the Eastgate Shopping Center at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Creighton Road in Pensacola, Florida. Glenmar’s Antiques-Collectibles & Tea Emporium opened in October 2001 with a bang. Almost all booth spaces have been rented despite the events of September 11, 2001. The future looks bright for two women who started with nothing, but a hobby and a dream.