- Story by Tess Van Straaten Photographs by Don Denton

Fashionista and entrepreneur Barbara Hubbard can香蕉视频直播檛 believe she香蕉视频直播檚 been in business for more than three decades.

香蕉视频直播淚t actually feels quite wonderful and I don香蕉视频直播檛 know where the time has gone,香蕉视频直播� says the owner of Baden-Baden Boutique and Barbara香蕉视频直播檚 Boutique. 香蕉视频直播淚t certainly doesn香蕉视频直播檛 feel like 35 years, but I went in with a very positive attitude that this will be it, I香蕉视频直播檓 loving it and I will have this cute little boutique 香蕉视频直播� and the cute little boutique really grew!香蕉视频直播�

After raising two daughters and managing her former husband香蕉视频直播檚 law firm for a decade, Barbara found herself out of work when he was appointed a judge. She says it was a pivotal moment in her life.

香蕉视频直播淚 had to really think about what I wanted to do,香蕉视频直播� Barbara explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 took a variety of courses. I did a securities course because I thought maybe I wanted to be a financial broker, but I realized it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for me because I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 see myself selling something that I can香蕉视频直播檛 completely know or touch or see.香蕉视频直播�

With a passion for fashion, good connections to the German fashion scene and encouragement from friends overseas, Barbara decided to open her first store in 1984 香蕉视频直播� Baden-Baden Boutique on Fort Street 香蕉视频直播� and she hasn香蕉视频直播檛 looked back.

香蕉视频直播淚 jumped into the clothing business with no real experience in it and I learned fast,香蕉视频直播� the 76-year-old says. 香蕉视频直播淲e all need to dress, we can香蕉视频直播檛 run away from it, so we might as well have fun and do it well.香蕉视频直播�

After success in downtown Victoria, Barbara decided to expand the business and she opened a store on Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 South Granville Street with two partners. But she says it was probably her biggest mistake.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a holy nightmare and it was just asking for chaos,香蕉视频直播� Barbara says of the partnership with a man in Europe and another in Canada. 香蕉视频直播淥ne piece of advice would be to do what you have in mind by yourself so you香蕉视频直播檙e not dependent on somebody else.香蕉视频直播�

The store closed after a couple of years and it was a tough lesson, but Barbara says she still has customers coming over from Vancouver to shop because of that store.

Learning from the setback, the next expansion was to Sidney, where Barbara opened a second Baden-Baden outlet and then purchased property on Beacon Avenue for the store.

香蕉视频直播淚 was the first one in the fashion industry to come to Sidney and it香蕉视频直播檚 astonishing how many people have followed me,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 quite a fashion promenade now.香蕉视频直播�

The expansion continued with Barbara香蕉视频直播檚 Boutique and a shoe store, but the retail dynamo had to make some tough decisions a few years ago. She closed the shoe store to focus on clothing, and she also decided to shut her downtown store in order to focus on the Sidney locations.

香蕉视频直播淚 decided I really wanted to make my life smaller,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚 had the clothing store on Fort Street for 27 years and it was very hard to close it after so many years, but I香蕉视频直播檓 grateful I did because I香蕉视频直播檓 so happy to be out of downtown.香蕉视频直播�

Barbara says parking was a major issue downtown and a deterrent for many customers. She admits not everyone is happy about making the trek to Sidney, but she says parking is easy and it香蕉视频直播檚 becoming a popular destination for afternoon or all-day outings.

香蕉视频直播淚 say, bring out your survival gear and come out to Sidney and have a nice lunch and do your shopping on Beacon Avenue.香蕉视频直播�

Barbara says she香蕉视频直播檚 learned a lot about customer service over the years and how to keep staff happy. Many have been with her a long time and she believes they香蕉视频直播檙e a big part of her long-term success.

香蕉视频直播淲ithout a happy group of employees we would not have lasted as long,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t takes a whole group of people to do it, and my best advice is don香蕉视频直播檛 make the business completely dependent on you because you香蕉视频直播檒l get burnt out and won香蕉视频直播檛 be able to operate long.香蕉视频直播�

Aside from closing stores, Barbara says, she hasn香蕉视频直播檛 really faced any major challenges. But when it comes to tough decisions, she has another piece of good advice.

香蕉视频直播淢y theory is I don香蕉视频直播檛 make decisions today,香蕉视频直播� Barbara explains.

香蕉视频直播淚 always make sure I have a night to think about it before I do it and usually the next day the decision is much easier and the problem isn香蕉视频直播檛 as big.香蕉视频直播�

Barbara still travels to Europe twice a year to visit showrooms and select items from the various collections for her stores. It香蕉视频直播檚 a creative part of the job she loves, but it also comes with its challenges.

香蕉视频直播淭he big challenge is always to choose the right merchandise for the people that you香蕉视频直播檙e serving 香蕉视频直播� that is the forever lasting challenge,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I香蕉视频直播檓 over in Europe and I see all these wonderful collections, I have to think, what香蕉视频直播檚 right for Sidney? What香蕉视频直播檚 right for the island? What香蕉视频直播檚 right for the west coast? And that is always a challenge.香蕉视频直播�

But it香蕉视频直播檚 a challenge this septuagenarian doesn香蕉视频直播檛 plan to relinquish anytime soon.

香蕉视频直播淚 intend to carry on for quite a while still,香蕉视频直播� Barbara laughs. 香蕉视频直播淚 have no retirement plans because I love it. Why would I give it up?香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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