Business: Shirley's Bridal Salon

Owner: Shirley Johnson

Age: 66

Address: 205 Fern Valley Road, Suite I, Phoenix

Phone number: 512-8903

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Employees: 4

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a weekly series of profiles on locally owned and operated businesses in Southern Oregon.

What do you do and how long have you been doing it?

I have a bridal and special occasion dress shop and I've been doing it 26 years. I started in Klamath Falls in the Jefferson Square Mall. I moved it to East Main Street in Medford, next to Norris Shoes, in 1991.

How long have you lived in the Rogue Valley?

I was born in the Rogue Valley and have lived in the Klamath Basin for 33 years. I used to go home at nights, but now that I'm open until 7, I go home on weekends.

What inspired you to go into this line of work?

I wanted to do something I could share with my daughters. I found, having raised girls, that I enjoyed working with young ladies for proms, bridals and special occasions. My daughters were young ladies when I started. They would go to market with me and help buy. Then they went to college, got married and moved to other places and mom is still working.

What decision or action would you change if you could do it again?

I guess if would do anything over, I would've had my children stay with me. I felt like I moved the business over here at the right time. About 30 percent of my business was in Klamath and the rest was from Medford. I was worried about the young ladies driving over the mountain from January through March.

What's the toughest business decision you've made?

I'm a person who makes up her mind pretty easy. I tried for a couple years to have two stores, but I couldn't get good management at both stores.

Who are your competitors?

Here in the valley there's Allure Bridal & Formal Wear, Angela's Bridal Mart and David's Bridal. It's changed over the years and you're cutting a thinner pie. There were shops opened in Ashland and Grants Pass that weren't here when I started. The valley is a little oversaturated for the population.

How do you define success for your business?

I do free bridal consulting, teach girls how to put weddings together, helping with colors, mothers, flower girls and invitations. We do in-store alterations, free pressing. I like sharing my know-how. When the girls come in, they don't really know about things. They have ideas and then you help them with making decisions. I have people come from Redding to Portland to get special-occasion dresses. Mothers of the bride don't match the party, they complement the party. I do gowns for Miss Klamath County, Miss Douglas County, Miss Lane County, Miss Multnomah County and Miss Rogue Valley. People travel all over for those pageant gowns.

What are your goals?

I would like to take in a partner who I could train and turn the business over to that person.

What training or education did you need?

My background was in medicine and I was a full-charge bookkeeper for years. I learned about the wedding dresses and gowns on my own. It involved common sense.

What's your advice for budding entrepreneurs?

Find something they are going to enjoy and not be afraid about trying it. You can succeed in just about anything you want to do. Think positively, be competitive and stay on top of what's going on.

To suggest an idea for this column, contact reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com