Clothing Store Endures Slower Sales During Phased Reopening

RESTON, VA — Like many small business owners, Jane Abraham has had to make some hard decisions this year due to the coronavirus pandemic just to try and keep her business afloat.

Abraham and her daughter, Betsy, own and operate two Scout & Molly's dress franchises, one at Reston Town Center and the other at Ballston Quarter in Arlington. When Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered all non-essential businesses to close in March, Abraham was forced to lay off her four employees.

"We tried to stay open as long as was practical," she said. "Long before we closed, we reduced hours and also converted to just doing personal appointments of one or two people at a time."

Now that Virginia is in phase three of its phased reopening, both Scout & Molly's locations have reopened in a limited capacity.

Abraham recently answered a few questions about how her business has weathered the closure caused by the pandemic, as well as the first stages of Virginia's reopening.

How has your business fared through Phase 2 and now Phase 3 of Virginia's phased reopening?

Beginning in Phase 1, we were able to open our store on a reduced schedule from noon-6 p.m. each day. We have continued that schedule through phase 2 and 3. We require everyone to wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer before entering our store. We follow a robust cleaning/sanitizing routine. Customers may try on clothes in our fitting rooms. Any clothes not purchased are taken out of inventory for 24 hours.

What changes have you been able to make in these new phases?

See above. I would also add that we are doing everything possible to make it easy for customers to shop from home. We have an easy online shopping experience and we offer a new program called Boutique in a Box. We will put together about 20 items that we think the customer would like based on an initial conversation, drop off the Box at the customer's home and then pick up the unwanted items in two-three days while handling the purchase of the items that are kept.

How would you compare your current state to pre-coronavirus times?

We are so pleased to begin seeing our customers visit us. Unfortunately, many people are uncertain about the future and that impacts the interest in purchasing new clothes. We are at about 50 percent of our sales at this time last year.

Also see ...

• Reston Clothing Shop Donating Dresses To Coronavirus Responders
• Herndon Yoga Center Turns To Online Video During Coronavirus
• Reston Gallery Takes Heroic Step To Honor Coronavirus Heroes
• Bargain Loft Thrift Store Reopens After Closing For Coronavirus

This is one in a series of articles Patch is writing about small businesses in the area are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Small business owners can also add their the name of their business to our list of open businesses in Herndon and Reston.