The Liberty Shop

When a woman wants something badly enough, and is smart enough, and works hard enough; she generally gets it.  And Robbie Hales dreamed of owning her own dress shop.  After attending Bauder Fashion College in Miami, Robbie appeared on the scene in Meridian, working at The Vogue Dress Shop and Loeb’s Department Store. She made a dear friend, Ina Carmichael, while working there.   Robbie was the buyer for the Junior division and Ina was buying for the Women’s department.  They quickly discovered they both had a real talent for the clothing business.  After two years, in 1975, they decided to form a partnership and opened The Liberty Shop, where women in East MS and West AL have been buying their clothes, ever since.

They originally opened next door to their present location, in the Vise Building, in downtown Meridian.  Chris Rischer redesigned the current building and they bought it!  They offered Ladies Ready to Wear, jewelry, shoes, and outerwear.  Robbie married C.B., had two kids and bought out her partner!  The kids grew up in the store and Clinton began to work there in 2006 while beginning graduate school at MSU-Meridian.  School uniforms had been on Robbie’s mind for years and so, with Clinton’s help, they added the uniform department which has grown to include not only school uniforms, but also corporate attire, law enforcement uniforms, and screen printing.  This expanded their customer base to include schools and students.  She had researched and found that some local private schools were already in uniforms.  St. Patrick was her first uniform customer, and they were ready when Lauderdale County and the city announced they were also requiring uniforms for all students.  Then neighboring counties joined, and they expanded to become a vendor for private schools across the state.  Clinton has been running the uniform department ever since. 

It has turned into a true family business, in the last 15 or 20 years, with all family members becoming part owners.  Mary Allison Hales Saul is the creative force in the store, Christy, Clinton’s wife, handles social media and Clinton is now general manager. After retiring as general manager from Bell South, C.B. became their jack-of-all trades.  (Saw him the other day on the street with three baby bottles in his arms!) 

Robbie has this advice for new business owners, “Try to find something unique; something really needed. Expect to work every day. Be in your business; you are your best advertising.  Don’t be afraid to take risks and be willing to change and adapt to market needs.   Develop relationships with your customers.  Make them feel good when they walk in your store; comfortable and welcome.  Treat them with dignity and respect.  After all, you couldn’t stay in business without them.  They come as customers and leave as friends.”

“And it will benefit you to join the chamber.   We like the camaraderie we develop with like-minded business people who are members and feel a responsibility to support the community.   I believe a strong chamber is key to a strong business community.”  Take her advice to heart because as an entrepreneur, who built her business from the ground up, she owns the oldest continuously operating business around.   And she did it downtown.  She adds, “We are so grateful that God gives us the opportunity to get up every morning and serve this special place we call home.”

The Liberty Shop – A Touch of Class.

The Liberty Shop
404 22nd Ave., Meridian, MS