Andrea Whiteside - A Risk Taker Who Plans to Succeed

Andrea Whiteside doesn’t quite fit the mold of what you might expect in an entrepreneur. After visiting for an hour I knew I was wrong about that.
 
Andrea is no stranger to hard work and that’s what she’s faced since opening Andrea’s Plus Size Clothing in downtown Spindale. Andrea knew this is what she wanted to do even though in her heart she knew it would be an uphill march. Anyone opening a store these days faces risks. But at age 55 Andrea was ready to face those risks head on. She’s not a quitter and she hasn’t looked back. The empty shell of a store needed a lot of work to get opened. The owner was very helpful in giving her a break on the rent and letting her move in without a lease for the first six months. He also provided a brand-new heating/air conditioning unit, something definitely needed but missing.

​She rolled up her sleeves and her husband, Roy, stepped in as both Andrea’s head cheerleader and also her chief handyman. They scrubbed, they built, and they painted. They scavenged everywhere to find all the things a store would need from display units and shelves and even a cash register. Roy didn’t stop there. He also provided Andrea with his credit card and told her to buy what she needed to get the store stocked. That’s true dedication and a display of love to help his wife achieve her dream of owning her own place and being her own boss. He did point out that the card came with a credit limit!

A big setback occurred just a few months after opening day. There was a late-night fire at the laundry that adjoins her building. While Andrea’s store didn’t suffer any direct damage from the fire, all her clothing stock was ruined from smoke damage. Most people would use this as a good excuse to lock the door for good. But not Andrea Whiteside. The store has just recently celebrated its first anniversary after reopening following the fire.
 
Andrea has yet to make a profit but she’s optimistic and doing her best to make this succeed. She’s received good advice from customers, from friends, and from Faye Bishop, the director of the Small Business Center at Isothermal Community College. ​

I asked Andrea what advice she would give to someone thinking of starting a business. Andrea, someone without any previous retail experience, says, “Be willing to take advice. Go to school. Ask for help. Find out what the people want. And do one thing and do it well.”

Andrea started the store for several reasons. One of course is that she herself is a “plus size” and knows how hard it is to find clothing that she likes. She knew there were plenty of potential customers faced with the same situation and why not be the store that can help?

Andrea’s Plus Size Clothing is more than “just” a store. She has become a de facto “counselor” helping people – friends and strangers, when they come in with something on their minds. She listens and listens and then offers them comfort. She recalls a homeless person who came into the store one day and she knew this woman needed some help. The woman said she just needed someone to talk to and Andrea was her rock in that time of need. Her pastor says the store is not just a store, it is Andrea’s own little ministry. 
 
It has become a “calling” for Andrea to make this work. No doubt she will. 

More to Know:

Andrea’s Plus Size Clothing is located at 415 Main Street in Spindale. 828-447-9737. She’s open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday. Check her Facebook page for hours. In addition to clothes, the store carries jewelry, handbags, scarves, and other accessories including some items handmade right in the store by Andrea herself. Clothes styles are changed with each season.