Who’s Behind the Counter: Nancy Klein at Doris’ Closet

Catonsville Patch:  How long have you been in business in Catonsville?

Nancy Klein:  We opened here on October 4, 2011.  I loved this space as soon as I saw it.  I had been looking for about six months all over southern Baltimore County.

Patch:  Why did you choose Catonsville? 

Klein:  It’s a neat, funky, little town.  My mother lived here with her sister when she was a young girl, and she always spoke very fondly of her time in Catonsville.  Plus, I was impressed with the other shops along Mellor.  It’s a nice mix of interesting businesses.

Patch:  What do you like about being in Catonsville?

Klein:  Catonsville has a real small-town feel, and people here are friendly and personable.  People come in and they want to know how I’m doing, am I from Catonsville, do I like Catonsville.

Patch:  Are you from Catonsville?

Klein:  Ellicott City.

Patch:  What services do you do?

Klein:  We sell women’s clothing, accessories, and accent home furnishings on consignment, and we carry some new craft items by local artists.  Consignments we split 50-50 with the consignor, crafts are 40-60 because of the craftsperson’s time and skill.

Patch:  What is the process for consigning?

Klein:  We prefer to take items during the week when we are less busy, but people should call ahead.  We only take clothing which has been bought within the last two years and is in current fashion.  We also have a list of brands we take and those we don’t take.

Patch:  What’s a typical day like?

Klein:  There really isn’t a typical day.  We take in consignments, enter the items, tag them, and get them out as soon as possible.  We want things to be continually changing.  We cut prices after 30 and 45 days, and when we rotate stock out, we donate it to The Samaritan Women.

We have a Facebook page with a new fashion or decorating tip every day.  We also use that to post new items.

Patch:  Do you have a signature service or specialty thing you do?

Klein:  I took a class with a master upholsterer two years ago and now he opens his shop up to us once a week so we can continue our class.  I’ve reupholstered several pieces that I’ve sold here.

Patch:  Do you shop for merchandise as well?

Klein:  I go to yard sales, estate sales, auctions; I love to find treasures.  A woman who works for me recently went to the Charlestown treasures sale and we got a couple of chairs that I am going to reupholster.

Patch:  What’s one of the hardest things about your work?

Klein:  Doing it by myself.  I have good people working for me but I’m still the owner, the marketer, the accountant, and it’s a challenge trying to do all those roles.  But I like challenges!

Patch:  What are you proud of?

Klein (looking around and smiling):  I’m very proud of the store.  It looks great and smells great.  We carry some beautiful things, very different things.  And I’m also selling the crafts of local women.

Patch:  What’s your favorite thing about your work?

Klein:  It’s seeing the things that come in.  It’s like Christmas every day.  You never know what’s going to come through that door.

Patch:  What are you looking forward to?

Klein:  We’ve already had some special events in the store and I’d like to have more like a mother/daughter fashion show.  We’ve had Avon come in and do a lipstick thing.  I do a fundraiser each month where I give 20% of the proceeds to the charity.  We’re doing the Food Bank in March and there will be one coming up for the Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle, which I just joined!

Patch:  What is one thing you think is needed in the business community?

Klein:  I have been so focused right here, I haven’t really reached out.  I do plan to join the Chamber of Commerce; that’s in my second six month plan.  But so far the community has been absolutely delightful.

Patch:  What's the best piece of advice that someone has given you when it comes to running a business? 

Klein:  Do your research.

I took a class on starting a small business at Howard Community College.  The instructor advised us to write a business plan and do our research and it has helped a lot.  I haven’t been surprised by the length of time it takes to get a business off the ground.

Patch:  And who is Doris?  Where did your store name come from?

Klein:  Doris was one of my very dear friends, and she was the one who really turned me on to consignment shopping.  We had always talked about opening our own consignment shop when we retired.  Unfortunately Doris died three years ago, but I decided to do it anyway.  Her husband gave me her clothing and a lot of her personal possessions and that’s what I started with when I opened.