Sweet Spot: Valley Entrepreneur Smiles Despite Recession

For many business owners, the Valley’s triple digit temperatures provide the perfect cover to disappear for weeks. But, not for Georganne Bryant.

“We typically are very busy from October to June so we really do a lot of our planning in the summer months,” she says. “We stay on top of our marketing and have planning and goal sessions for the following year.”

Bryant owns two businesses at Central Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix. The boutique Frances just celebrated its fifth year and the candy shop Smeeks is marking its second year. That’s right – Bryant started a new business during the worst recession since the Great Depression.

“Believe it or not, the timing was right,” she says. “An old fashioned candy store is perfect for a recession. You can’t help but be happy when you walk inside Smeeks.”

She’s seeing so many happy customers that Smeeks is launching a new website. People who can’t visit the colorful building in person can fill their online shopping carts with sweets, treats and novelties.

“We have all ages and types of shoppers at both stores which is another reason we have sustained through the tough times,” Bryant says.

Customers to Frances can find hand-picked new and vintage women’s clothing, baby items, men’s clothing and jewelry. Bryant calls the store, named after her grandmother, “a blend of old and new.”

It's the same thing next door at Smeeks (named after her father’s childhood nickname for her) where you can find current favorites like Giant Smarties with some treats you thought were gone forever. Candy cigarettes, anyone? They’re among Bryant’s best sellers.

“It is joyful,” she says. “Seeing people’s faces when they walk into Smeeks for the first time and listening to their comments about the old fashioned candy and their memories.”

Bryant is preparing for a flood of new smiles next month with her annual summer sale, when treats are 50 percent off throughout August.

Get Connected
Frances
www.francesvintage.com

Smeeks
www.smeeks.com

This article, written by Christina Estes, is part of the Chamber's monthly series of informational emails. To sign up for any or all of the emails, click here.