With a bright future ahead, Mustard Seed D 30celebrates...Clothing Co.to take part in the revitalization of the city. Butthe current business-friendly atmosphere wouldnot have been possible without the hard work and years yearsowntown Napa has enjoyed aresurgence of successful businessesof late. New stores are popping uppioneering efforts of Napa’s long-time businessesthat hung in there through the hard times, believing in Napa’s viability. Barbara Wiggins, owner of the Mustard Seed Barbara Wiggins, owner of Mustard Seed Clothing Company Clothing Company located in the recently purchased Napa Town Center, is one of those pioneers. Well known to the community at large, Barbara has been greeting customers at her store with her cheerful personality and contagious the name Mustard Seed as they were driving up the valley sunny smile for thirty years. admiring the mustard growing between the vines. Six months “I thought about retiring, and said “NO!” immediately,” later her partners left to pursue other ventures, and Barbara said Barbara. “I have survived during the challenging times. has been solo ever since. Now I want to experience the reinventing of Downtown and In our homogenized world of chain stores and sameness, the have my boutique shine like it was designed to.” Mustard Seed Clothing Company stands out like a refreshing There were hard times for many businesses that saw stores oasis. Barbara carries an eclectic array of clothing for women open and close, but Barbara said her clothing boutique was with brands like Eileen Fisher, Barbara Lesser, Joseph Ripkoff, a hit from the start. “I’ve never really had a bad year,” she Komorov and Nic & Zoe as well as brands not well known. confided. “We were able to create the right mix and a recipe “We carry clothes that have great style and fit, with a little for success by providing clothing with an edge.” edge,” she said. “Our styles are unique and affordable. I just Another key to her success was that she paid attention to want every woman to feel good about herself.” her clientele—what they were buying and why. “We kept Barbara said she is optimistic and thrilled about the new close track of what we sold to who, especially when it came changes and ownership of the Napa Town Center, and is eager to outfits for an event,” said Barbara. “We did our best not to learn what is in store for the center. She also realizes her to have our customers show up to an event wearing the same boutique needs a few new surprises. thing as someone else.” “My customer base has grown old with me,” she laughs. A long-time Napa resident, Barbara moved to the Valley “Their kids don’t know I have clothes for the younger woman when she was twelve years old. She attended Napa High as well that are affordable.” Barbara is hinting around about School and married her high school sweetheart, Jim Wiggins; new area to the store in 2013, but details have not yet been OPEN the couple moved to Seattle so Jim could work for a national finalized. She did say it’s something Napa has not seen before. MAP accounting firm. An avid tennis player, Barbara noticed Seattle Hmmmm—sounds intriguing… HERE didn’t have a tennis shop, so she opened one. “I love what I do,” said Barbara. “It’s not the clothes that get Then, in 1981, Jim got tired of corporate life and Barbara me so excited; it’s my customers who make my life like a party wanted to see the sun again, so they returned to Napa. The every day. Life is good.” retail bug had bitten Barbara and she didn’t stay settled for long. “Our friends Steve and Anne Yates called us and Mustard Seed: 1301 Napa Town Center, Napa; 707.255.4222 suggested we open a store together,” she said. They chose
NVLife_NovDec_2012
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