Shoppers, community members and local officials stopped by Southern Accents in Marion Thursday as the gift boutique celebrated its 20th year in business.
Owner Jeanne Calvert-Jones said the store started as a small gift shop on Highway 39 in Meridian and grew into the shopping experience it is today thanks to its wonderful customers and trust in God. The store, along with its sister business, Southern Business Supply, relocated to their current home along Dale Drive in Marion in 2012 and have been there ever since, she said.
“We started out with just gifts, just like birthday gifts and things like that,” she said. “And then we added clothing into it the same year, and then we added bridal tables and gift tables and things like that.”
Another big step was the addition of furniture into the store, Calvert-Jones said. While Southern Business Supply has always offered office furniture, adding sofas, armchairs and other residential furniture was another big step to take.
Calvert-Jones said Southern Accents has been blessed with wonderful customers who support the store. In a modern day when so many products are online, she said she, along with other small business owners, appreciate those who take the time and energy to support their local businesses.
Southern Accents is also fortunate to have dedicated employees who treat the store like their own and work hard to help the business succeed, she said.
“They love the store like it’s theirs, and it shows,” she said.
Over the past 20 years, numerous young women have worked at the store while in school, Calvert-Jones said, and watching them grow and pursue their own careers has been a fun experience. Several former employees have become teachers, one a doctor, and there is even a pharmacist among them, she said.
“It’s just so fun to see them, and they’ll come back and visit when they’re back in town,” she said. “It’s just fun to watch them grow up.”
Thursday’s celebration included a visit from the Red Hot food truck, doorbusters, special discounts on store items and more as everyone in the community was invited to help Calvert-Jones and her staff mark the milestone.
Twenty years seems like a long time, she said, and Southern Accents plans to be around for at least 20 more. To make that happen, she said she plans to continue putting her faith in God and trying to help customers as best as possible.
“God has just been the center of it,” she said. “We hope that when people walk in the door they feel the spirt of the Lord or feel better than when they came.