Simply Scarves Owner Succeeds with Kindness, Compassion

SALEM, Ohio – When she started her business, Vicki McGee, owner of Simply Scarves … and Such, was just trying to occupy her time and her hands in the hotel on frequent business road trips for her corporate human resources legal job.

Now she will celebrate 10 years in business this October.

With locations in Salem, Columbiana, Austintown and Minerva, McGee specializes in three private lines of items designed to make women feel “Simply … Sassy” without breaking their bank accounts.

She started making scarves and other craft items and eventually transitioned to working with leggings fabrics manufacturers, choosing designs and creating her own private lines. She insists on the softness of triple-brushed fabrics, yoga bands at the top and pockets.

From plain and denim looks to colorful seasonal patterns including leaves, florals, pumpkins, camo and plaids, there are leggings for everyone.

She often pairs them on Facebook with a variety of custom-printed T-shirts, blouses, vests, wraps and accessories to show her customers fun options. She offers her line of capris and jewelry, as well.

McGee said it is important that her products stay fun and affordable.

When she was at her corporate job, she could afford the high-end price point items. But in her human resources role, she also knew the importance of relating to the many employees, especially women, who worked for the company. She didn’t want to be the executive in the ivory tower others complained about.

“I wanted to be an example, especially to women, that you could achieve anything that you want – look the part, act the part, be the part, do the part,” McGee said. “So it was always a goal of mine when I started this business – I never wanted to make things out of people’s price range, to provide a quality at a reasonable price.”

Even if her profit margin is lower than most, she is happy to have a positive influence in someone’s life.

McGee said she is proud her store allows women to buy an outfit they feel great wearing, including matching earrings, for less than a pair of most jeans. She often posts photos on Facebook of women who stop by the shop later wearing her clothes.

“I try to be kind. I try to set a good example. I try to be a good role model,” McGee said, noting that can be hard when others are negative. But she rises above it. “I want them to remember – that woman in that shop was kind.”

Giving Back

She sees her business as not just a way to make money or even just make women feel great about their appearance. McGee likes to mentor others she meets, and she believes in giving back.

Her business hosts charitable drives, giving directly to smaller charities in the area. She loves the ones with less overhead and the ones doing the most to help people such as veterans and seniors, and those with special needs or victims of domestic violence.

“I try to pick a quarterly charity,” McGee said. “It’s extremely important to give back to the communities we serve.”

She takes polls in the store to see what local charities customers are interested in. And she loves when women can give back even with just a small monetary donation, buying something as small as a tube of toothpaste or by clearing their closet of gently used items.

One of her annual events is the Warm Up Salem Campaign, in conjunction with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Lori Jewell, executive director of the chamber, said McGee approached her about five years ago with the idea of tying collected new or gently used hats, scarves and gloves to the poles downtown on a date in November. People are then encouraged to take the items if they need them.

Jewell said the event, now in its fifth year, will be held Nov. 16. Though items can be dropped off at the chamber, she encourages donors to take them to McGee’s store, where they can see everything she has to offer there.

Jewell shops there herself and sees McGee keeping up with trends with her designs and negotiating great prices with her vendors that she passes onto her customers. Plus, Jewell said McGee is a great friend and mentor to other chamber members with her human resources background.

“You can’t slow that lady down,” Jewell said.

Located in the Salem store is a small picture of McGee offering psychiatric help for 5 cents, jokingly created by her staff. And while some people leave coins on the frame, McGee said she adds them to the charitable donations that come from the store.

‘Grateful’ for Success

“I’m so grateful beyond measure,” McGee said of her 10 years in business. “It’s an emotional journey for me because I built this all on my own.”

Her husband, Bill, used to take the scarves to work early on, and she started the business with just a Facebook page, where she sold scarves and handmade cards and crafts.

Then Rhonda Hardesty, owner of Rhonda’s Dawggy Pawlor, asked her if she would like to lease a little space in her newly opened shop. The success led to her opening her own business and quitting her corporate job, although she still makes items just to keep her hands busy and sells them in the shop. Her washcloths, pens and jewelry were all available during a recent visit, and with a price point that made them more of a “thank you for shopping” item than a profit-making venture.

The stores are always evolving and growing.

“What matters to me most, more than anything in this whole world … to make a difference in anybody’s lives, to be kind and compassionate to everybody who comes into my path and to make sure that this business gives back to the communities that we serve,” McGee said. “Those three things matter to me.”

McGee is proud that she was able to build her business. She had the support of her husband and her parents, as well as others in the community. She has six employees, several who have been with her for years. She believes if you work hard and conduct business with the highest standards and ethics, you can succeed.

“I want to be an inspiration to other women. You can do it; you can do it,” McGee said. “Is it hard? Do you get frustrated? Do you get sad maybe because you have a bad sales week or a bad customer week? You do. But you always have to be positive and optimistic and believe that whatever it is you set out to do, whether it’s to be a good mom, to be a good wife, to be a good friend, that you always have to strive to be the best you can be.”

Pictured at top: Vicki McGee, owner of Simply Scarves … and Such, stands outside her Salem store.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.