Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/495532
APRIL/MAY 2015 MACON MAGAZINE | 25 ADVERTISING | Women IN BUSINESS You opened travis jean in 2014 and renovated a loft above the store for your home. What are your goals for you business? I want be part of revitalizing downtown. Retail is part of that and so is restoring the beautiful architecture. I am deeply committed to downtown Macon. I love this community and I want to bring my experiences from New Orleans to my hometown with my arts and antiques business. How do you see your business evolving? Right now I am going to become my own tenant in my building next door to my gallery. Because of all of the requests to use my gallery and courtyard for meetings and parties, I am moving the store to 522 Cherry and converting my current space into an event space; it's unique and is something downtown needs. Tell us about your background as a woman in business. My background is varied. When I married in 1974, I moved from Macon to New Orleans. I was the first woman hired in the Office Products Division of IBM and worked there until 1985. I opened my first antique shop on Magazine Street in 1991. My business survived Hurricane Katrina and now, here I am, starting all over in my hometown. I have been a businesswoman for a long time. I truly love what I do, and I believe in Macon! Do you anticipate making more changes when you move your business next door? Successful businesses have to change and evolve. I'm expanding the merchandise to include as many locally made Georgia products as possible. For example, we now carry L. Windham Jewelry designed by a local Macon artist, natural Mossy Creek Soaps made in Perry, honey products from the Savannah Bee Company, Georgia Olive Oil and many others. We are increasing our wedding and gift items, also. We are excited to be the only local merchant to carry the elegant Pickard China. Where do you see yourself five years from now? I see my shop being well-established in a thriving downtown. I want to see the storefronts filled. I want to see more people on the interstates getting off here to shop and eat. In five years, we will have statewide advertising to attract people and let people know what's really happening here. Not enough people know what's going on in downtown Macon. It's so exciting. It's all about to pop. Honestly, I don't think people have any idea. Everyone wants to sit back and see what's going to happening in downtown before investing. But it's happening now; people who wait are going to be too late. Seriously, the future is now! 530 Cherry Street | Macon, GA 31201 travisjean.com | 478.508.3382 JEAN BRAGG travis jean