Sisters Mercantile marks 30 years

Kay McLaren has seen her share of ups and downs in owning Sisters Mercantile for the past 30 years.

The owner of the venerable Sisters clothing store has weathered many an economic downturn, but she says this one may be the worst.

"I'd say this is one of our biggest challenges, this year," McLaren told The Nugget.

McLaren opened Sisters Mercantile in partnership with her husband John and her parents Dan and Marjorie Shoop on April 29, 1979.

"We opened in The Gallery Annex, which was new then, and we had the smallest space they had," McLaren

said.

In 1984, McLaren moved the store into its current location in Barclay Square.

The store has evolved over the years. McLaren said she started out serving women and juniors and initially carried men's wear. But men bought too little so that line was dropped, and over the years McLaren has catered more and more to women of a certain age.

"I now cater to a mature woman," she said.

One disappointment for McLaren is that local trade fell off after malls and big box stores opened in Bend, and that trade has never really come back.

McLaren identifies several elements to her success, even in hard times.

"You cannot do business from an empty wagon," she said. "So even though it's terrifying, you must stock your business."

McLaren believes in reinvesting in her store and steering clear of credit.

"I've never used a line of credit," she said. "We've always used our own money and I think you're more careful with your own money. I think that's one of the reasons I'm still here - that I never went to the well."

McLaren left Sisters eight years ago to move to Portland, and she left the daily operation of the store in the hands of longtime employee Pam Creason.

"Pam has been with me for over 20 years, and she's the secret," McLaren said. "Without Pam, it would have failed, that's all there is to it."

McLaren looks back with pride and a bit of wonder at her long retail career.

"It has been one of the best experiences of my life," she said. "I never dreamed as a young person that I could own and operate my own business. It's been educational and at times profitable. It's really been my life's work."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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