Community Newspaper Group:
A Cedar Falls mom is carving out her niche in Waverly.
On June 1, Carmin Stickfort opened Purses Galore at 102 E. Bremer Ave., offering bags in trendy new styles and replicas of celebrities’ designer carryalls. The store is a brick-and-mortar incarnation of her first business venture, Hot Purses, a series of home parties offering customers a peek at the latest fashions in the comforts of their own home.
Tired of 12-hour days and long nights of lesson plans and grading homework, the former Waterloo fourth- and fifth-grade teacher decided to give teaching a rest in 2007 when she and husband Jeff welcomed baby Claire, now 2.
Claire’s little sister, 10-month-old Callie, has since joined the flock, and Carmin says running her own boutique will ensure she has plenty of time to spend with her girls, but also give her a creative outlet.
“Did I want to stay home with my kids, or raise somebody else’s children?” the 2001 University of Northern Iowa grad says of her decision. “I chose to stay at home and… I just wanted to be able to spend time with my kids, but also have something to do. So I thought I could do a boutique and have shorter hours than teaching. I could be a mom and a businesswoman at the same time.”
Photo by daisybush