HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-04-12, Page 1616 Signal Star • Wednesday, April 12, 2017
First opened as a general store in 1929 by George Schaefer, Schaefer's has since moved location,
endured the damages from nearby fires and a tornado, and is now under ownership of the fourth
generation of the Schaefer family.
Louise Schaefer, the grand daughter of George, grew up in the store and has been a full time
employee since 1973. Schaefer's offered a storewide sale to celebrate Louise's retirement.
Fourth generation to own Schaefer's Ladies Wear
Louise Schaefer
retires and
daughter takes
over ownership
Kathleen Smith
Goderich Signal Star
Schaefer's Ladies Wear
has been a staple in the
Goderich economic com-
munity, successfully oper-
ating as first a general store
in 1929 and continuously
changing with the times, to
what it is presently know
as.
"When my grandfather
started it, it was more of a
general store, but back then,
that was very normal. There
would have been a bit of
food product, a bit of cloth-
ing, household items, and it
slowly kept evolving and
keeping up with the times,"
said Louise.
Louise who practically
grew up in the store, started
working at Schaefer's full
time in 1973, and eventu-
ally became partners with
her father in a
joint -ownership.
Louise expanded on the
joint -ownership with her
father, "I don't think I had a
title. Then I became partners
with my dad, and when he
retired I took over fully and
have been the sole owner
since 1996."
It has not only remained
successful since 1929, con-
tributing to the economy
and serving the community
with quality products, but it
is now owned by the fourth
generation of the Schaefer
family.
"My grandfather would
be so proud to know that a
fourth generation, espe-
cially a female, is the owner
of maintaining this suc-
cessful business," said
Louise.
Last week Louise Schaefer
officially retired and handed
ownership over to her
daughter Anne, who joined
the staff in 1998 and has
been the store Manager
since 2002.
Although Louise has
retired and has now passed
on the ownership to her
daughter, Louise plans to
continue to work a few hours
in the week at Schaefer's. In
honour of Louise's retire-
ment, last week Schaefer's
offered a four-day sale, of 20
- 50 percent off
merchandise.
After growing up in the
business, helping her dad
with odd jobs around the
store as a young child,
working as a full time
employee to then become
Store Manager and eventu-
ally sole owner, Louise has
very fond memories of the
store and the legacy her
family has left with
Schaefer's Ladies Wear.
Having her father and
uncle to shadow and learn
the intricacies of the busi-
ness from, Louise
explained how lucky she
was to learn from these two
mentors, in order to
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successfully maintain a
family business.
According to Louise,
Schaefer's can attest their
success and impact on the
community to consistency,
striving to be the best in cus-
tomer service, good value
products and following
trends.
"I had two great teachers.
They taught me the morals of
business, and about how to
really serve the community -
to find out what they need,
what they want to buy, and
be there for them," said
Louise.
Photos by Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Star
Louise Schaefer (right) passes ownership of the store to her
daughter Anne.