Andrea Pena imagined she would spend years working her way up the corporate ladder at a fashion giant like Nordstrom. In 2011, however, a hard-to-beat opportunity presented itself and she took it, resulting in an award-winning Springfield boutique that focuses on contemporary, casual fashions.
Pena, who graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s in fashion merchandising, bought an existing boutique on south Campbell Avenue in 2011 and renamed it Modern Society. In 2014, the retail store won the Downtown Springfield Association’s Downtown Business of the Year award. Pena credits her loyal customers for the honor.
“The Downtown Springfield Association narrows it down to five businesses, and then they put it out there for people to vote, and so of course we pushed it through our social media.”
Her secret to building a large clientele in just three years: diverse target market, exclusive brands and outstanding customer service.
“There are really not a lot of other stores that have men’s clothing; I think that sets us apart,” she said. “We also go out of our way to do things for the customer, like sending ‘Thank You’ cards.”
Pena wasn’t planning to run her own business as a student — her goal was to be a buyer for an established fashion firm. After graduation, she worked as an assistant women’s buyer with Bass Pro at their corporate offices.
At that time, she was a customer of the venue that became Modern Society. “I had already gotten to know the owner of that store, and she knew my background. … She needed to sell the store, because she was moving.” She asked Pena: Would you be interested?
“I went home and talked to (my husband). The next night we went to dinner with her, and about four weeks later, we had Modern Society. It happened really fast. It was just from me shopping here and getting to know her, and her knowing what my passion was.”
Her education prepared her for the quick change. As a marketing minor, she took advertising classes that continue to help her grow the business.
The class that resonates the most with her, however, is entrepreneurship: “It was basically starting a business from the ground up; it was very real-world. Once the business plan was put together, we actually had to take it to a bank.” The bank then told the students whether or not they would be approved for a business loan if this were a real scenario. “We had to put in every aspect you can think of, from finding a location down to ordering price tags.”
Now, she takes advantage of opportunities to give back to Missouri State — not just through monetary donations, but also in time and advice.
“I still keep in touch with (assistant professor) Jenifer Roberts. I felt like she was my professor and also my mentor. I speak to some of her classes, and last spring I was on a panel for prospective students who were thinking about the fashion program.”
Modern Society boutique — which recently moved to an expanded space in south Springfield — is also going to be a part of the University’s spring 2015 Association of Fashion and Design fashion show.
“Any way that I can, I still try to stay connected.”
— By Trysta Herzog, Missouri State University office of publications