She squealed with delight when she saw the delivery van pull up to the curb, as the young lady knew the only package coming that week contained an order she hoped would end her futile search. Hardly waiting to finish her signature and close the door, she tore open the package, immediately greeted by the sight of sparkle and extravagance. As she lifted the jacket up – the one she had been yearning for online – she knew immediately it was meant to be hers. Slipping her arm inside, first one and then the other, she zipped it up carefully, and the luxury embraced her. She quickly stepped to the front hall mirror and gazed at her reflection, wondering how it was possible that the jacket looked like it was made just for her.
Grabbing her phone off the table, she scrolled through her emails, hitting reply when she saw the words, “Show Me Again,” and she happily typed, “I’ll be keeping the jacket, Wendy. It fits perfectly, and I love it! Thank you for the great service.”
The young lady’s words echo what have become a familiar sounds to Wendy Brown, President of Show Me Again Enterprises. The innovative show clothing company, now in its fifteenth year of business, has become known for customer service, quality, and unique features to make purchasing easy from afar with a Try Before You Buy option, a generous return policy, and extensive searching online searching capabilities, and a mobile unit to serve customers at shows.
Behind the Scenes
It isn’t just by chance that a business serving the ever-evolving horse industry has lasted this long. “Show Me Again has stood the test of time because of our undying commitment to the business and popularity amongst competitors. I really have to thank the clients and customers for always providing me such great merchandise to sell, and customers frequenting my website and mobile unit to peruse the treasures. We try to be selective and offer pieces for the discriminating, high-fashion minded buyer, but we do offer selections that are great for those starting out as well,” says Wendy.
Of course, it really was no mistake that the business thrived with Wendy as the driving force. While it’s true she grew up showing Quarter Horses and was well-connected to the industry when she purchased the business started by Suzannah Fuhrman (the co-founder of GoHorseShow.com), there was already much more to the William Woods University graduate armed with a Business Administration and Equestrian Science degree. It was the example set by her parents that inspired her to be an innovator and leader.
The Early Days
“My parents Ed and Twylla Brown were high school sweethearts and married nearly 50 years. They are my role models and raised me in way to instill deep work ethics and exposed me to many different aspects of life,” Wendy reveals.
Working as a CNC programmer all day, Ed eventually grew his side business of customizing handguns to a full-time venture, and the whole family became involved, which gave Wendy some very early management training. “Responsibilities like payroll, taxes, exports, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, trade shows, bookkeeping and all aspects of running a business were being learned by the entire family,” she says.
When her dad bought out a printing press business, Wendy and her brother ran it from the same garage where he started his handgun business. “We did that as teenagers, mainly printing for my dad, but also taking a few outside jobs. Eventually, technology replaced the old printing press and cutter but that was the first experience I had running a business of my own.”
Throughout it all, Wendy’s mom was her inspiration, who juggled the business along with her primary role as a stay at home mom with three small children. “We lived on 10 acres with horses, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and lots of room to roam. I feel so fortunate that she was there to taxi me and my 2 brothers to activities non-stop. I was involved in dance, gymnastics, and all sports and 4-H, which exposed me to and active lifestyle as well as sewing, crafting, ham curing, rabbits, demonstrations, public speaking and most importantly, was my start to showing horses. My mom was also passionate about horses, bribing me with a pony when I was a toddler to stop sucking my thumb!”
It was when Wendy’s own life as a mother began that she desired to be like her role model, Twylla. “In 2006 I gave birth to my first baby girl, and my whole world changed from that moment. I knew that being present for the milestones, being primary caregiver and simply being a mom like the kind of mom I had growing up, would be the most important job that I would ever hold. The rigid hours and demands of my employment at the time would not allow for the flexibility or challenges that I craved so a change was necessary to provide the life I wanted for myself and my children.”
So when the opportunity came along to further develop the business sold to her by Fuhrman, Wendy was thrilled. “Selling Show Me Again was necessary so she could focus her efforts on the development of GoHorseShow.com. It was really the perfect fit, perfect timing, and perfect answer to fulfill my dreams. I felt very fortunate to be able to take over and grow what she had cultivated from the beginning.”
Show Me Again Today
Show Me Again became a fast favorite of customers because of Wendy’s past, and her enthusiasm for the future.
“I like to follow in my father’s footsteps to always to set the precedent for others to follow, and to be an innovator and a leader,” she says. “I’m really kind of a nerd when it comes to technology and implementing it, so the majority of what you see on the website has come to fruition from countless hours creating this amazing consignment structure, and the ordering and inventory tracking system that is simply unparalleled. Extreme attention to detail while serving the best interests of both the customer and consignor is always my goal. The development of our state of the art website is my biggest accomplishment.”
What customers get when they call, or log on, or access Show Me Again through social media is, therefore, a pretty unique experience. Wendy explains there are other differences that set Show Me Again apart, too.
“Show Me Again is solely a consignment business. While there are many clothing businesses that offer consignment choices along with their own lines, I believe SMA is superior because I don’t manufacture my own line or carry other products, and I don’t have any other agenda other than selling clothes for consignors. We find the perfect outfit for clients while doing it extremely efficiently.”
What Customers and Consignors Want to Know
Because of the efficient and unmatched buying experience offered, new designer apparel joined the consignment line-up. “Everyone associates Show Me Again with used clothes because that is what our name suggests. However, I have been extremely successful in working with designers directly selling their brand new pieces and have forged trusted relationships in order to do so effectively. I would encourage designers who want to focus on the design, artistry and creation of new inventory to try out the consignment process with Show Me Again. My goal for the consignor after they send their clothes is to sit back and let me do the work for them. We turn show clothing into cash and pay our consignors promptly.”
Wendy also wants readers to know that SMA works with many different breeds, and no one should feel their merchandise is too big or too small. “If we don’t think we can help you, we can direct you somewhere that can better help you. Also, we don’t pressure customers to buy just for the sake of a sale. I feel most fortunate when dealing with people who are new to the world of showing and I can educate them on their purchases. I encourage budget friendly options that will stand the test of time,” she explains.
“Whatever you decide, make sure your outfit makes you FEEL like a million bucks. That feeling will translate into confidence and if you feel good you will look good and put on a great performance with your partner,” Wendy advises. “But if you ever need any advice on what to wear, feel free to pick up the phone and call me. I would be happy to talk show clothes with you!”
