Women owners celebrate success in Lewes shops

What would distinguish two women owners of downtown Lewes shops when they began careers as shop owners?

Sandy Phelan was a regulatory public affairs officer for a trade association in Washington, D.C. Lou Braithwaite was a counselor in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Delaware. They were both professionals but had no retail experience.

The women (and Gavin, Lou’s husband) liked the Lewes lifestyle and wanted to make their living here. Seeing other women owners in Lewes made it seem possible.

“Shops owned by women are not that unusual here,” said Betsy Reamer, executive director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. “Our shops today are mostly owned by women. The restaurants are split between men and women.”

The two women’s paths crossed when Phelan became a frequent customer at the Stepping Stone gallery of American handmade crafts which the Braithwaites owned for 13 years. In the fall of 2004, Sandy saw a for sale sign in the gallery’s window.

“I went into the gallery and asked Lou how she could possibly sell this beautiful shop,” Phelan said. “She suggested that I consider buying it.” In May of 2005, she took the plunge and bought the Stepping Stone.

Today, the Stepping Stone is alive and well, and celebrating its 20th anniversary. The two women are justly proud of its success.

Also in 2005, Lou opened the Lewes Gourmet on Front Street, a shop filled with delectable food ingredients from all over the world just a few doors away from the Stepping Stone on Market Street. It’s a new challenge for her and she built on the success of the Union Jack shop featuring British foodstuffs which she and Gavin had previously owned in Lewes.

Lou and Gavin also own the Puzzles shop on Front Street. He was a research veterinarian before owning shops in Lewes.

At the Stepping Stone, Phelan said, “I have absolutely fantastic employees. One of my employees is going to college this fall and I’m saving her position so she can work breaks and during the summer.” She also employs two local artists: Karin Snoots, a painter, and Betsey VonDreele, a fiber artist, for sales help and assistance with displaying artwork.

The Stepping Stone is open 360 days a year. “We are open seven days a week and there is no off season,” said Sandy. “We are active through Christmas.”

Phelan goes to two major craft shows in Baltimore, Md. and Philadelphia, Pa. in February of each year to buy her crafts. “I deal with the artists,” she said. “If I can’t hold the craft in my hands, touch it, turn it over, I don’t buy it.”

January and February of each year may be slower as far as business is concerned, but there is plenty going on at the Stepping Stone. “We clean the gallery, patch and paint the walls, and scrub the wood floor," said Phelan. The historic building dates back to 1947. It’s not unusual for her to be seen climbing a six-foot ladder to work on the walls during this time of year. This is also the time for re-arranging the shop’s crafts in anticipation of new work coming into the shop.

In March, April and May, the boxes of crafts start arriving,” Phelan said. “It takes muscles to lift the heavy boxes and unload them. But, by Memorial Day, our gallery is ready for the summer.”

Even before she took over the gallery, Phelan hired a good accountant and lawyer. “You have to be able to earn a living,” she said. Lou added, “You need to have intelligence, energy and dedication to do this work. Beyond that, you have to love what you do.” Both women said they were fortunate in having good building owners, Ted Becker and Joe Stewart.

“We owe a lot of our success to Ted and Joe,” said Lou. “Over the years, they have given us valuable help and guidance.”

On the busy shop owners’ wish list for downtown Lewes, is better signage. “We need a sign on Second Street indicating that there are more shops on Market and Front streets,” said both women. “And, we need better signage indicating where the parking is.”

For more information, contact Phelan at the Stepping Stone gallery at 302-645-1254 or Lou Braithwaite at Lewes Gourmet at 302-645-1661.