Interview with Nancy Hayner, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I graduated from Syracuse University in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in clothing design and after graduation worked as a buyer for Dey Brothers, a department store owned by Allied Corp in upstate New York. In 1996, I purchased Coughlin’s Clothes from the original owner. Coughlin’s Clothes was a small women’s boutique in upstate New York that had been in existence for 30 years at the time of my purchase. I sold Coughlin’s Clothes and relocated in Denver in 2003 with my family. I opened Moxie in 2004 after assimilating to my family and our new home.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: The intimate shopping experience a woman finds upon entrance at Moxie is one-of-a-kind. Not only do the employees at Moxie know most of our clients by name, but the pieces a woman finds here have something department stores cannot offer customers. From all over the world, ranging from Canada to Italy, the designers we carry brilliantly combine unique style with timeless appeal. Moxie offers a wardrobe that is both polished and bold to sophisticated women in search of luxury designer fashion.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: The complexity of the fashion industry and the attributes of owning a small business are two of the main components that I have reveled in as the owner of Moxie the last 10 years. On a daily basis, I have the privilege of meeting remarkable women and assisting them in capturing their style. Owning a small business and engaging in authentic relationships with my clients has been incredibly gratifying and continues to be today. Additionally, the fashion industry’s ever-changing and stimulating characteristics constantly surprise me. Perhaps the most exciting aspect is having the opportunity to travel, a perk that few occupations entail. Actually getting to see the pieces and experience them in person, before it’s released to the public, is an extraordinary and fulfilling part of the job.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: The challenges that have recently surfaced while owning moxie are revolving around the new age. The world changes faster than it did 20 years ago, and understanding how people shop in an evolving retail world, and then adapting to those predicted actions sometimes seems insurmountable. In order to succeed in such a fast-paced world, I have needed to project women’s decisions well before they are made. I have struggled to anticipate how my customers will react to this phenomena. The relieving thought is, all business owners are facing the same hurdles I am.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: Some people may be surprised to learn that when I am not at Moxie, or in the office, I indulge in my cycling passion.
Profile
Business: Moxie
Address: 5936 S. Holly St., Greenwood Village
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Founded: 2004
Contact: 303-694-0773,
Employees: 5
