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Setting Up Shops On Their Own

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By DAVE NICHOLSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2007

Updated: 09/01/2007 12:33 pm

PLANT CITY - Dale Bliss and Teresa Hatcher had longtime dreams of owning their own businesses.

They don't know each other, but they ended up deciding to make their dreams come true about the same time and just a few doors from each other in shops on Wheeler Street, north of downtown.

'I really wanted to do something that was fun, and my children were growing so fast. I thought, 'how about a gift shop?'' said Hatcher, who opened Teresa's Treasures, Gifts and Collectibles at 1103 N. Wheeler St., Suite B, in the North Wheeler Center shopping plaza in August.

A few days later, Bliss' Strawberry Basket Fabric and Balloon Store opened at 1301 N. Wheeler.

The stores are quite different in their merchandise, but they reflect the visions of two women who decided to strike out on their own after decades of working for others.

Bliss said she thought before venturing into the world of self-employment, 'Now is the time to pursue your dream.'

Hatcher spent more than 20 years in the nursing business, and was raising three children: Sean, 12, Jessica, 10, and Matthew, 4. She tried selling merchandise from home before finding the store on Wheeler for a reasonable rent about a mile south of Interstate 4.

Her shelves are filled with an eclectic collection of the staples of life and treasures. Her inventory includes home decor, clothing, paperback books, a clock with a face depicting the Lord's Supper, and a scene from the Garden of Gethsemane. In a nod to fiance Joel Barfield's favorite sport, she has a collection of NASCAR toys, although none depicts his hero, driver Kasey Kahne.

'I wanted to do a mixture of a little bit of everything,' Hatcher said of her inventory.

She's happy with her decision to go into business for herself with a shop where she meets a variety of customers.

'I've always been a people person. I've taken care of people my whole life,' said Hatcher, who has lived in Plant City four years.

When she was in nursing, she would have to get up at 4 a.m. to get her children to day care by 6 a.m. before heading to work. Now she has the flexibility to enjoy time with them without the marathon days.

Although Hatcher is a relatively new transplant to Plant City, Bliss lives on the small farm where she was raised in the Knights Station community north of town. She spent a lifetime doing secretarial and clerical work but wanted to be her own boss. Her son, contractor Blake Bliss, has offered his mother help that included arranging for her business sign and showering her with words of encouragement.

The logo for her shop includes a Bible verse, in keeping with her religious beliefs. Like Hatcher's, Dale Bliss' shop offers a variety of merchandise: sewing fabric, craft and quilting supplies, balloon sculptures, silk flowers, gift baskets and more. She also delivers balloon bouquets and is organizing classes in sewing, quilting, woodworking and crafts.

Bliss settled on the shop, formerly a communication business, while she was out looking for space. She decided on the location because, 'There's nothing like this on this end of town.'

Bliss said she's glad she seized the opportunity to follow her rainbow.

'I love to meet people and make friends. ... It means a lot to me to see people come in and be happy and satisfied.'

THE STRAWBERRY BASKET FABRIC AND BALLOON STORE
MERCHANDISE: Includes balloon art, gift baskets, craft and quilting supplies and more; classes in quilting, sewing and crafts are forming

ADDRESS: 1301 N. Wheeler St.

HOURS: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

SPECIAL EVENTS: Ribbon cutting with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is 10:30 a.m. today; open house that includes a crafts fair is 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

PHONE: (813) 752-8999 or (813) 752-8994

TERESA'S TREASURES, GIFTS AND COLLECTIBLES

MERCHANDISE: Home decor, clothing, paperbacks, NASCAR toys and more

ADDRESS: 1103 N. Wheeler St., Suite B, in a small plaza, the North Wheeler Center
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PHONE: (813) 759-2222

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432 or dnicholson@tampatrib.com.

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