Milli Gould
AGE: 83 COMPANY: Milli WHAT THEY DO: Women’s luxury fashion boutique BEEN AROUND SINCE: 1964 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 27
HOW IT STARTED MILLI:
When I was 12 years old, I went to work for my mother’s friend who had a dress shop on King Street West called Beubes. I wanted to open my own store, which I never did. But then after I had the tragedy of losing my husband and daughter, I was in Florida with my two boys and somebody wanted to introduce me to a man. He (Allen Gould) called me, and I said “Thank you very much, but I’m not interested.” I hung up the phone, and an hour later he was knocking at my door in Florida. We were married six weeks later, and I moved to Pittsburgh with my two children. Unfortunately, he went bankrupt ... We moved back to Hamilton. I started the business just to keep myself busy.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS? MILLI:
We wanted to make a living ... but I always wanted a store of my own.
WHAT ARE YOUR COMPANY VALUES? MARK GOULD (SON):
I think right from the beginning when my parents started the business, it was always about fashion and service, and I don’t think we’ve ever swayed from those two basic principles.
WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED YOU HAD MADE IT? MILLI:
I never have realized that. I always look at every day as a new day.
WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST? MILLI:
Now that I’m in Toronto, I was amazed at all of the people that came and said they bought their wedding dress from me in Hamilton. They bought their bar mitzvah clothes. I thought a few here, a few there, but everyone that has ventured into my Toronto store has been here.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU OVERCOME? BEN GOULD (SON):
Getting over the hump of getting product to Hamilton (persuading vendors to commit to supply contracts).
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU LEARNED? MILLI:
I believe you have to stick to what you believe in, and I think that’s what I did. I didn’t let anything stand in my way.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS? MILLI:
Work hard and think positive.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS? MARK:
Hamilton’s gone through a lot of changes. We’ve really gone from a blue collar economy, to a white collar economy. I think it just changes the whole dynamic of the city, and certainly attracts young professionals to Hamilton.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? MILLI:
I’m happy where I’m at. I’ve come a long way, from a little girl from Hamilton, Ontario, to where I am today.