LOOKING AT A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY
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Fannin Co. Development Authority
There are many reasons Fannin County has been enjoying an ever increasing number of visitors from around the region. But Candace Youngberg believes, in large part, three reasons stand out.
“Generally speaking,” she says, “people come here for shopping, dining, and a cabin with a view.”
And Youngberg has made it her business to give customers plenty of reasons to keep coming back to the area. In 2013, she opened Crawford Collections in downtown Blue Ridge, a women’s clothing and accessories shop where she strives to make customer service a priority. A majority of her customers are repeat shoppers from out of town. Sometimes, it is far, far out of town.
“We had a visitor from Santa Rosa, California, a while ago, who purchased a jacket,” Youngberg said. “After she returned home, a friend noticed it and asked where it was purchased. After being told it was at a shop in Blue Ridge, Georgia, the friend ended up calling us and buying the same jacket.”
While it is not typical to have buyers from California, Youngberg regularly hosts customers from a wide cross section of the region, including cities in Tennessee, North Carolina, as well as North Georgia.
She believes much of the success of Crawford Collections is a result of its focus on customer service. Don’t like dealing with crowds while shopping? Crawford Collections allows customers to make an appointment, at no charge, for special access before or after normal business hours.
“It is a personal service,” Youngberg said. “Some people don’t enjoy shopping, so we are here to help, showing various options and putting together different combinations of clothing and accessories.”
Youngberg says that she views her business as an extension of her Christian faith, maintaining a prayer board on the wall behind the checkout counter for customers to share their concerns.
“I have prayed with so many women over the years, and they have blessed me with their prayers, too.”
In addition to being active in the local community – volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce and performing with Blue Ridge Community Theater – Youngberg uses Crawford Collections to support a local charity. Twice a year, at the end of the major shopping seasons, Youngberg donates the clothing remaining on the sales rack to the North Georgia Women’s Crisis Network.
“No business wants to end up with extra inventory,” Youngberg said. “But we are pleased to provide it for women who might need it for work or a job interview.”
(You can learn more about local businesses and industries at fannindevelopment.com and thenewsobserver.com).