Lois Gean's, world-renowned boutique, nestled just south of the Ozark Mountains in the quaint college town of Magnolia, Arkansas, had it's beginning in 1948 as a modest gift shop founded by Lois Gean Kelly. Kelly established herself a true entrepreneur, and herself and her boutique, Lois Gean's, an icon around the world in designer fashion and precious gifts.
Lois Gean learned early in life to be independent and aggressive in a man's world. Her father died young and left wife, three daughters and a young son to struggle in the World War II era. Mrs. Gean took in washing, and Lois and her sisters did what they could to supplement their income. After graduating from Sheridan High School, Lois moved to Magnolia to attend Arkansas A & M (now Southern Arkansas University). Seemingly undaunted by obstacles, she walked to class every day and paid her own tuition with money earned from teaching piano and "expression" classes. After graduating she took a job as a school teacher in Magnolia. It became obvious to the community that Lois Gean, at an early age, looked at life unconventionally. She almost lost her job by not "dressing the part" - stopped on the street by a school board member, she was told her attire, a smart sundress and sandals that revealed her red painted toe-nails, was not the sort of clothing worn by a schoolmarm.
Mrs. Gean and Lois' brother moved to Magnolia and were living with Lois when she met her future husband, Jim Kelly. Lois, reluctant to accept a marriage proposal due to her mother's failing health, finally after two years of dating, married in 1952. One might imagine Kelly's modest upbringing to be the driving force behind her journey into the fashion world, and some ways it was. She was determined to have the money to pay her bills, a constant struggle for her parents when she was young. So even after her marriage, she continued to work, taking an evening job working at the circuit clerk's office after school, and on Saturdays working at First National Bank of Magnolia...all this in addition to her teaching job! Lois remembered that time as having more money than she had ever dreamed of having. By the time she left the bank she had held positions in virtually every department and had trained 30 men in those positions, only to see them get the promotions and recognition.
Kelly took hold of her own destiny and plunged into the business world. As an owner she realized she would be in control. Pioneering an unconventional idea - that women could succeed in business - she took her savings of $2500 and started her own bookstore with merchandise brought home from the market in Dallas. With $1500 worth of Hallmark fixtures, cards, and books and $100 worth of beautiful handkerchiefs, she started the store now known as Lois Gean's in a 13 x 40 ft. room just off the square in downtown Magnolia. Even though she didn't know what was going to go in them, any extra money went into bins for the walls and racks for the floors. The long hours Lois spent in the store, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week, with Sunday left for tying up loose ends, paid off. Even then she strove to give her customers what they asked for. In 1952, after her son Patrick was born, her customers asked her to carry more personal items and she added her first clothing line. Although she didn't have the money, she took a chance and ordered her first line of sportswear, sold all, and ordered more.
Though Lois passed away in 2003, the store lives on in an atmosphere saturated with warm southern hospitality that makes Lois Gean's an exceptional place to shop. Ask any of the loyal customers that frequent this extraordinary store - Lois Gean Kelly made it her purpose to develop a life-long association with the customer that augments the traditional premise.
Kathy Kendrick Gean, who joined the staff in 1982, and Lois' nephew John Gean, who later married Kathy & joined the staff, now own and run the shop. They are devoted to preserving the reputation for quality and excellence and personal service instilled in them by working side by side and travelling with Lois for 2 decades.
Lois Gean Kelly gave her entire professional career to making your trip to Lois Gean's an enjoyable successful experience. Truly an inspiration to women everywhere, Lois Gean Kelly and Lois Gean's has been featured in Women's Wear Daily, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Southern Living, At Home in Arkansas, and Arkansas Business Weekly. A remarkable woman by anyone's standard, Lois Gean Kelly made her mark in history and takes her rightful place as an icon in the world of fashion.
