By Ted Albenesius
Contributing Writer

Entrepreneurship can ignite a spark of motivation within those who never thought of themselves as leaders. The chance to set the direction for a new business, inspire employees and pursue long-held dreams often turns dreamers into doers.

Every entrepreneur has a motivation for becoming a business owner. Some people love their chosen occupation, and nothing makes them happier than building a successful business around it.

They enjoy meeting and helping people. They are enthusiastic and positive around everyone, especially customers and employees. They know that a positive outlook can generate a can-do attitude among employees, as well as goodwill among customers.

Successful business owners are optimistic about their business’ direction and have a clear picture of the results they seek. They are proactive in encouraging employees to share in the company vision and become more vested in the company’s success.

That same business owner projects a sense of confidence, which reassures both employees and customers, that this is a stable and successful business.

There is power in positive thinking, leading by example and in motivating those around you.

Local enthusiasm

Penny Vaigneur, founder and president of P & F Inc./DBA Copper Penny, used her enthusiasm, optimism and confidence, along with a dose of business know-how from her local Service Corp of Retired Executives office, to build a successful family business.

Her small business, the retail store Copper Penny, was born from the urging of Vaigneur’s friends, who were tired of traveling to large cities to buy designer clothing.

“I decided to make my dream a reality by offering Charleston and Mount Pleasant residents a boutique that would specialize in impeccable customer service as well as unique, stylish clothing,” Vaigneur said.

In 1993, six years after establishing their first Copper Penny store, Penny and her husband, Fred Vaigneur, the secretary/treasurer and co-owner of Copper Penny, called on SCORE counselors Charles Kennerty and Bud Garforth to help them with marketing and in finding a new and larger retail location for their rapidly expanding business.

Fred Vaigneur attended one of SCORE’s small business seminars to learn more about business expansions. Penny Vaigneur worked with Garforth on relocating the original business to a new and improved store at 280 Coleman Blvd. Garforth also helped the Vaigneurs write a new business plan to accommodate their business’ expansions.

In 1999, the Vaigneurs expanded their operation and increased their customer base with a second store in downtown Charleston at 311 King St.

What began as a small boutique in 1986 with a staff of two is now a family business run by Penny, her husband and their three sons. The business has grown to 40 employees.

There are three clothing stores, two SHOOZ stores and one bridal and special occasion store. Four stores are located in Mount Pleasant and two in historic Charleston. The store Web site is www.shopcopperpenny.com.

The Vaigneurs keep their bankers at The Bank of South Carolina well informed and credit their work with Kennerty and Garforth at the SCORE office for assisting them in their business’ healthy growth.

Ted Albenesius is a retired Charleston businessman and past chairman of the local SCORE chapter.

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