Giltters gets special honor

Ironton in Bloom has honored Glitters with its first Business Award for 2011. The new formal wear store at 119 South Third St. is owned by Tracy Ferguson and has been open since January.

“Business has been phenomenal!” Tracy said. “There was nowhere for people to go for formal wear on this side of the river, and we’re getting customers from Gallia County, Kentucky, all around. God has really blessed us with this location. We outgrew our store in Coal Grove and really needed a place to expand… I think Ironton is so beautiful in the summer with the flowers everywhere!”

Tracy has sent out color catalogs to hundreds of prom-age students from a special mailing list, has had exclusively cut gowns made for Glitters only so that customers can be sure they are wearing a one-of-a-kind gown. She has already expanded her stock to include formal children’s wear and christening outfits, and is busy ordering bridesmaid dresses for two weddings.

Even though the present Business Award Committee is made up mostly of men, Glitters received an almost unanimous vote for the Ironton in Bloom award. “The store is so spacious and elegant it reminds me of the old Ironton,” Jan Wolfe, committee chairperson, enthused.

The ornate chandeliers and the spacious dressing rooms with robes for customers to wear between try-ons does bring back memories of the Leader, Gablers, and the Smart Shop, the places to shop in the 50s when Ironton was booming.

“We want to be a real part of the community,” the owner continued. “We are organizing a Teen Board to represent Glitters and to be involved in community affairs.” Applications for the board may be picked up at the store starting this week.

If you would like to nominate an Ironton Business of the Month, e-mail your nomination to irontoninbloom@zoominternet.net, or call Chairperson Jan Wolfe at 532-1030, or mail the business’ name and address to Ironton in Bloom, P.O. Box 4495, Ironton.