wnen me property wnere we are now came up

wnen me property wnere we are now came up tor auction l bought the house * and property here. We talked it over and decided it was a good idea to just put

everything here," April said. “That’s when we got started here. We consolidated ] everything at this one location. We’ve been in business since 1992 and here we are still at it."

“We are like everybody, we see good times and we see some bad ones. But for the way things are right now, we are doing OK. We keep the rent paid,” Betty said with a laugh.

“One thing I want to say Yes it is my mother’s and my names on the papers, but this is a family business. Our family has suffered a lot for us. My sisters have always helped us any time we needed them," April said. “That’s one reason we kept the name AAA on the business. It stands for me (April), Amanda and Allison (her sisters.) My Oad helped us get started and we still couldn’t do without him. And my husband (James Wilson) has been great too. He has pulled his share, especially during prom time when it’s not unusual for us to rent 400 tuxedoes in a weekend. All our family has helped. You can truly say this is a family business. It’s not easy. It keeps you going six and seven days a week. You have to work hard to make it. But we manage to get our bills paid so I guess you could say we are doing pretty good."

“You have to like people; there is no other way,” Hagerman said when asked the secrets of their success. “And they have to like you too. You be truthful to them and folks will think good of you. That’s the only way to be in this business. And it helps that April can sell anything. I mean she can sell absolutely anything."

Wilson agreed with her mom, "I love it (the business) I really do love it. I like helping people find what they need. I can’t imagine doing anything else now. It is the only thing for me.”

AAA Bridal Warehouse is located at 22081 US Hwy. 19 in Cedar Bluff and may be reached at (276) 880-1121.

By ROBERT CAHILL/Correspondent J