Who's Who Women in Business

The Perfect Fit { brabar oWner builds on solid foundation } By Shel Zolkewich Crystal Adamson, owner of BraBar & Panterie W omen come in all shapes and sizes, and the goal at The BraBar & Panterie is to make them all comfortable, in a bra that fits and feels great. Crystal Adamson began working part time at the St. Boniface shop when she was just 14. As the new owner of the business, she plans to build on the excellent foundation created by the original owner, her aunt Sharon. After graduating university with a bachelor of commerce degree, Adamson worked in public practice and continued her education, completing her Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 2010. But it wasn't long before the The BraBar was beckoning. "When Sharon decided she wanted to retire, we made a plan for me to return. As soon as I came back, there was no doubt that this is what I was supposed to do," Adamson says. "I love that I get to work on the business side and apply my knowledge and skills as a CA, but am also able to work in the store, interacting with customers and helping women." The BraBar, with St. Boniface and Kenaston Boulevard locations, specializes in bra fittings. Each woman who enters the shop has the benefit of a personal fitter who can help her look and feel her best. "Your bra fitter is your personal shopper, eliminating the frustration most women experience when bra shopping," Adamson says. "We listen to our customers' needs and then select items based on their preference and what will fit. We carry a wide selection of styles, whether a woman is looking for a good basic bra, something sexy or a great sports bra," she says. "We also carry post-surgical and mastectomy products and are one of the approved retailers for the CancerCare breast prosthesis program." Building on her aunt's success, Adamson wants to see the company grow. "Sharon did an amazing job building a business from the ground up, and her focus on bra fitting and customer service is why The BraBar has a great reputation and has been so successful," she says. "Today's customer wants choice and when they come bra shopping they want to leave with items that day. As a result, we have increased our inventory significantly. We have the best selection we've ever had and really try to have lots of options regardless of a woman's size, age or style preferences." In July, the St. Boniface store will move to a new location on Provencher Boulevard. "We were at a crossroads with our Des Meurons location because it was time to update the store and we weren't using our space effectively. I love St. Boniface and really wanted to stay in the area. There are so many great businesses on Provencher and the atmosphere is well suited for boutique stores like The BraBar," she says. Adamson plans to introduce swimwear at the new Provencher store. "Just like a bra, a swimsuit that fits can be very difficult to find," she says. "Over the past several years there have been more and more manufacturers designing cup-sized swimwear. Most of the bra brands we carry offer swimwear lines too." • 28 who's who women in business Adamson's aunt Sharon founded the store. PHOTO By DARCy FINLEy

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