Sisters Carrie Taylor and Kim Ydel, and their mother Joan Smith opened Three Pears Boutique in 2005, their debut in the fashion retail business. Two decades later, while the trio doesn’t overtly market the shop this way, they certainly lean into being a woman-owned store as a unique identity.
“We built the business together,” smiled Taylor. “Our story is an integral part of the boutique’s image, but we focus on fashion and service - to our customers as well as the community as a whole.”
Three Pears prioritizes giving back to local charities that provide clothing and shoes to those in need. “It’s a shared passion between the three of us,” she said.
Taylor is a graduate of Good Hope High School. She was just starting out in her personal career journey when she opened Three Pears with her sister and mom. It was the perfect opportunity to turn her lifelong love of fashion into an entrepreneurial adventure. Over the years, she's become the primary buyer and stylist for the store, and a well-known local female entrepreneur.
Ydel brought a corporate background to the family business. Before joining Three Pears, she earned her degree from The University of Alabama and worked in marketing and pharmaceutical sales. She served as a marketing coordinator at Altec, Inc. and a pharmaceutical representative for Forest Laboratories, giving her experience in sales, customer relations and business operations. In 2005, Ydel pivoted to entrepreneurship, teaming up with her mother and sister to start Three Pears. In the shop’s daily operations, she handles marketing efforts and is very involved in buying.
Taylor and Ydel’s mother, Smith, went from being a supportive mother with a keen eye for style to becoming a first-time business owner when Three Pears opened. She has been a co-owner and principal of the boutique’s corporation ever since, bringing significant life experience and organizational skills to the trio’s venture.
All three shared advice for aspiring young businesswomen:
- Follow your passion: Build a business doing something you genuinely love! Your passion will sustain you through the hard work of starting and running a business.
- Be patient and seize the right opportunity: Prepare and stay ready – when God opens a door, don’t be afraid to walk through it. Timing and persistence both matter.
- Gain experience and skills: Educate yourself and gather skills that will help your business. Learn the ropes through college, jobs or mentorship in relevant fields like business, marketing or fashion.
- Start small and grow gradually: Begin with what you can manage and let your business evolve. It’s often better to start modestly, nail your niche and build from there. Growth will come with hard work and good customer service.
- Embrace community and give back: Stay involved in your community and use your business as a platform for good. Supporting local causes not only enriches others, but also builds a positive reputation for your brand.
All three woman said working with family is a strength and part of the success of their business. Even the next generation, Taylor’s girls and Ydel’s girls, love coming and helping any chance they get.
“Starting Three Pears together was a family affair,” said Taylor. “Our faith, goals and values were aligned from the start, and most importantly, there’s a built-in support system.”
Indeed, the atmosphere of the boutique reflects that. Customers frequently remark on the welcoming feel, with an easy camaraderie between mother and daughters and a genuine, positive and lots of times, funny vibe, with jokes flowing easily.
Additionally, the store’s other employees, Susan Nesmith and Emily Graves, have worked with the trio for almost a decade, and are considered family.
Taylor said, “All five of us cherish our time spent together at the shop. We’re doing what we love, and we’re doing it together. And the business is thriving - we recently celebrated our 20th anniversary! We can’t ask for more than that!”
Three Pears is located at 118 Fifth St. SE in Cullman.
www.threepearscullman.com
“Our faith, goals and values were aligned from the start, and most importantly, there’s a built-in support system.”
Carrie Taylor