The Voice of Southwest Louisiana February 2018 Issue

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SWLA feature story Community 1st Entrepreneur Sharon Gilbeaux-Brown Edwina Medearis Edwina Medearis Pictured L-R: Christopher Medearis, Jeanette Medearis- Colston, Rogerella Medearis, Edwin Medearis Mrs. Edwina Medearis is the proud owner of Medearis' Costumes, Gifts, and Balloons. Medearis' Costumes offer costume rentals and sales for adults and children. Additional services offered are make-up, masks and formal accessories such as gloves, some themed jewelry, and crowns for women and men. Tux Plus (also an entity of this enterprise) offers tuxedos (After Six, Raffinati, Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors) for men and formal dresses for women and children. Christening attire for both infants and older children, formal shirts, ties and vests in all the colors to match the varied colors of dresses. She has put many years of hard work and hours into building her business which has become her legacy. Here is a one- onone snapshot into the life of Mrs. Edwina Medearis. Edwina Medearis moved to Lake Charles in 1976 with her husband and four children. Already a Registered Nurse, she did student teaching at Lake Charles High School under the leadership of Mr. Falgout and Mr. Daniel Ieyoub, and taught as a relief instructor to LPN students at Moss Regional Hospital for Sowela. She is a graduate of McNeese State University with a B.S. degree in Psychology and a teaching minor in Biology. Mrs. Medearis has worked in the hospital as a staff nurse and middle management as night supervisor, head nurse and surgical unit director. She has worked on the medical/surgical units, oncology, psych., cardiac and telemetry. She has worked several years in home health and now works part time in a psych. hospital. She has served as a member of various organizations in Lake Charles starting out the very first year of arriving in Lake Charles as a parent for some fund-raising events at Our Lady Queen of Heaven fall festivals. She has served on various boards including the Arts and Humanity Council board, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau board, the MLK board, Crime Stopper board, the music museum board and is presently a member of the Louisiana Democratic Central committee representing District 34, and others. She is the Founder of two Mardi Gras Krewes, La Krewe Des Gens Extraordinaire of Lake Charles and La Krewe Des Gens Content. She has been nominated and received various awards and has belonged to other clubs throughout the community. She even dipped her hand in politics, running for State Representative in 2007 and Calcasieu Parish School Board in 2014, Medearis learned that if you want to make positive changes in your community, you must be involved. Medearis' Costumes, Cards, Gifts and Balloons was created out of a need for having a diverse cultural greeting card company that looked like the variety of women and mothers in my community. In the 1980’s, when she went to buy a greeting card for her mother, there were not the variety of birthday and mother’s day cards that represented what her mother looked like as we now have on the shelves today. After going to market in Dallas to find companies that would supply her with those cards and gifts, she found a Vendor that was marketing Costumes and he convinced her to add costumes to her idea. A second reason for opening her business was her mother. Her mom was a professional and a business owner and always encouraged her to have more than one source of income throughout her young life. Louisiana is a wonderful state to live in and the need for costumes is all year round. From Mardi Gras costumes to the Easter bunny and passion plays in church to Pirate days, celebrating the 4th of July to Halloween and the passion events during Christmas to themed parties all year long, all serve to the advantage of keeping the doors open as compared to some other states. Valentine and special occasions always call for Singing Telegrams and the Stripping Gorilla. After adding the tuxedo company, Tux Plus and Formal Dresses in 1989, prom, wedding tuxedos and homecoming attire fills my second store. She also attends trade shows and takes as many classes to keep up to date on new products coming out for the industry. She networks with other businesses in the area, and if she does not have a product that her customers may need, she will call other companies in pursuit of what her customers require. 22 February 2018 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 7
A life lesson that she has learned is that when you see a person who is successful in business, know that it happens by that businessperson staying up late and getting up early to meet the needs of their customzer. Mrs Mederasis stated, “I am inspired by the support of this community for new businesses opening. The new technology that is offered through classes at the Chamber, McNeese and its small business administration, the Convention and Visitor Bureau, the SW Louisiana Alliance, the Library and other opportunities is beneficial to all, even if you have been a business owner for years. “ She also responded, “I owe all my success as a Nurse and a Business owner to the glory of God and the wonderful people who have come into my store and have kept me in business for these years. My four children have been my inspiration and now give me advice as to the trends and business knowledge that they have. I have seven grandchildren who will benefit from the knowledge that my experience has blessed me.” Mrs. Medearis took the time to give this advice to future business owners: “My advice to those who want to go into business is to research the business and industry first before investing in it, join trade organizations of the business and go to their events and workshops. Learning bookkeeping and the tax laws is very important, have more than one source of income, not take NO as an answer to your ideas in what you truly want. Surround yourself with positive people and ask a mentor for help. Be careful who you share your ideas with and invest in yourself through books, tapes and seminars.” She stated that since they have both businesses side by side, they do alterations on formal and personal clothing all year round, especially in their slower season. They have recently updated their website to www. tuxplusandformaldresses.com and are building a Facebook page. Her four adult children grew up in the business and have learned business ethics and are pursuing their own careers. She hopes all seven grandchildren will pursue businesses in their future. She certainly will continue to keep them encouraged in that pursuit. Medearis is located at 2619 Ryan Street and Tux Plus and Formal Dresses is next door at 2623 Ryan Street to meet customer needs. “I am so thankful for all of my customers who have supported me throughout these 35 years with their prayers and their financial purchases,” she says. Mrs. Medearis prides herself and her staff on meeting the needs of their customers and assisting them with all their special occasions. Come by or call today. We are happy to serve you! Email Medearis: at mdmsed@aol.com, medeariscostumes@aol.com, or call 337.436.7812 for your special appointment! “Let us dress you up” Open Mon - Fri: 10AM – 6PM Sat: 10AM – 3PM www.tuxplusandformaldresses.com or call 337.436.7812 2623 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana Volume 5 • Number 7 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM February 2018 23
Page 1 and 2: February 2018 Vol 5 No 7 Community
Page 3 and 4: editor’s By Brenda Hill Be My Val
Page 5 and 6: SWLA news Editor’s Note: This ser
Page 7 and 8: An artist's rendering of Legacy Wal
Page 9 and 10: months for regular check-ups and cl
Page 11 and 12: INGREDIENTS Good dental health is a
Page 13 and 14: SWLA health, wealth & wellness Info
Page 15 and 16: MARDI GRAS BEADS TheMardiGrasLady.c
Page 17 and 18: PHOTOGRAPHY Volume 5 • Number 7 W
Page 19 and 20: enables us to remain strong in the
Page 21: Nature's Foods The human body is Go
Page 25 and 26: Our community is talking, and we’
Page 27: I love people and kids and I love t

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