Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Margaret Brown
Owner, All Together Unique Clothing and Accessories
By Lori Tucker, United Bank’s Chief Experience Officer
Margaret Brown serves as a director on United Bank's Griffin Advisory Board. I’ve known Margaret for many years and have a great respect for her as owner of All Together Unique Clothing & Accessories, a boutique in Griffin. I was very fond of her late parents, Henry and Rebecca Walker, too. Mr. Walker served on our United Bank Corporation board, and her mother was my third grade Sunday School teacher.
After receiving a BA in Visual Arts from Eckerd College, Margaret discovered her love for retail and merchandising while working in boutiques in North Carolina and Atlanta. She returned to her hometown of Griffin to manage the Dundee/Springmaid Wamsutta home goods store but longed to return to fashion. Her husband, David, found a prime location and encouraged her to take the leap in 1997. That was 25 years ago.
All Together is a favorite of many, including myself. Margaret and her staff always take the time to ask what you are shopping for and the occasion, then browse the store recommending items to meet specific customer needs. They take special care in packaging up purchases, and often call customers after the sale to see how the new dress worked for the occasion.
Margaret employs a number of part-time students, young women who enjoy the trends in fashion and need a job that accommodates school schedules. She makes it her mission to cultivate the foundations of good customer service, listening and paying attention to each guest. These are skills that her employees will use throughout their lives, possibly in their own businesses one day.
Her advice for new entrepreneurs, dreaming of opening a business? “Ask lots of questions of trusted business owners and let them help you when they offer.” She marvels at the recent spike in women-owned businesses throughout her community. Remembering those who assisted her when she began her journey, she enjoys doing the same.
I asked her what it was like to keep it all going through the pandemic. She laughs and replies, “I had to get creative.” She worked with associates to improve her website and began posting outfits and accessories on social media, taking orders digitally and by phone. David drove her around the community to deliver packages on buyers’ front steps during the day. She’s thankful that those days are behind us all, enjoying her All Together community in person again.
As a small business owner, Margaret brings valuable perspective to the United Bank advisory board, and regularly offers input for strategies to serve our customers. We appreciate her business acumen and love for community, as well the energy she devotes to every commitment she makes.
This spotlight is a feature in United Bank's 2022 issue of Our Story. You can read more about other great small businesses in our communities and how United Bank has helped them reach their business goals.