Their Life's Work: Batavia consignment shop owner now livestreams fashion shows
Illinois has more than 1 million small businesses. Each proprietor has a story to tell about how things have changed dramatically for them with the onset of the coronavirus, how they’re adapting, how they’re trying to hold it together and how their life’s work hangs in the balance. Here is another profile of three suburban small business owners in the third part of a continuing series.
Paula Mueller worked at a consignment shop in Aurora for six years but, after a divorce, decided to go into business for herself 16 months ago.
Paula's Couture Consignment in Batavia is a one-woman operation. "It's sort of my remake," she said.
Mueller feels she can weather the economic storm because she has kept her expenses low. To keep sales flowing, she has started to livestream fashion shows every Wednesday evening.
"Everyone wants to help initially, but then you start to settle in, and it's the settling in that I worry about," she said.
- Jeff Knox
• Do you know of a suburban small business with a compelling story to tell about working through the pandemic? Send photo director Jeff Knox a detailed email with LIFE'S WORK in the subject line at jknox@dailyherald.com, and we'll consider it.