Catan Fashions, Catan Events and Catan Prom Proprietor Patrice Catan to Retire at End of 2016
Strongsville, Ohio (PRWEB) February 02, 2016 -- Patrice Catan, proprietor of Catan Fashions, Catan Events and Catan Prom has announced she will retire at the end of 2016. Catan Fashions will continue to take “special order” wedding gowns, bridesmaid and special occasion dresses through February 29. Starting today, Catan Fashions begins its Retirement Sales that includes all in stock merchandise. Once all sales are completed at the end of the year, Catan Fashions will stop operations, and will not be sold to another bridal salon operator.
“This is not about closing; this is about retiring,” said Patrice Catan. “I don’t have to close. I choose to close. I choose to close because it’s time for the second chapter in my life to continue. It’s time for me to spend time with my nine grandchildren, and my children, and to enjoy life to the fullest before time runs out. None of us know when that is. I’ve officially worked for 51 years of my life. It’s time to say goodbye.”
Catan first learned how to run a business from her father, Pat Catan, who began Pat Catan’s Craft Centers. With the knowledge she gained while working for her father, as well as his full support behind her, Catan opened her bridal salon in 1990. She grew the business into the country’s largest bridal store, with 54,000 square feet of space that includes a runway, three salons, 65 dressing rooms and 27 seamstresses for alterations.
“I went in with integrity, and I stand by my father’s name. I will go out with integrity,” said Catan. “Please don’t panic; I know the reaction in the bridal industry. ‘Oh my god, she’s closing. I won’t get my dress, I won’t get it altered. Something will go wrong.’ You have my word, nothing will happen. This is simply a retirement and a wind down starting now, so that I can efficiently take care of every customer that has touched my hand.”
Catan Events will continue to be operated by current Director of Events Brenda Kucinski, who will take over as the owner under the name Socially Artistic. Kucinski first began working for Catan in 1997 as the salon’s bridal express manager, and has worked her way up to overseeing all aspects of event planning, coordination and execution for Catan Events.
“I have complete confidence that Brenda will thrive in this position. She has been our director of events since the day Catan Events started, and grew it from its birth. She’s the backbone of what made it work and what makes it today. I feel extremely comfortable giving it over to her,” said Catan.
Although she is sad to retire, Catan said she feels in her heart it is the right thing to do, and is grateful for everyone who has supported Catan Fashions during the last 25 years. She said, “I thank you for your patronage. I thank you for your loyalty. And I thank you for breathing life into me every day of the week. I will be constantly thinking of all of you as you progress through your days.”
About Patrice Catan and Catan Fashions
Born Patrice Catanzarite, Patrice Catan is an entrepreneur in the bridal business. In 1988, Catan approached her father, Pat Catan, an entrepreneur who began the successful Pat Catan’s Craft Centers, with a new idea. A designer by trade, she wanted to open a bridal salon. With her father’s enthusiastic support, she launched Catan Bridal in 1990, with a 2,000 square-foot store. From its modest beginnings, Catan Fashions is now the country’s largest bridal store, with 54,000 square feet of space that includes a runway, three salons, 65 dressing rooms and 27 seamstresses for alterations. Catan has earned numerous business awards, including the Gold Award for Best Bridal Retail, every year since 2003.
Patrice Catan, Catan Fashions, http://www.catanfashions.com, +1 (440) 238-6664, [email protected]
Share this article