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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
We read in Proverbs "If thou faint in the days of adversity, thy strength is small." (24:10.)
Adversity is something that Jennifer Baird faced when her husband died last year. The couple, Jennifer and Theron, owned and operated four Hallmark gift shops -- two in the University Mall in Orem, one in Provo and one in Sandy.
Jennifer's father owned and operated nine Hallmark shops in Utah, Arizona and California. After five years in the military, Theron and Jennifer became involved in the Hallmark stores with her father. Twenty years ago they became partners and 12 years ago they branched out on their own.
Jennifer raised her daughters in Hallmark gift stores and now her daughters bring their little toddlers into Hallmark shops they help operate.
After Theron's passing, the responsibilities of running the family business moved to the shoulders of his widow and daughters. They are hard working, bright women, but with little children and grandchildren, they have decided to consolidate the two University Mall stores into one. After having both stores open for 20 years, it was a hard decision.
In business, it seems that the greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skilled pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. Jennifer and her family recognize their challenges and are determined to carry on the family business.
I spoke with Tamara Masters, of the BYU Business Management Department. She and some of her graduate students have been consulting and assisting in the merger of the two stores into Angel's Hallmark in Orem, and in formulating plans and goals for the remaining stores -- Angel's No. 2 in Provo and Suzanna's Hallmark in Sandy.
Jennifer Baird and her family are excited to move forward with these improvements and are determined to carry on the three-generation history of Hallmark stores in Utah.
For Zion Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
