Who is Patricia Nash Designs at Tanger Outlets and what should we know about you? This retail location is our first outlet store, and we are so proud that it is in our home state of Tennessee! We sell designer leather handbags and accessories, men’s leather goods, luggage, jewelry, scraps and wraps, home products and sunglasses. Our brand is known for exceptional quality leather and handcraftsmanship, inspired by vintage designs and our collections all have a story. We are sold in major retail department stores such as Dillard’s, Macy’s, Belk, Von Maur, and also sold on both QVC and HSN. We are also located in military bases across the country, as well as in a few select airports such as Nashville International, Laguardia NYC, Atlanta and Phoenix.
What has been the most valuable aspect of your Chamber membership? Being connected with the business community. We are all so busy in our daily lives, I know the Chamber is going to keep me updated with news I need to know about it and be there to support us when we need them.
Come join us Friday, May 31st at 12 pm at 4060 Cane Ridge Parkway, Suite 237 Antioch TN 37013 to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Patricia Nash Designs at Tanger Outlets! We are proud to open a location in our home state of Tennessee. Help us welcome our new retail in Nashville and browse our collection of timeless, travel-inspired leather accessories for both men and women.
Can you share a significant lesson you have learned as a business leader?
One of the biggest obstacles in starting the brand was competing with the big dogs! The giant companies in the industry with massive marketing capabilities and resources that I still don’t have:
The most valuable lesson learned is that when you create great emotional product and present it directly to buyers and consumers, you can compete with your powerhouse competitors.
How do you manage and maintain a positive company culture?
We are very hands on and involved in every aspect of the business. We work hard, and I think the team sees that and is inspired by that. But also, we make time for and value family above all else. We make sure they know we support them if they need to take care of something personally or with their family. We have several team members who have been with the company since the very beginning, which shows you the loyalty and commitment we have to each other. Since COVID, we’ve also adopted a partial work-from-home schedule for those whom it may appeal to.
Are there new markets or demographics you are targeting?
We are trying to dig deeper into our sweet spot of women 40+ and really try to expose the brand to more women who just don’t know about our brand, but are looking for a nice leather bag with a great value. We recently did a major research study with focus groups, and the majority of women were unaware of us, but when we introduced them to our bags, they were shocked by the amazing quality. Our brand loyalty and retention is exceptionally high, so it’s clear that when customers try our products, they love them. So really, the next year is hyper-focused on brand awareness.
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
I think what’s unique about the business itself is that Patricia herself is incredibly creative and talented as a designer, yet she also has a very visionary and strategic mindset as an entrepreneur. You don’t often see a designer with sharp business acumen as well. It’s very rare in any industry.
How do you stay informed about industry trends and changes?
We read all the industry journals and get feedback from our retail partners, but we also make a point to spend time in Europe a couple of times a year to see what is coming. They are usually ahead of us in a fashion sense, so the trends we see there seem to trickle down to us later.
What’s the biggest goal for your business in 2024? Brand awareness and gaining market share.
How do you stay involved in the community? We donate product to a lot of wonderful causes throughout the year but we are most involved in supporting the Knoxville Mobile Meals program and the YWCA Knoxville Keys of Hope Program.
What differentiates your business from your competition? Exquisite quality leather and construction with all the functionality you need, at an affordable price. All of our prints are exclusive to us and tell a story.
