Fashion has been in Carolyn Hastings' blood since childhood when she began sewing outfits for her cats.
Although Hastings no longer dresses her cats, she has made a career of dressing the women of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the surrounding areas for nearly 50 years.
Growing up, Hastings said, she sewed. "I liked to make things, create and do all that," she said.
Hastings said she and her sister, mainly her, made outfits for the cats.
After adorning the cats in their outfits and bonnets, "they would go under the house and come back without them," she said.
As an adult, Hastings initially worked for other retailers for about 14 years, and then, in 1983, she opened Carolyn's Fashion House in the Bluff Estates Shopping Center.
"I had a career in retail prior to this; I worked for two different boutiques," said Hastings, who worked for Newberry's when it first opened, like "a lot of people did."
Hastings said she also worked at school for a couple of years, as well as stayed at home to take care of her family and raise her children.
"I was a stay-at-home mom for several years when they needed me," Hastings said. "When I got into this, I loved it and never thought about doing anything else. I have been here for 34 years."
Hastings' love of retail factored in her decision to open her own store, as well as the fact "the other merchants I worked for really didn't want to carry the larger sizes," Hastings explained. "I wanted to take care of those ladies; that was one reason, and I just love what I do."
Striking out on her own, Hastings said, wasn't difficult because "I had built a clientele prior in the other stores that I worked at. It really wasn't hard for me.
"It's just that I know this industry so well."
As a buyer, Hastings said, you can "buy what you want to," including different sizes.
"We actually have sizes that will take care of granddaughters, high school, through whatever," she said.
Hastings believes her clothing line fills a niche as many of stores are "definitely not" carrying similar merchandise and sizes.
According to Hastings, the "big-company stores" have their buyers in New York.
"They don't know what we're doing in our town," she said. "They have rules and regulations, but I'm here; I'm an in-store owner."
Hastings said she offers everything from "casual to dressy, picnics to weddings, that should cover most of my styles."
Since opening, Hastings said, she has faced recessions and competition, but "I've prevailed through it all."
Hastings said she still likes "to work and take care of the people, and there's a little bit of travel with it."
At this point, Hastings said, she has no plans for retirement.
"Working is my hobby; I love to work," she said. "I have other hobbies, but I love to work."
Hastings said she may already have considered retirement "if my health had not been good ... but there wasn't a reason for me to (retire). I've always been very active."
Hastings' advice for longevity includes staying active and never giving up or giving in, as well as eating healthy.
"I try to eat healthy ... I'm always on the go," Hastings said. "I'm up and down all the time (in the store). I work six days a week. ... I'm here all the time."
Hastings said there is a lot that goes on at the store that nobody ever knows, including marketing, merchandising and putting the clothing out.
"I have a good staff, but it's mainly on me," she said. "I think that is a key too; if you can surround yourself with a good staff."
Hastings said she and her staff are all about customer service.
"We like to give them the amount of service they need, but back off if they want to look on their own," she said. "Whatever their needs are, we're here to take care of that customer."
Hastings believes customer service and "taking care of that customer" is one of her biggest keys to success and what keeps customers coming back.
"I loved my customers, the ladies," Hastings said. "If you take care of your customers, they take care of you. I have wonderful customers."
Starting out in her retail career, Hastings said, she didn't know she still would be in the business nearly 50 years later.
"When I opened this store, I never thought about ever being here that long, but, you know, the years go by, you just keep on keeping on ... moving forward and changing seasons," Hastings said. " ... You know what each season brings.
"It's kind of like moving forward in your life; you just keep going. When you look back, you think 'my goodness' ..."
Hastings believes the longer a person is involved in something, "the easier it all gets."
Continuing to work is "what makes me happy because I have some of both worlds," Hastings explained. "I love to work; I love to travel some."
Hastings also likes being around people and helping them.
"To me, this is helping people," she said. "I help a lot of people; all ages really. I think people should do what makes them happy because we are going through life ..."
Probably, "when I get ready (to retire), I'll know, but right now, I'm too young and in great health," Hastings said. "There's just no reason to retire."
When Hastings is not working, she said, she enjoys making "lots of pies" for her children and grandchildren.
"I love to have them all there; it's another part of my world," she said.
As she looked back on her life, Hastings described herself as "too blessed to be stressed."