Prior to COVID-19, An Affair To Remember was an extraordinarily successful formalwear store. 

“I had people from all over — probably five, six, seven different states coming… Long story short, COVID hit and we ended up having to change our game a little bit,” said Kathy Jensen, owner of the store.

“In May of 2020, you could not give away a dress. We put everything on sale,” Jensen explained. “We had a $25 sale. I was selling stuff 55% off because I turned 55. I was losing money left and right but I was just trying to pay my bills… My manager, Rebecca and I, we just started thinking outside of the box and redid our business plan.”

The company got online and sold through Instagram and Facebook and began selling pageant wear. “Pageant is what kept me afloat. We are now a full-fledged pageant store,” Jensen said.

The hard work paid off. While the store had always thrived selling formalwear in the past, it had a new draw as a pageant destination.

Inventory aside, the store has changed significantly to include new paint and new sections for COVID-friendliness and privacy.

The store now has roughly 7,000 square feet of pageant. There are two runways and five stages and privacy with new doors. That way, customers can try on dresses without being concerned about competitors seeing their gowns.

Two of the store’s customers have been national winners in the past month.

The official photographer for Rolex and Miss Universe has paid visits to the store to take photos and will do photo sessions with women there.

Bill Alverson, producer of and inspiration for the Netflix show “Insatiable” has made several visits to the shop.

Ashley Lauren Kerr, a former pageant competitor and founder of ASHLEYlauren, will visit the store in September. Julie DeRoche, fashion designer from Jovani, will visit the shop in October.

To learn more about An Affair To Remember, visit https://www.aatrnc.com/.