McDaniel Furs owner retires, next generation steps up

by Maria Hoover

Inside Business Editor

mhoover@sbj.net

Tom Latimer, owner of McDaniel Furs at 901 S. Glenstone Ave., will retire in January, handing the reins of his company to his son, Jeff Latimer. However, the younger Latimer is no stranger to the business that his father has owned for 26 years, given that he's worked with his father for 21 years.

Jeff Latimer also has additional experience in fur, having spent time working with mink manufacturers in New York City, learning the finer points of restyling, repairing and manufacturing furs. Tom Latimer said it means a lot to him that his son will keep McDaniel Furs in the family.

"I think that we kind of started in the business without a whole great deal of background in this business. And Jeff, with his years of background, it ought to be a piece of cake for him, as far as learning the business," Tom Latimer said.

Tom Latimer bought McDaniel Furs from Carl McDaniel in 1978, coming into the industry from an entirely different career.

"I was working for a major corporation that had decided that they wanted me to move to Kansas City as sales manager. But I had been in Springfield long enough that I didn't want to go, and basically, they told me that I had to, and I told them I didn't have to, so I didn't," Tom Latimer said. "I wanted to buy a business in this town and stay here. At that time I had three children in high school. I didn't want to move, so I didn't. Carl McDaniel was thinking about selling this business at that time, and I got wind of that. We were able to make a deal, and it's been a great ride."

Merchandise options

Mink continues to be the most popular choice of fur in the local market, according to Jeff Latimer.

"It's primarily mink, the inventory is. And we will always carry and handle the traditionally styled mink garment, but there's a movement toward things being more casual hooded pieces, more everyday wear," he said.

However, Latimer noted that he's already at work on some changes to the store's offerings, and those changes also are in answer to what customers want.

"We're going to expand our product line to include shearlings and more accessories cashmere coats, finer fabric coats," he said.

Another change is a Web site that's now in the works for the company.

Latimer said he makes annual trips to Montreal and New York to buy the furs sold at McDaniel Furs, something he'll continue to do after his father's retirement is official.

"Really my role or what I do on a day-to-day basis won't change a great deal," Latimer said. "I'll still alter coats and store coats and buy and sell. Nothing's really going to change a whole lot other than my dad won't be here all the time."

Other services

In addition to the sale of new furs, the business also offers on-site cleaning, repairs and storage.

"Other furriers have to ship things out to be repaired or cleaned or restyled or even stored, but here, everything's done on premises," Jeff Latimer said.

Storage is important because of climate-control issues.

"We keep our vaults at 50 degrees and 50 percent humidity, and a lot of people think they can store (furs) in their closet or their basement but the humidity's not right, and you're just taking years off your coat," Tom Latimer said. He noted that the company stores about 3,000 coats each year.

Restyling outdated fur coats and garments is another service available at McDaniel Furs.

"We do restyles and making over garments into something that's more today," Jeff Latimer said. "People outgrow them or inherit them or for one reason or another don't like the style, and so they can be done over if the skins are in good enough condition."

The company now has three full-time and two part-time employees, and Jeff Latimer noted that he foresees needing additional help, because Tom's wife, Willetta, who works at the company, also is leaving. And, Tom Latimer said, they already know what they're going to miss most.

"We'll miss our customers. We get to see those people twice a year, usually. When we sell you a coat, you're going to bring it in and store it in the off-season, for the next 15 years 20 years maybe. We'll see you in the fall and the spring, when you bring your coat in for storage, cleaning, repairs and then when you pick it up in the fall," Tom Latimer said.

"People become more than customers. They become friends, and I already miss them."

As for post-retirement plans, Tom Latimer said, "I'm going to do a little traveling and a little fishing and a little golf, and I'm going to help Jeff if he wants me to on his day off and on market trips, things like that."