by Hans Tammemagi –
“I love dealing with people,” says Sue Taylor, the owner and manager of Sidney Casuals. “It’s my favourite part of the job.” Sue, who’s been involved in the clothing retail business since her late teens, knows the trade. Her store, Sidney Casuals, was started by her late husband 33 years ago. It has carved out a niche in the regional market for men’s and ladies’ apparel and is a mainstay of the Sidney business community.
Conveniently located in a spacious shop at 2513 Beacon Avenue near the water, Sidney Casuals offers a broad range of leisure and travel clothing.
“We’re not a boutique shop focusing on what’s trendy,” says Sue with a wide smile. “Instead we have carved out a position where we offer practical, functional clothing for men and women, including lightweight, quick-dry travel clothes. We’re not high-end, and not low-end either.”
She describes her product as “quality casual clothing” consisting of reputable, premium quality brands that are wearable and classy. “We are one of the few stores, for example, that carry a wide range of men’s cardigans,” Sue says.
Originally the store was called “Sidney Men’s Wear.” Ladies’ wear was added around eight years later; 18 years ago they moved to their present location as Sidney Casuals with an expanded selection of women’s wear. It is presently the largest clothing store in Sidney, with over 5,000 square feet of retail space on two levels.
Sidney Casuals caters to people in their late 30s to seniors. “Our oldest customer is 102 years,” says Sue proudly. She and her staff pride themselves on the lost art of spending time with a customer and providing good personalized service. Sue considers it especially important to provide great service to seniors, particularly if they have any physical ailments. If necessary, she even assists them with trying on clothing so they can be assured of exactly the right fit and the style they want.
Sue’s generosity and caring for people extends beyond the store. She gives time to the community and donates door prizes for the fundraising events of local organizations such as the Legion and Little League. She also holds occasional fashion shows for charities such as the Stephen Lewis Foundation campaign for African grandmothers.
Sue has lived in Sidney since 1979. She finds it a beautiful town and is proud to be a part of the community. “I value the small town feel, rather than that of a bustling city,” she says, “it develops a level of trust that isn’t found in larger centres.” With two grown daughters both living in the region, her favourite hobby is spending time with her four grandchildren.
