Sondra Busby opened the doors of Daisija's on Oct. 26, 2013.
A native of the Silver community, graduate of Scott's Branch High School, and graduate of Central Carolina Technical College, Busby wanted to provide Clarendon County residents with women's clothing and accessories, such as Sunday hats, designer handbags, fragrances and custom made handkerchiefs.
"It is exciting to be a business owner. There are obvious perks such as setting your own hours, being your own boss and being able to attend my children's school activities," she said. "But the best part is being able to mentor, encourage and minister to anyone who walks through my door."
Some days, she said, a customer will walk in just to look around and before they leave, their mood has lifted and they leave feeling filled.
"I like to provide an atmosphere for my customers – if they buy or not, they will remember it. I try to provide the boutique atmosphere without the boutique prices. I wanted to provide a service for Manning that was not available, so I started Daisija's. Customers will feel right at home," she said.
"It's not always about the sale for me. I realize sometimes people are out only in an attempt to clear their minds. If I pick up on that, to me it's more than a sale but a chance to inspire, encourage and uplift."
The toughest part of running her business is sitting patiently through what she calls "dry days," but remembering what her son "Jay" did one day always brings a smile to her face. While she was waiting on customers at the counter, her 8-year-old decided to pitch in. As he showed some inventory, he casually inquired what style the customer was looking for and then handed her a suit that fit the bill.
"It was completely out of his character," she said. "We all laughed."
Spending time with her family is what Busby enjoys the most.
"My husband (Joey Sr.) and I feel that family time is very important to keep a family close and together," she said. "However, a little of my free time is devoted to me, myself and I!"
Busby is the only girl of four children.
"So you can imagine what kind of childhood I must have had," she said, laughing. "However, aside from God, my family and their strength is the reason for my success."
Indeed, she sees Clarendon County as a tight-knit community with strong family ties, although she'd like to see more community centers.
"I adore the extended hand of help that we share, one to another. I like the welcoming arms extended to new businesses, large or small."
Sondra and Joey Busby Sr. have been married for 12 years and have two children, Ariyona and Joey Jr. Their nicknames – Daisa and Jay – were blended together to get the name of her boutique, Daisija's.
Sondra Busby is also the author of "Understanding Life and Its Challenges," which is available on Amazon.com.
Daisija's is located at 206 S. Mill St., and is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Contact: (803) 225-5104.
