Store owner Spencer brings clothing business online directly with stores in the city center – Salisbury Post

SPENCER — Candis Newton blames her fashion sense on her sister.

“I’m 10 years younger than my sister,” Newton said. “So they treated me like a Barbie doll.”

That means dressing her up in whatever weird outfits they can come up with. Even when Newton was old enough to choose his own clothes, he usually chose clothes that stood out from the crowd.

“Growing up, everyone always said I dressed like Hannah Montana,” Newton said. “I always wear weird stuff. My mom always told me I could take the ugliest thing out and put it on and make it look pretty. I’ve always had a knack for dressing goofy, but it will eventually come together.”

Despite his penchant for putting together interesting ensembles, Newton did not pursue a clothing-related career. At least, not until the pandemic suddenly changes its course. Now, Newton is the owner of Southern Roots Clothing. The shop, located in Park Plaza near Spencer’s new town complex, opened to the public on November 13.

Becoming a business owner was not in Newton’s plans when he graduated from East Rowan High School in 2016 and enrolled at Wingate. There, she studied basic education before returning home to Rowan County to raise her children. Newton got a job as a store manager at Sprint before shifting to the same role for the T-Mobile store in Kannapolis.

That’s where the 23-year-old worked when the pandemic started.

“They closed my shop, which forced me to stay home,” Newton said.

Around the same time, Newton and her husband, Kenneth, gained custody of their nephew. With four children to care for, Newton began to consider a career change that would allow him to be at home more often.

Newton didn’t know what the change was until his mother asked him to make a Kiss shirt. After he finished his shirt – a tie dye t-shirt with a rock band face painted in the middle – Newton posted his photo on his Facebook page.

“It was like exploding,” Newton said.

After designing a shirt similar to this one for her mother, Candis Newton found that she could turn her penchant for fashion into a business. Ben Stansell/Salisbury Post

Newton began designing more clothes to sell to interested online shoppers. Eventually, she started making children’s clothes with bright patterns and seasonal designs. She capitalized on an underserved market by offering outfits for boys and matching sets for siblings.

“It’s really hard to find men’s and boys’ stuff,” Newton said. “I realized that since my son, now 2 years old, was born, it was very difficult for me to find fancy clothes for him. I wanted to start my own just to see what I could do and to see if people would be interested, because all moms-to-be have the same problem: they can’t find the cute clothes they want.”

The children’s clothing line is pushing the business to new heights. Newton began exhibiting and selling his creations on a Facebook group that has grown to more than 2,000 people. To spread his brand further, Newton added a children’s clothing “representative” who modeled the clothing on social media. Each representative, all under the age of 10, was given an outfit to wear and a discount code to share with friends and family members.

“It really helped a ton,” Newton said. “I feel good to see all the little ones excited about their outfits. It’s nice to see someone excited to wear something you chose. ”

One of Southern Roots’ current representatives is 5-year-old Reestyn Poplin, who started modeling for store clothing a few months ago. Her mother, Regina, took a picture of Reestyn in a dress and posted it on Facebook.

“Reestyn loves clothes and every chance she gets to be sassy, ​​she takes it,” Regina said.

Reestyn Poplin is the brand representative for Southern Roots, meaning the 5 year old model of many of the store’s clothing. Her mother is a photographer and posts photos to social media. Photo sent.

The popularity of the children’s clothing line inspired Newton to open a physical location for his online business. His attention fell on Spencer and Park Plaza, a previously-defunct shopping center that recently underwent renovations to accommodate the municipal office. Newton was attracted by the large parking space in front of the shop, but he also loved being a part of something new.

“I love being at Spencer,” Newton said. “I looked in Salisbury and I looked in Mocksville but Spencer needed something.”

Newton is one of the few businesses open in Park Plaza. He thought he would not be the last.

“It’s going a lot better than I thought it would be,” Newton said. “I was very nervous because I wouldn’t get foot traffic and people wouldn’t be interested in coming here. So far, I haven’t had that problem at all.”

Poplin, who started with Southern Roots when only online, now gets excited whenever she goes to the store to pick out new clothes, Regina says. They usually leave with a few more outfits than expected.

“I definitely have to put a hat on him, because if it were up to him he’d choose one of everything in the shop,” Regina said.

While children’s clothing brands may be the best sellers in the store, Southern Roots also sells clothing for adults, including well-known southern clothing brands. The shop also sells locally made soaps, cups and accessories.

Newton loved being a business owner, but what he loved more was having a career that involved his children.

“I needed something that my kids could get involved with and that’s a big reason why I have a children’s clothing line,” says Newton. “They’re involved in it, they’re modeling, they feel a part of it.”

Southern Roots open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – 6pm Holiday hours may vary. More information can be found online at southrootsclothing.com.co or by calling 704-762-8634.