Laurens County Bee-Tee Business Booming During Tough Economy

An Upstate mom says people stop her in airports and on the streets to ask her where she got her daughter’s t-shirt.  It turns out she designed it to teach character to her two-year-old daughter Lena.

Melissa Patton is the mom behind Bee-Tees.  She designs t-shirts, hats, and bags with simple, inspirational thoughts:  “Bee Happy”, “Bee Honest.”  In six months, she’s gone from selling them in one store in Spartanburg to fifteen around the state.  Patton thinks the tough economy has contributed to her success.  Patton says, “I think it’s opened a door for this type of product, because people want to get back to basics.  They want to get back to talking to their kids and spending time with family.“

Certified financial planner Mary Margaret Richards says a third of business fail within two years.  “I think a lot of people are trying it, but do they have the financial underpinning in place which is going to make them successful.”  She says before you start a business:

1. Be debt-free…
2. Have a three -six months family expense back up and emergency funds for the business
3. Develop a business plan, so that you know proper procedures and whether or not the product or business will sell
4. Don’t quit your day job until you are sure the new business is going to survive.

Retail locations:

Steamers Cafe & Ice Cream

104 Musgrove Street Clinton, SC

Tapestry Ladies Boutique

316 East Carolina Avenue Clinton, SC

Sunshine City

998 South Broad Street Clinton, SC

Simple Necessities

1311 Main Street Newberry, SC

Christy’s Gifts & More

909 Church Street Laurens, SC

MAST General Stores

Hwy 194 Valle Crucis, NC

630 West King Street Boone, NC

63 North Main Street Waynesville, NC

527 North Main Street Hendersonville, NC

15 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, NC

111 North Main Street Greenville, SC

402 South Gay Street Knoxville, TN

Blowing Rock, NC

The Ants Pants

110 Rainbow Lake Road Spartanburg, SC

Learning Express Toys

11107 Broad River Rd Irmo, SC

All For You

462 Bypass 72 NW Greenwood, SC

The Pink Flamingo

3295 Reidville Road Spartanburg, SC

Mingles

8 Coligny Plaza Hilton Head, SC

Dobson Gifts

1407 Wade Hampton Blvd Greer, SC

Hip Chicks Boutique

2668 Lewisville-Clemmons Road Clemmons, NC

Something Special

11846 Hwy. 601 Midland, NC

Legacy’s Child

355 Herlong Avenue Suite 102 Rock Hill, SC