Kathy Sangiuliano

Realtor, Dunes Real Estate

6 Queens Folly Road

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (610) 613-8883 kathy.dunesrealestate.com

For clients who want to know what makes Kathy Sangiuliano different as a real estate professional, you could start by looking at the accolades she’s acquired in her decade in business: member of the President’s Circle; Top Regional Units award winner; Director’s Club award winner; Executive’s Club award winner; member of the International Diamond Society.

But to truly know what sets her apart, you have to look beyond her real estate career to her decades as a teacher.

Molly Spears

En Dentelle 54 Bridge St., Suite 100 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 278-2431

The most inspiring business stories start with a leap of faith.

For Molly Spears, that leap of faith began with a storied career in veterinary medicine and landed gracefully at En Dentelle, a boutique lingerie store in the Bridge Collective in Old Town Bluffton. “This whole thing was born out of a beach date with my husband where we noticed there weren’t many places to buy swimwear or lingerie around here,” Spears said. Seeing a drought in quality lingerie stores that stretched from Charleston to Orlando, the idea was planted. Then, during a trip to a high-end lingerie store in Denver, Spears finally saw the possibilities.

“I have found that real estate is another arm of education. I market a property, but I also educate my clients…. Every single person out there has something they’re learning,” she said. “I see myself as a resource.”

Her education background served her well going into real estate, where she quickly learned that focusing on the client makes all the difference in the world. “My business is highly client centered. I’m focusing on their needs, their wants and the things I can do to protect them and relieve anxiety,” she said. “Every move is stressful, and while I can’t eliminate that stress, I can do everything in my power— finding property managers, contractors, etc.—to give my clients one less thing to worry about.”

That focus has helped her earn all those accolades, but for her, the highest praise comes from another satisfied client.

“This place, SOL, had been in business for 25 years, operating by appointment only and doing custom bra fittings,” she said. Duly inspired, Spears looked to take that idea of quality bra fitting and stunning lingerie home. “We came back from the trip, and I started looking around for spaces.”

Of course, being a successful veterinarian little prepared Spears for a shift into a retail career. And that was just fine for her. “I like the challenge and I love figuring things out,” she said. “Plus, the industry itself is—pun intended—very supportive.”

With brand reps guiding Spears on the ins and outs of high-end lingerie, En Dentelle opened this past summer to a receptive crowd. “The main purpose driving this store was the feeling I got in Denver buying these beautiful things,” Spears said. “That feeling of confidence and empowerment, that’s really what I want to bring to people.”