July 8, 2015
The business family Husband and wife open businesses next door to each other
Recipes
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Make Summer Memories for Less
By Sara Hardin When Jimmie and Tina White discovered the perfect location to cultivate their own business late last year, they took the plunge and made their dreams reality. Situated in a humble strip mall off of Washington Street in Florissant, the Whites now have not only one, but two of their own growing businesses which they operate as a team. Quality Assurance Homecare Services and B’Relevant Boutique have now each had their doors open for just over a month. “In terms of the businesses that we have going on now, what I see is us being a staple in the community, and us being able to help people in the area of homecare as well as in the area of beauty,” said Jimmie White. B’Relevant Boutique is the brainchild of Tina White, who found motivation in her own shopping experiences to open a place where woman can find stylish clothing and accessories without breaking the bank. “It’s about being you: you make the brand, the brand doesn’t make you. We don’t have a lot of high-end fashion. Our goal is to make sure that it’s affordable for everybody,” explained Tina White. “Back in my day when I used to walk into boutiques like this, I could never afford anything, so I would turn right back around. So, I promised God that if he blessed me, I would bless others. And that’s what happened. We’ve only been here a little over a month and we are doing amazing business.” Tina White excitedly reports that so far, her vision has been more than paying off. “The décor of the store was important to me as well. I wanted to create an experience – I wanted you to feel it when you walk through the door. Love, relaxation, peace, tranquility – that’s what we’ve been hearing without me even explaining my vision.” Tina explained that B’Relevant has plans to go global after its online store receives its finishing touches. She has the help of her daughter, Chelsea Davis, who works as one of the store’s employees. “It’s a great experience working for your family,” explained Davis. “I’ve worked retail already so it was kind of something that I already knew how to do, but I love the customers and the audience that come into B’Relevant.”
Around Town
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Girls STEAM Ahead
Feature Section
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Home & Garden Photo by Ray Rockwell Jimmie and Tina White opened Quality Assurance Homecare Services and B’Relevant Boutique next door to each other in Florissant.
Quality Assurance Homecare Services, initially operated out of the basement in the home of Tina White’s parents, has been in full effect since 2012. Now it has a permanent home, and a second location in Poplar Bluff is set to have its grand opening soon. “I am a social worker by trade, and I wanted to get out there and provide homecare services for the community,” said Tina White, CEO of Quality Assurance. “Under this particular service, consumers direct their own care. Our services allow a loved one or friend to get paid for taking care of their loved one or friend. A lot of family members don’t feel safe with letting other people come into their homes, so this service was created. We provide a holistic approach to homecare.” Tina White explained that Quality Assurance makes it a priority to go above and beyond by offering basic needs such as groceries, dentures, and assistance with copays. Jimmie White, who functions as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Quality Assurance, credits its success and continued potential to the warm, caring nature of the team. “We really care about the people that
we’re doing business with and the people that we’re caring for,” said Jimmie White. “My wife really cares about helping people, and I can say the same thing about the other employees that we have. I think that’s what will set us apart.” Tina and Jimmie White have plans to fill the last remaining space in the strip See BUSINESS FAMILY page 2
School
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Gift for Orphanage
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