Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1999 — The Embroidery Shop [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Embroidery Shop

Native Hawaiian-awned bu5ine55 flourishe5 at the Pearl Harbnr Navy Exchange ByManuBoyd I

Ā THRIVING HAWAIIAN- / m owned business on military turf? Seems an unlikely fīt, but Verna f * Rapez's custom embroi^fery business, 'The Embroidery Shop," is sewing up success at the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange (NEX). Since taking over three years ago, Verna and her staff of six employees have expanded the family business established by Verna's mother, Rachel Rapez, in 1986. "My mother always loved sewing. Years ago, she got involved in a downtown embroidery shop, and learned how to operate the old-style free-hand

machines." Rapez said. "By 1986, my mom, with the help of an OHA business

loan, acquired the NEX location in addition to the downtown store." Today, Verna. who bought out her mother's interest in The Embroidery Shop, is the sole owner, while the elder Rapez continues to run her Nu'uanu Avenue "Embroidered Gift Shop." The only girl in a family of five children, Verna took an interest in her mom's business after graduating from Mililani High School. Her father. who ran his own eonstruction business. was another inspiration in Vema's entrepreneur-

ial development. In 1 996, with more than a decade of embroidery experience. Vema Rapez applied for a loan through OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. "Having gone through the process with my mother 13 years earlier, I thought it would be easy to get a loan approved. It actually was more difficult, but I stuck to my convictions because I needed the loan to move forward. I enrolled in Alu Like"s business training course whieh was extremelv helpful. Even though I was already in business. the course enabled me to better assess what I was doing," explained Rapez. The OHA loan not only helped her buy the business outright.

it allowed her to increase her staff ; and expand on ^ leased equipI ment. The Embroi- I

dery Shop now operates two double-head and two single-head machines, all eomputer linked. The modest 10 ft. x 15 ft. space is nestled in the busy NEX breezeway crowded with busy hot dog and espresso kiosks and an array of shops ranging from an auto sound center to a beauty salon. Rapez and her staff cater to active and retired military personnel and their dependents. They specialize in custom embroidery as well as military insignia. Sports uniforms also generate a lot of business. "Mahalo to OHA for giving me a ehanee in what seemed grim - almost impossible. My business is stronger

today because of it," Rapez concluded. Shop hours are Mon. - Sat., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. - 7

p.m. For information, eall 4226378. ■

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Verna Rapez uses computer-linked embroidery machines to apply monograms, military insignia, team names, custom art - you name it, she ean stitch it. PHOTOS? MANU BOYD