Paul’s Hat Works seeking funds to open a store in New York City
Author: Sarah B. - Hatworksbypaul.com
One of our most unique neighborhood businesses has embarked on a similarly unique journey to finance a new store in New York City – they’re asking their customers and supporters to fund it.
We got an email last week from the four ladies of Paul’s Hat Works, who operate a 100+ year old hat shop on Geary that is working to “bring the hat back” into fashion. They’ve been the subject of documentaries, feature some of the most interesting store windows in the neighborhood, and have been known to pop up on local TV every now and then.
In 2011, the shop expanded their business slightly by opening up a mini-store in The Hound (140 Sutter) in downtown San Francisco. Every Tuesday, one of the ladies that runs Paul’s Hat Works is stationed there to support the hat section of the shop.
But expanding to downtown San Francisco just isn’t enough. If you really want to “bring back the hat”, then expanding to the fashion capital of NYC is a must.
To make that happen, the team at Paul’s has embarked on a $25,000 fundraising effort, asking their friends, customers and supporters to help them reach their goal. They’ve got a special website up to take donations and track their progress. So far 11 donors have pitched in $720.
for their generosity. Depending on how much you donate, you could walk away with a mug, a t-shirt, a new handmade hat, a champagne tour of their Geary Street business, and if you’re a big spender, a night on the town with the four ladies of Paul’s.
When we first got the news of their endeavor, we were a little unsure of the soundness of the tactic of a for-profit business trying to raise funds for their own expansion. It’s definitely something you don’t see very often.
“Yes, it is very unorthodox, but that seems to be our middle name for some reason,” said Olivia, one of the owner’s of Paul’s Hat Works. “The reason we have to do it this way is because it would be probably 5-7 years before we could afford to think of doing it ourselves and we really need a big boost in order to keep up the energy to continue here.”
So, if you also believe it’s time for the hat to come back into style and you want to help a neighborhood business spread its wings, head over to the Paul’s Hat Works NY fundraising page to donate.