WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2025
“R etail is not for the faint of heart,” notes Debbie Matthews, owner of Lady Slipper Intimate Apparel & Accessories. “Thankfully I have won more challenges than I have lost in my career and have always forged ahead even when others questioned my direction.” As she celebrates 40 years as a retailer, she looks back fondly on the experiences that brought her where she is today. An innate entrepreneurial spirit led her to the business program at UPEI. While attending university full- time, she also worked full-time with R.T. Holman, a group of three large department stores on the Island where she trained as a buyer.
“It was during my time at Holman’s that I was mentored by other experienced buyers and management for which I am forever grateful,” she says. “I gained so many
space but found a way to carve out a niche by working closely with suppliers and obtaining exclusivity with a “shop-in-shop” concept to showcase the top brands in her store, such as ESPRIT.
has set the standard for exceptional customer service for over 35 years. Florence Drake, who shares Matthews’ department store experience from her time at Eaton’s, brought a loyal customer base to the store. Regular customer Guilia Usanova brought her flair for fashion when she joined the team. Meredith MacCarville has been crunching numbers for 30 years as an accounting technician. And Operations Manager Carolyn MacKinnon, who joined the store as a teenager, followed Matthew’s path, attending UPEI full-time while working at the store. “Carolyn has guided the ship and, without her, we would not be celebrating 40 years,” notes Matthews. While she believes the business landscape has changed greatly over the years and presents new and different challenges for women entrepreneurs, Matthews can share lessons that are evergreen. “Treat everyone with respect and be fearless,” she states. “You have to believe in yourself.”
“Treat everyone with respect and be fearless. You have to believe in yourself.”
skills, not only as a buyer but also in creating detailed budgets and business plans that would later prove to be invaluable in starting my own business.” In 1985 she knew she was ready to step out on her own. It was a time of recession, high interest rates and high unemployment. Getting financing as a young woman was difficult, but Matthews called upon her extensive training to create a comprehensive business
Work-life balance is always a challenge and it was for Matthews. Change was needed and the store moved its location in Confederation Court Mall. Children’s wear was replaced with intimate apparel to create a unique product mix. “I had to learn the hard way to delegate tasks, step back from total control and allow others to give input to the business,” she says. “Fortunately, I have a fabulous team that made that easier. They are the reason we have succeeded for the past 40 years.” Matthews is grateful for everything her team brings. Store manager Rita Ramsay
plan that secured the financing she needed.
Opening as R.T.s, her store featured ladies’ and children’s fashions. She had entered a very competitive
LADY SLIPPER INTIMATE APPAREL & ACCESSORIES 65 Queen Street, Charlottetown | 902.892.6525 | theladyslipper.ca
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator