Business Spotlight

Story by Kelsey Wagner/Editor-in-Chief Photos provided by Trina Liles-Sims

Trina Liles-Sims is an educator by trade and worked both as a teacher and eventually as a high school principal. But in December 2010, she became a boutique owner as well.

On December 1, 2010, Trina Liles-Sims purchased “The Bag Lady” boutique, a small store specializing in handbags. The small store was initially located next to Turtle’s Donut shop on north Seventh St.

The story behind the purchase of the business is as simple and sweet as Trina’s laugh as she recalls the spur-of-the-moment purchase. “I don’t know! I went over there to play Bunko with Kylie Hughes, who owned The Bag Lady, and her mom and I were high school friends. They told me that night the store was for sale, and my daughter Traci said I should buy it,” recalls Trina, “so it was on a whim that we even bought it.” I said, “What’s a high school principal going to do with that business?”

The beautiful Liles and Company storefront, located on Grand Ave. near Second St. in downtown Ponca City.

Trina did buy the business and soon asked her son Terron to join the business. Terron has a keen eye for fashion and helped shoppers find styles that matched their taste and preference. “We were just on a month-to-month lease, and Terron started looking and talked to Fred Boettcher, and in six months, we moved downtown. We just decided it would be better and more convenient for shoppers, so going to Grand Ave. was our ultimate goal.” By moving down to Grand Ave, the store tripled in size and expanded its offerings by adding clothing lines, denim, menswear, and home goods. It wasn’t long until Trina’s daughter, Traci Irragi, a certified cosmetologist, joined the family business as well. During the rebranding, Liles and Company added four salon chairs in the back of

the store for Traci and three other stylists, Rocio Reyes, Jamie Yinger, and the late Janet McFarland. The salon now has six total stylists in addition to the original four and has expanded to include spa services like pedicures, manicures, and facials. Bea Rowe, Mary Beth Belot, and Ashley Pugh have all joined the Liles and Company stylist team and are available to meet your beauty needs. Ten years and one store rebranding later, Liles and Company is now an anchor retail store, located on East Grand near Second St.

Trina says that their customers have become more like friends over the past ten years, and she credits that to Liles and Co’s dedication to quality products and customer service. “We guarantee our products. If you’ve got a problem, you bring it in, and we’ll take care of it,” says Traci. “We wanted to make it a family business we could be proud of,” Trina says. 2020 was challenging for Liles and Company. The pandemic forced many small shops to close, but Liles and Company adapted to survive, and between curbside and online sales, they were able to weather the storm. “That website kept us alive between March and August 2020. If it weren’t for that website, we wouldn’t have been able to stay alive,” says Trina.

Terron also took a job with the Ponca City Art Association in February 2020, so Traci stepped in to fill the gap that Terron left. Liles and Company regularly has Facebook lives sales and in-store events, and to celebrate their 2011 anniversary downtown, all shoppers in June will get 20.11% off all their total boutique purchases. Liles and Company will have other giveaways, sales, and special events in conjunction with their anniversary celebration. To find out more about their upcoming events and sales, follow them at Facebook.com/lilesandcompany.

Terron Liles, Trina Liles-Sims and Traci Irragi During their rebranding, Liles and Company expanded to include a full-service salon in addition to their clothing boutique.