Sunday, August 22, 1999
Mag ads spur demand for fake furs
BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The fake fur still is flying and that's just fine with Donna Salyers.
When we profiled Mrs. Salyers in fall 1997, she had set out to broaden the name recognition and visibility of her Covington-based business, Fabulous Furs, which specializes in luxury faux furs.
Her foray into the big time included purchasing a splashy $40,000 ad in Vanity Fair magazine. It turned out to be such a great move that she has followed with additional ads appearing in the September issues of Vanity Fair and Vogue and the October issue of InStyle.
“It's been like a Cinderella story,” Mrs. Salyers says. “Business is exploding. We've experienced a 50 percent growth this year. They might say real fur is making a comeback, but it's obvious that a lot of people are still concerned about animals. My product is an easy, painless way to help with conservation.”
Mrs. Salyers started her business in 1989 with one faux-fur fabric and one coat pattern and no business training or degree. What she lacked in experience she made up for in chutzpah and determination. Her tactics included bombarding the Butterick Co. with weekly phone calls for a year until the pattern company agreed to put her pattern in its Vogue Catalog.
When actress Loretta Swit phoned a couple of years later lamenting her lack of sewing skills, Mrs. Salyers moved slowly into ready-to-wear designs.
Fabulous Furs, located in an 18,000-square-foot facility on Covington's Pike Street, is a favorite among celebrities and entertainment industry costumers and wardrobe consultants.
“There are two characters named Carly on the daytime soaps,” Mrs. Salyers says. “At one point both were wearing Fabulous Furs.”
The coats, which range $99-$799, are made of a high-end acrylic, which can mimic fox, lamb, sable, leopard and mink.
The fall Fabulous Furs catalog has expanded by 33 percent and about half of the wares are new.
“That's always been my goal,” Mrs. Salyers says. “To keep things new and exciting.”
Among the additions are items for kids, such as muffs, headbands and house slippers. Eventually, she plans to add children's coats.
To request a Fabulous Furs catalog, call (513) 291-3300.
One vote, one judge, no choice
Slain robbery suspect had long record
Ohio justices clash with gusto
Recent Ohio Supreme Court cases
Who's who on the Ohio Supreme Court
Ross High students grapple with grief
Be prepared for gay scouts
Man's home is township's 'eyesore'
New area code means hassle
What's Your Opinion: Questions of fairness
Bell sets sights on Congress
Black Family Reunion proves educational as well as entertaining
Coptic Orthodox leader visits local congregation
Justin's families return to court
BENCHMARKS
Bauer's future carved in butter?
:Everyone's getting rich online except you and me
Instant message revolution is ahead
KKK's Cleveland rally causes little disruption
CAPITOL INSIDER
Theatre director stages non-stop work days in artful fashion
Workshops focus on politics, religion
Students help save the rhinos
NBC chief says families should be funny again
Filmmakers need extras for Madison, Ind., shots
GET TO IT
Mom's a fitness star
Organizers get ready for annual theater meeting
Sculpture finds home at Brighton Place
Drug tests grow popular with schools
Ex-Bengal near deal on support
Excess radiation found in worker's bones
Fans of tacky descend on Columbus
FDA hunts for E.coli source
Mag ads spur demand for fake furs
MainStrasse youths brighten neighborhood
N.Ky.'s official bloom not blooming enough, teacher says
Post Office gets new name, more space
Store gives toys to area law agencies
TRISTATE DIGEST
