Faces in business: Barb Smith

Name: Barb Smith

Title: Owner

Company: 2nd Ann Rose, 8225 Natures Way, Suite 107, Lakewood Ranch

What was the best business advice you ever received?

Not to become a doctor and to get into retail. This advice came from one of my managers. Although I obtained a business degree, I have been in retail for 48 years now.

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?

Psychiatrist. For some reason retail and psychiatry go hand in hand. Customers come in and they talk and talk and I listen.

What is the biggest risk you've taken in your career?

Buying a unit in a dead retail strip of which none had to do with retail. I took a leap of faith and started 2nd Ann Rose and have been here for close to five years. It's the best thing I ever did. No only do we help consignors, we donate money to 19 local charities. My husband and I decided not to draw a salary for five years.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you start?

I am doing that now. We have help in the store and that gives us the opportunity to travel. We've been all over the world. Next stop, Australia and the South Pacific.

- Angie Monroe

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Faces in business: Barb Smith ."