On A Whim Featured
featured business
GET TO KNOW...
Debbie Trachtenberg &
Gina Bennett, owners of On A Whim
01. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Debbie: I always wanted to own a store-from when I was VERY young!!!!!
Gina: A movie star.
02. What was your first job?
Debbie: I worked at a childrens clothing store.
Gina: Data entry at hertz data center- I was a manager at 16!!!
03.What do you like to do in your free time?
Debbie: I love to do yoga and pilates, read and travel- be with friends and family.
Gina: Travel, yoga, snow ski, go to the lake, be with friends and family.
04. What's the best advice you've ever received?
Debbie: Treat your employees like you would want to be treated.
Gina: Dont take anything for granted.
05. How long have you been in business and how did you get started?
Debbie & Gina: We have been in business for 13yrs- we started in 838 sq feet in Nichols Hills Plaza-where 90% of our merchandise was MacKenzie-Childs. Gina and I met and were both looking to do something new- she had been an accountant and I had worked in retail... we both loved Mackenzie-Childs and so we started with that!!!
06. Why do you choose to operate your business in Oklahoma as opposed to somewhere else?
Debbie & Gina: We live in Oklahoma City - so that is why our business is here.
07. Why do you think its important to keep it local?
Debbie & Gina: We live in a city that has so many great things to offer- in both restaurants and retail stores... and so we both shop locally for everything we can... we support all of the local businesses we can!
08. What locally owned business (other than your own) could you not live without?
Debbie: The Yoga Room, Absolute Balance Pilates, Barre3, Kamala Gambles- Kams Kookery, 105 Degrees, The Wedge, Fruitti Yogurt, Tokyo Sushi, Sushi Neko
Gina: We Knead You, The Yoga Room, Barre3, Saii, Sushi Neko.
09. Our Facebook fans want to know: What is it that sets you apart from the national chains and promotes loyal, repeat customers?
Debbie & Gina: Our unique product mix-we have exclusives for almost all of our lines... we are the largest Mackenzie-Childs retailer in the country, we give great customer service, we have beautiful gift wrap.
10. Our Twitter followers want to know: What drives you to keep doing what you do?
Debbie & Gina: We love what we do!!!!
