By Jennifer Webb
Paul Guess turned in his resignation. He was done moving. He had moved seven times with the pharmaceutical company, advancing his career, but no more. He was tired of being away from his family. Now was the time for a new beginning.
He was no stranger to hard work. He started working at his family’s dairy bar in Des Arc as a 7th grader. His parents taught each of their four children what it took to be an entrepreneur.
The economy was down in 2012, but he had a theory he wanted to test out - If you offer a quality product at a fair price, can you succeed? His first store in Searcy called “Deck the Halls, Y’all” proved that the answer was YES!
“Why don’t you start importing?” His brother asked him.
Paul didn’t know anything about that kind of business, but with determination, he learned all he could. His journey took him to Harvard University and all around the world. He traveled to meet each family-owned factory he thought about buying from, went to trade shows, and made all the contacts he could, and surrounded himself with the best artists in the world. He learned his strengths, but more importantly, he learned his weaknesses and surrounded himself with people who excelled in those areas.
He expanded his business as he could financially afford it and bought the Lux fragrances and candle factory. He relocated the factory from Marble Falls, TX to Des Arc, AR - his hometown. That’s when he began importing and designing a line called “Deck the Halls, Y’all” after his first store in Searcy.
Each year, the line would have overstocks, and he took to his personal Facebook page, saying, “Hey Des Arc, we have overstocks. Come get them!” People would line up in front of the candle factory.
“I want to go into business with you,” Paul’s older brother told him.
“I may be the baby of the family,” Paul told his brother who was 9.5 years his senior, “but I’m not a dumb baby."
“No, seriously,” his brother insisted. “Let’s start this spring. I’ll front the money if you’ll do the hiring and the displays.”
The following year, they set up a tent in the parking lot of the candle factory, and people lined up. At that point in 2015, Paul knew there was something to his philosophy of offering quality products to customers at a fair price. He knew they needed to expand, and the old Van Heusen shirt factory was sitting vacant in town. He easily obtained permission from the Industrial Development Commission.
When Paul walked into the 60,000 sq ft building with no bathrooms and a leaky roof he wondered just what he had gotten himself into. The only social media page he had was his own personal page, but they managed to set up 10,000 sq ft in Christmas displays with two cash registers.
Opening day was a nightmare.
“Don’t get in the way of a woman and a Christmas sale,” Paul told his Mom at the end of the day. “I don’t know if I ever want to see another Christmas ornament ever again.” And he meant it.
Momma Guess knew a distress call when she heard it and within hours, the Guess family ladies showed up in force. His mom, sisters, and sister-in-law worked into the night reconfiguring the layout and moving things to accommodate a better flow of traffic. They made what they had work, focusing on giving their customers not only great products for fair prices but also a fantastic shopping experience.
The next day was much more successful and that is how the largest Christmas warehouse in the south started.
“I just want people to be able to come and experience a wonderland where they can truly forget about trials and tribulations of everyday life - forget about their worries and spend time with their family, and friends. I want them to enjoy what we have here. That’s most important to me. If I don’t ever accomplish anything else, I’m satisfied.” - Paul Guess, Owner of Guess and Company Christmas Warehouse
Not only is Paul Guess motivated by wanting to offer quality products at fair prices and giving each customer the best possible shopping experience, but he views his business as an opportunity to give back to the community. Current events in his personal life usually drive his donations. For example, he gave to the American Heart Association the year that he suffered a heart attack, and the American Cancer Society when a family member was diagnosed with the disease. He’s also given back to his community in the form of a gift to the Des Arc Chamber of Commerce.
He also looks for ways to give back in non-monetary ways. He employs at least 50+ high school students each year with the philosophy that “We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” He expects them to both look and act the part, helping them to develop valuable professional skills.
Behind the scenes, he also looks to employ people that he feels need a second chance. He firmly believes that anyone can choose what they achieve in life and tells them that anyone can bloom where they are planted - right here in small-town Arkansas.
“You can do anything you choose in life. It’s all about your mindset and how you choose to lead yourself and others.” -Paul Guess, Owner Guess and Company
He takes the lessons of responsibility, how to interact with the public, and how to make money and hopes to pass them on to the next generation through the people that he employs. He feels that one of his God-given gifts is the ability to tap into other people’s strengths and help them maximize their potential.
You can visit him any time during the year at guessncompany.com