<b>Owner: </b>
Amanda Lasker
<b>Short bio: </b>
Hometown: Lake Providence, LA, on the Mississippi Delta. B.A. from Newcomb College in New Orleans. Worked in Mexico and Guatemala. Married to Robert Lasker, patent attorney; two daughters, Cindy and Brenda.
<b>Why did you choose this particular business? </b>
Because of my love for all things Latin American and because I lived in Guatemala and Mexico. My family lived in Guatemala for 25 years and grew cotton. Gossypia means "cotton."
<b>Why did you choose to work for yourself rather than as an employee for someone else? </b>
It evolved as I came from a family of farm and other independent businesses, and it was my natural way.
<b>What have you learned from being in business? </b>
That you have to advertise, that you have to change but not too much or you'll lose identity which is like losing soul.
<b>Share an anecdote of a challenging or humorous experience or biggest surprise learned from working your business: </b>
The surprise is that I had to evolve into selling clothing to make it in the retail world.
<b>What have been the advantages and/or disadvantages of operating a business in Alexandria? </b>
The possibility of owning my own location and feeling part of a town with so much identity, which I don't want it to lose.
<b>Manager: </b>
Dixie Friichtenicht, over 20 years.
<b>Short bio: </b>
Husband, Admiral Richard Friichtenicht, 2 daughters.
<b>Key staff: </b>
Lilliana Ilich, Loretta Landry, Tanju Ozisik, Irene McGhee, Susan Frank
<b>Description of services and/or products: </b>
Latin American Folk Art, arty clothing, Flax Clothing, eclectic imported jewelry.
<b>Professional affiliations/associations: </b>
NFIB, ACVA, KSMET