Southern Indiana Business September-October 2020 | Page 16

COVER STORY
ABOVE /
Jameson Smith,
left, discusses
the importance
of fit and style
with Boutique
owner, Ross
Wallace.
Both opened in their new location at 313
Pearl St. this summer, after moving from a
smaller space right across the street; Him
opened its first storefront at 314 Pearl St. in
2016 and a second location in Louisville in
2018, and Mane Alley opened in the back
of the same building in 2018.
The couple bought the building previously
home to Preston Arts Center, which
sat vacant for about eight years. For Mane
Alley, the new location has more than four
times the space of its previous site, and
Him's new shop has double the amount of
space.
As they have opened their new locations,
the couple has also faced the unexpected
challenges of continuing amid a pandemic.
Ross said he and Diana are constantly
inspiring each other to pursue their business
goals and helping each other in stressful
situations. Together, they make a strong
team.
"We’re always motivating each other and
pushing each other," Ross said. "I know I
wouldn’t be able to do this without her."
“And I would not be able to do this without
him,” Diana said.
A STRONG TEAM
Ross and Diana have been together for
about seven years, and they married last
year. When they first met, neither of them
were following their passions, Diana said.
She was working in the back office of a
jewelry store, and Ross was selling cars.
They both realized they wanted more in
life, she said.
"I already had my cosmetology license,
and I was just taking a break from it, and
I was trying something different, and I
realized that wasn’t for me," Diana said.
"I really needed to do something with my
hands and I needed to be creative. So I
started looking at getting back into the hair
world."
Ross noticed a lack of men's clothing
stores as he shopped locally, and he kept
hoping that someone would open a men's
16 September / October 2020