Defying the Odds

"Marcia Israel-Curley is the retail visionary behind Judy's, a fashion institution from the moment its first tiny store (7 feet wide and 12 feet deep!) opened in an offbeat Los Angeles neighborhood in 1948, until it was sold in 1989, as a major public company with 104 stores and 2000 employees. Called Judy's because the tiny store could only fit a sign large enough for five letters, it was the first boutique geared to clothing for young women, at a time when teenaged girls had to shop at large department stores and dress like their mothers. Before the Gap, The Limited, or Express, there was Judy's.". "Judy's grew into a major retail conglomerate with Marcia Israel at the helm, and its innovations were regularly tracked by major American newspapers such as Women's Wear Daily, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.". "A remarkable role model with a wealth of experience and business acumen, Israel-Curley has a straightforward style that makes her lessons for success an engaging and informative read. This is the story of a businesswoman with vision and an uncompromising work ethic who let nothing stand in her way. Defying The Odds is a success story with a built-in course in retail entrepreneurship, the inspirational memoir of a self-made woman, and a moving tale of dedication and honesty."--BOOK JACKET.