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All In The Family

Dads and daughters make great business teams.

Judy Greenwald I Special to the Jewish News

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Harold and Jessica Rotherberg of Hersh's

Happy At Hersh's

"Having my daughter working for me has
been wonderful:' said Harold Rothenberg.
The 54-year-old has been working in the
clothing business since he was 15 and was
employed by his mother, Marilyn, at her
store, Just Marilyn's in Southfield.
As a boy, I was always surrounded by
fashion. At 21, I went to work at my moth-
er's store to learn more about the women's
clothing business and was taught the
ropes of buying for a women's boutique.
"After a few years of working there,
my parents felt I was ready to begin my
own journey, and I opened my own bou-
tique, Hersh's — my nickname — on the
Boardwalk in 1984:'
Explaining that daughter Jessica, 25,
had helped out when she was able to over
the years, it was this March that she began
working full time in his store, which fea-
tures women's casual wear and sportswear.
As a parent, it's never easy watching
your kids grow up, but it's also amazing
watching as they mature into adults:' he
said. "Jessica is truly talented, and she
definitely can teach me some new things.
I'm always so proud of her:'
Said Jessica, "Working with family is a
very different experience than having an
unrelated boss. It's great seeing my dad
as more than just my dad. He has a way
with his customers and knows what they
like and how to make sure they feel great

24 October 23 • 2014

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Ariana and Mark Blumenfeld of Rear Ends

in what they wear. I can learn a lot from
him:'
She noted that adding "boss" to her
dad's roles of parent and friend does lead
to a more complex relationship.
"Sometimes it's hard to view my dad
as my boss:' she admitted. "I find I take it
more personally when he's disappointed in
me than I would with any other boss. It's
hard when you make a mistake because
you only want to be the best and make
your parents proud. But I have no com-
plaints, and neither does my dad.
"We get to do what we love as a career
and we get to do it together. What's really
special is we get to spend so much time
together. It's fun to hang out with my fam-
ily and, if we can make money while hav-
ing fun together, that's an added bonus:'

Family Works At Rear Ends

The bonus of the family angle is apparent
to the Blumenfelds at Rear Ends as well.
Mark, 63, has grown to rely on his daugh-
ter's business abilities.
"I look at the woman my daughter has
become and I swell with pride he said.
"She's gifted in the people end of the busi-
ness, her product knowledge is encyclo-
pedic, and she has a fantastic memory for
fits, washes and styles."
Mark and wife, Elaine, opened their
shop in 1978 in Southfield and have been
in the West Bloomfield location since

Robert Wolk and Katie Wolk Johnston from Sundance
Shoes

1994. Their store focuses on a product
line of premium denim brands and other
women's items, and daughter Ariana, 30,
has been employed there full time for 10
years. She became a partner two years ago.
"It doesn't get any better than having
my daughter with me on an almost-daily
basis:' Mark said. "Poor kid. I drive her
crazy, but that's in loving retribution for
her 'abusing' me on a constant basis:'
"Abuse" notwithstanding, Ariana said
that she finds working with her father a
rewarding endeavor, one that started when
she was 14.
"I think the greatest thing about work-
ing with my parents is that I never have
a week go by without seeing them, which
is really special. But having a parent as
a business partner can be challenging or
comforting, depending on the day. Some
days we don't communicate as boss/
employee or majority/minority partner.
It's easy to slip into the roles of father/
daughter, or even daddy/little girl.
"Most days, though, it's amazing to have
my dad by my side she added. "I can go
to him for advice, vent when I'm stressed
or laugh at things only he and I think are
funny:'

Sunny At Sundance

Robert Wolk and his daughter Katie Wolk
Johnston from Sundance Shoes, which
carries a large selection of women's shoes

and accessories, use both humor and
respect for each other in their working
lives.
"You need levity at work for a really
good relationship:' Robert said, "especially
when you work with family:'
At 65, he certainly knows about family
and footwear. His father was in the shoe
business, running the Village Cobbler
at Eight Mile and Greenfield in Detroit.
Robert's wife, Edie, would bring their
two children, Katie and James, to their
stores in Northland, Eastland and Fairlane
malls to help out. Sundance Shoes made
its move to West Bloomfield in 1982, and
has twice expanded its retail space at the
Boardwalk.
"I started working with my family at a
very young age said Katie, 32. "I would
get shoes for the women, and my dad
would always introduce me as his new
manager at the age of 3!"
Robert added, "It's an honor and my
greatest pleasure to come into our store
every morning and see the most beautiful
girl in the world. I only hope this contin-
ues, and that one day my grandchildren
will choose to continue this legacy:'
Katie echoed his feelings of honor at
working side-by-side.
"My dad is the best businessman I
know:' she said. "He's a true inspiration.
My background in interior design and
business management helped my decision