Daniel Jean-Joseph and Dana Neff
by James Rada, Jr. photography by Amy McIntyre Devilbiss
Although Westminster has a huge warehouse filled with top-of-the-line women’s clothing, it’s not someplace women are flocking to to buy their summer wardrobes. Few people realize Carlisle Etcetera is on Littlestown Pike and even if they do see the building, it’s not obvious what it sells. Yet, Carlisle Etcetera is one of the top women’s clothing companies in the country.
“You can’t buy our clothing in a store,” said Dana Neff, operations manager for Carlisle Etcetera in Westminster. “Everything is sold direct through our consultants.”
Carlisle Etcetera is a high-end fashion company based in New York on Long Island. It was founded in 1981. Tom James and Royal Spirit Limited purchased the company in 2012.
“Long Island is really expensive and we wanted to purchase something that we would own,” said Dana Neff, operations manager for Carlisle Etcetera in Westminster.
Carlisle Etcetera purchased their warehouse in Westminster in 2014. Its 100,000 square feet of storage space is filled with women’s clothing designed for the current fashion seasons.
Carlisle Etcetera does not have retail locations. Instead, trained wardrobe consultants, who work primarily from their homes, meet with interested buyers. The consultants show their clients samples of the latest collections offered by either the Carlisle brand or the Etcetera brand. The clients can try on the outfit, if it’s the right size, or they see the shape of the garment and feel the quality of the material.
“The consultants are trained in how to measure someone to get the proper fit and are shown the fabrics and what pieces and colors go together,” Neff said.
Because the wardrobe consultant develops a personal relationship with her buyers, she learns their fashion preferences that allows the consultant to provide personalized service.
Once orders are placed, the clothing is shipped from the Westminster distribution center around the country.
“This is our building,” Neff said. “We’re here to stay and we love being able to bring employment to the community. For me, I really like the small-town atmosphere here.”
Business Bits
carlisle/etcetera www.carlislecollection.com • www.etcetera.com 1200 Independence Way, Westminster, Maryland 21157
- Both Etcetera and Carlisle are owned by Tom James Company, which also owns the English American Tailoring Company in Westminster.
- The Carlisle Etcetera has an 80,000-square-foot footprint, but inside the building is a mezzanine that adds an additional 20,000 square feet of storage space.
- Prior to being the home for women’s fashion, the warehouse was used by an auto parts manufacturing company.
- Carlisle Etcetera is the largest direct-selling womenswear company in the United States.
- Carlisle clothing is considered the higher-quality of the two clothing lines.
- Etcetera clothing is considered a little “edgier,” according to Neff.
- Last year’s Carlisle Etcetera clothing can be found in fine retail outlets called Limited Edition for Her.
- The closest consultants to Carroll County are in Reisterstown (Etcetera brand) and Baltimore (Carlisle brand).
- Carlisle Etcetera has more than 900 consultants selling their products. Only one consultant sells both lines. All of the other consultants handle either the Carlisle brand or the Etcetera brand.
- Carlisle Etcetera is a privately held company.
