Baumans Mens Store

Wayne Ratcliff wants to help men look good.

As owner of Baumans Men’s Store in Little Rock, he gets to do just that.

The clothing store’s revenue dipped from $3.8 million in 2000 to $3.7 million 2001, a decline blamed primarily on the economic uncertainty that followed September 11. But 2002 made up for it with sales of more than $4 million.

Ratcliff acknowledges that his customers will pay more in his store filled with clothing from the world’s top designers such as Armani and Brioni, but they are going to receive excellent service in exchange.

“People need help today,” he said. “If you have a clothing problem … we’re really guides and we’re consultants. We hold your hand.”

One of the reasons for the company’s success is it sells the right merchandise for the customer’s needs, whether it be a wedding or a company presentation.

Another reason is that Ratcliff has instilled in his sales staff that every time they deliver merchandise to customers, it has to be just right.

“It’s something that you can be proud of … and you never have to say you’re sorry that you sold that to them,” Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff bought the store in 1973, when it was struggling on Main Street. Two years later he closed the Main Street location and moved into the second floor of the First Commercial Building in Little Rock.

The move proved to be a good one. Attorneys and other professionals who worked in the building were frequent customers of the store.

Foreseeing the trend of businesses moving to west Little Rock, Ratcliff opened another Baumans in 1993 in the Pavilion in the Park.

After he closed the First Commercial Building location in the late 1990s, he expanded the Pavilion in the Park location.

With 20 employees, Baumans plans on expanding even more by diving deeper into shoe sales and by introducing a department of less expensive clothing for younger customers.

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