IN PROFILE: Nancy Swanik
BUSINESS: Owner Swanik’s Embroidery
AGE: 64
BACKGROUND: “I was a teacher for 29 years in Missouri. My husband was in outsourcing screen printing there and I wanted something to do when I retired. We went to a convention and bought our first embroidery machine. When we sold the business in Missouri, we came here, bought another machine and started at the swap meet held at the old Skate Zone. We opened Swanik’s Embroidery when the swap meet closed.”
FIRST JOB: “I was a sales clerk in a department store in Missouri when I was 18.”
YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I have lived in Pahrump for five years and opened the business four years ago. We are members of the Chamber of Commerce and contribute to the community if they approach us. Not many do. We’ve done work for the AKC agility dog organization, the VFW, NyE Communities Coalition and are doing some work for the Pahrump Valley High School cheerleaders.”
PERSONAL: “I love to play bridge and sew for myself, although I don’t sew for other people. I like crafty things.”
BUSINESS CLIMATE: “I think we should support our own community by keeping the money here. Shop local. There are a lot of small businesses closing because they can’t make it. A lot of people say they hear about us by word-of-mouth, so that kind of advertising works for us. We need light industry and better-paying jobs here. One thing that annoys me is that organizers don’t advertise their events. The only way you know about them is to see a bunch of people gathered somewhere.”
