WICHITA, Kansas, March 12, 2008 – A local store has found its niche with parrots and prom dresses.

There's plenty of beauty inside ParrotFaNalia. Nancy Blum studied fashion design in school and opened a clothing store before malls and power centers were where girls bought dresses.  Her father in law told her that her store on south Hillside was the perfect location.

“I took a loan out,” said Blum, owner of ParrotFaNalia. “Back then, it was nothing, 38 years ago, I think I had $25,000.”

After the first decade, ParrotFaNalia struck retail gold by developing a niche market.

They are known across the region for their prom, pageant, wedding and special occasion dresses and accessories.

“It's more fun selling these kinds of dresses where people are going to parties than jeans and you know, things like that,” Blum said.

Nancy has been very successful with ParrotFaNalia for almost 40 years. Part of it is due to her vast, eccentric inventory. There are so many dresses you can barely get through the store. It's also known for service. For example, Blum takes a tally of dresses for a particular event. That way two girls won’t show up at the prom with the same dress on. 

“We have second and third generations now with people coming in and saying, 'oh, I bought my dress here, and I'm bringing in my daughter,’” Blum said.

Nancy adamantly defends the location of her store and says she'll never move.  When asked about retirement, she says she's having too much fun and making too good of a living at it.

“I really haven't thought about it, but I’ll be taking offers,” she laughs.