Muscogee County GaArchives Photo Place.....Jack S. Schiffman 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 April 25, 2007, 9:32 pm

Source:             Special Sesquicentennial Supplement II, Ledger-Enquirer
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/jackssch12674gph.jpg
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               Clothing Chain Began Locally

               By Katherine McDuffie Modern Living 
                  Assistant Editor

  When Jack S. Schiffman opened his first store in 1952 he borrowed $15,000.
  Now he's one of Columbus' top businessmen, heading a merchandising empire 
with an annual volume of $12,000,000 and a goal of  $15,000,000 by 1980.
  "That $15,000 seemed to me like the national war debt," recalled Schiffman, 
57-year-old genial, dynamic president of a chain of 15 stores, each called 
Casual Corner.
  As the name suggests, the stores are casual, emphasizing sportswear for women 
and catering to the young-thinking customer.
  Stores, designed with rustic motifs, number two in Columbus, and there are 
ones in Nashville, Tenn., Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile in 
Alabama; and Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans in  Louisiana.  The two 
New - Orleans stores opened in March.
  Corporate headquarters for the chain, owned entirely Schiffman,  is Columus. 
They're in the remodeled and modernized former Lindsay Creek Post  office 
building on Midtown Drive.
  The headquarters' complex computer system which does everything from printing 
accounts payable to presenting sales analysis pictures. another unusual feature 
of the business is Schiffman's  affiliation with a group which calls itself 
Casual Corner of America, Inc.
  In fact, he's a charter member and current president. The group is made up of 
people presenting five groups and has 260 Casual Corner stores all over the 
country.
  "Our purpose is an exchange of ideas and information," Schiffman 
explains. "We pool and share our business know how." The group buys imports 
together, creates merchandise designs, and shares advertising materials, 
packaging and supplies, all which the stores have in common.
  Schiffman helped form the group in 1953 and changed the name of his first 
store, Town and Country, to Casual Corner in 1962. "There are other 
organizations like ours, said Schiffman, "but so far they don't seem to work as 
well as our does."    
  Schiffman employs 450 people, about 100 in Columbus. There are three buyers 
and one assistant. Their markets are primarily California and New York with 
some from Hong Kong, Europe and Taiwan. "We buy almost every month because 1 
feel the fashion scene changes every 45-60 days," said Schiffman.
  People is the reason Schiffman gives for his success. "You can say we operate 
on the Golden Rule. We're like a big family. We  treat people, customers and  
employees alike, just like we would like to be treated." 
  Casual Corner maintains a thorough training program in the expertise of 
merchandising for its employees.
  Schiffman, a native Tennessean, came to Columbus in 1934 from Huntsville, 
Ala. Before opening his first store at 1332 13th St., he worked for a family 
friend, the late Leslie Lilienthal at the Kayser-Lilienthal store on Broadway.
  "It was my idea to incorporate a sportswear department into his store," he 
recalled. "I realized then it was a boom zoom business." 
  When he opened Town and Country it was just Schiffman and a long-time 
employee, Mrs. Cecil Calhoun of Columbus. "We did all the buying, invoicing and 
the majority of selling," said Schiffman.  "Our rent was $200 a month. Today we 
pay that much a day." 
  Schiffman is married to the former Maxine Rosenberg, who is a partner in That 
Place. There are three children, Jack Jr., a teacher, and Bob and Mary Beth, 
college students.
  In addition to running his empire (he averages 60 hours a week at work), 
Schiffman is a member of the boards of the American Family Life Assurance Co. 
and Columbus Bank and Trust Co. He's active civically and is president of 
Temple Israel.
  In June he becomes chairman of the board of his company and will bring in 42-
year-old Edwin Poole of Nashville as president. John Weiss is Casual Corner 
administrative vice president.
  Schiffman started flying in 1939 and was a fighter pilot in World War II. He 
still flies, piloting  Beechcraft  Duke on various bi-monthly  visits to his 
stores as well as buying trips.
  Besides flying be likes golf, fishing" and growing plants.
  He grows  orchids at home with no greenhouse.  In the winter he uses a Gro 
Light the children gave him. In the spring he puts them out under pine trees 
and they do beautifully.
Casual Corner  and  Schiffman's orchids seem to have something in  common.




Special Sesquicentennial Supplement II 
Ledger-Enquirer, Sunday, April 23, 1978, S. 30




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