Roger Pothus is in high spirits this season.

He expects sales this month and next at Renaissance, the upscale clothing boutique he’s owned for nearly 40 years, to far surpass last year’s - even if they don’t come back to pre-Recession levels.

Exactly a year ago, Congress was holding General Motors’ feet to the fire and Pothus’ customers, who like many Michiganders are connected to the automotive industry, were too uncertain about the future to shell out money for fine duds. He says he sees far less fear of spending among his customers.

“We’re seeing an uptick. There are times when (business) drops dead, but I do see people not being as frugal, not being as scared," he says. "They spent a year denying themselves indulgences they’re used to, and now they’re coming back for more.”

In anticipation of a surge in sales, Pothus brought in inventory at a lower price point - under $100 - like scarves made by a local artisan and women’s and men’s tops. He carries merchandise by contemporary designers like Elie Tahari and Tallia Orange that appeal to younger customers, especially professionals.

“It’s something we did for the recession, but it plays into the season,” he explains.
Pothus also kicked off a promotion in which he’ll add 10, 15 or 20 percent to the value of a gift certificate, depending on the amount of the certificate. So far, no bites, but he’s confident the deal is good enough to draw in existing and new customers.

Although Renaissance's website is a significant asset to the business, Pothus says, he doesn’t sell clothing online. He prefers calling and e-mailing customers to let them know what’s going on in the store.

“I’ve found that a web presence every day becomes more important, but we’re not doing Internet sales," he says. "The major reason we don’t is that our stuff needs to be seen. On the Internet, you can’t tell the difference between a $200 suit and a $2,000 suit. This stuff is very touchy-feely.”

Renaissance has been around Ann Arbor since 1971, with its latest incarnation at 201 S. Division Street, at Washington. The current location doesn’t get the kind of foot traffic the store enjoyed when it was located on Main Street, but the shop offers free parking for customers and a cup of espresso to anybody who drops by. Pothus doesn’t see the decreased visibility as a disadvantage, and says he’s happy with his new landlord. Renaissance shares space with Google, among other tenants in the building.

“We traded foot traffic for drive-by traffic, which is higher than on Main Street,” he says.

Julie Edgar is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com