Sign of the Arrow Serves the Community With Distinction

The Sign of the Arrow is a retail shop in Ladue that has been able to give more than $3 million dollars to local charities since its humble beginnings in 1962. Here is their story on the Buzz.

Patch goes 1 on 1 with store manager Julie Filean.

Ladue-Frontenac Patch: How did this whole concept come about.

Julie Filean: A dozen women back in 1966 tired of finding ways to raise money through their sorority Phi Beta Phi and decided they would open a retail shop selling hand made needle point belts. Ten women each put in a $1,000 to get started. That was a lot of money in those days. Relatively quickly, each got their investment back. And the shop has continued to grow. They were definitely risk takes. A thousand dollars was a lot more than just grocery money in those days.

Patch: How many employees. How many full time; how many part time and how many volunteers.

Filean: Two full time employees; seven part time employees and we have about 70 some volunteers.

Patch: Have you always been in the same locaction.

Filean: From what I understand, we were in a slightly different place, but no one can remember where that was. A few doors either way.

Patch: How would you describe your services.

Filean: We are a full service needle point shop. We offer painted canvasses, finishing service, custom design. We offer classes and then we help anyone who comes through the door with the rest of their gift-giving needs. Everything from cards to paper products  to hostess weddings, showers, baby shower gifts and that sort of thing.

Patch: What are your unique signature items.

Filean: We are known for belts; we are the belt capitol of the World. We have a couple of volunteers who have encountered our needle point belts in London and in Paris. Both can trace their roots back to St. Louis. We ship belts across the country every day. I have a belt right here going to New Zealand and another to Australia. The stitcher is going to be stiching there on a boat.

Patch: What is the connection to Pi Beta Phi.

Filean: Pi Beta Phi is an alumni organization from St. Louis and the founders of our shop.

Patch: So what is your motto.

Filean: Benefiting charities, one stitch at a time.

Patch: Talk about your finishing services.

Filean: We have expert finishers, right here locally. We can finish anything from belts to ornaments, pillows, rugs. We can make your needle point into a pair of flip flop sandals. We can make it into a purse. We do some foot stools, some chair finishings. I have a women who is using the family crest on 8 dining room chairs. She is doing the stitching and we are finishing them for her.

In our custom design business, we’ll take a picture of someone’s pet or house and turn it into needlepoint.

Patch: Is this ever a seasonal business.

Filean: Definitely in the spring when the boys get their letters of acceptance to private high schools. Their moms want to make them a belt.

Patch: Talk about the charities you support.

Filean: We have a brunch in October or November to announce our grant process and award money to organizations. Our philanthropy committee meets and decides how they want to divide up the money to the non-profit organizations. An organization can only get funding three out of every five years. Many of the organizations we support are women’s and children’s types. They range from children’s opera theater to Gateway to Hope which funds breast cancer treatment and prevention for women who have no insurance or are uninsured. We were one of their start up funds when they began.

Hours of service:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9:30 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: 9740 Clayton Road, Phone number 314-994-0606 and and we can be reached at our website.