Designer Wearhouse retirement liquidation sale

Designer Wearhouse’s owner Zaina Clark

By Sarah Shurge – For over 40 years, Designer Wearhouse sat at the corner of W. Michigan Ave and Wayne Rd. If you were stopped at either red light, you could stare into the store’s windows and see the latest fashion on display.
Now if you’re stopped at a red light and look into the store’s windows, you see something else – sale signs.
Everything in the store is marked 20 – 60% off due to Designer Wearhouse’s owners Zaina and Jeff Clark retiring. “We’re not going out of business, we’re just retiring. I had to call it quits at some point,” said Zaina Clark.
Clark has put off retiring for over five years for her customers. “The store has been more than just a business. It’s been about the people and relationships,” said Clark.
Clark didn’t always want to run a business. She has a background in the medical field. But her husband, Jeff, was working for someone in the building that is now Designer Wearhouse and he mentioned that it was a good location on a busy corner and would be a good place to do a clothing store.
With zero business experience, she jumped into it blindly. “Many people helped me learn the business – vendors, clothing shows. God put me in the right place with the right people to guide me and teach me,” said Clark.
Jeff helped Clark with the business, working more in the background. “He’s my partner in life and also in business,” said Clark.
And Clark’s business has been a success.
“My selection, my windows, and word of mouth – those things made me successful,” said Clark. Clark didn’t mind carrying extra inventory of all sizes for all her customers.
“I had something for everyone,” said Clark. “If I didn’t have the size, I got the size that people wanted. I tried to keep a selection and always thought about what my customers would like.”

Zaina Clark straightening up the store during the liquidation sale.

More than Clark cares about the items she stocks on the racks; she cares about making people happy. “It’s about sharing with customers beyond the sale. That personal touch,” said Clark. “I’m so grateful for what my customers have done for me and for staying loyal to me.”
When Clark announced her retirement, she received mixed responses from her customers. Some were happy that she was retiring, while others were upset the store would be closing. All still showed their support for her and her business.
“I wanted to close earlier but because of the overwhelming response from my customers, as a thank you, I brought in more new merchandise to give customers an opportunity to buy at a discount,” said Clark.
All new items coming in will be offered at 20% discount, while other items are marked down more.
Designer Wearhouse will be closing towards the end of August (no official date yet).
“None of us have the promise of tomorrow. It was a hard and emotional decision, but I have to let the business go,” said Clark. “I’m extremely grateful and feel blessed to be there this long. God has blessed me with having chosen the perfect place to have a business and be successful. I thank every person that has walked in that store, and every employee that has worked for me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
In her retirement, Clark is excited to pursue traveling, taking care of her family, and volunteering. “I’m looking forward to seeing where God guides me next. It feels like there’s something else I’m supposed to be doing,” said Clark.
Designer Wearhouse is located at 35028 Michigan Ave, and is open 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Monday, and 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Hours on Monday might change due to demand. For more information about Designer Wearhouse, call (734)595-7445. You can find Designer Wearhouse on Instagram by searching “@designer_wearhouse-_wayne” Be sure to check social media for a surprise the last week of August.
“I’m proud that I did well as a woman in an industry that is typically male dominated,” said Clark. “They may not have taken me seriously at the beginning, but they learned that I knew what I was doing.”
Designer Wearhouse still has plenty of merchandise, but things are going fast and inventory changes daily. Don’t miss out on the liquidation sale!