Tell us about your retail store.

Maria H. Neves founded The Crowning Touch, Inc. in 1995. Previously she was President of Delilah’s Bridal Salon, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The salon was one of the largest bridal salons in New England and offered a small selection of pageant attire. Ms. Neves began her affiliation with pageantry as the mother of an avid pageant competitor. After realizing the large demand for pageant attire in New England, she decided to retire from the bridal industry and pursue pageant consulting. Now, clients who travel from as far away as Alaska visit The Crowning Touch.

What are your policies for doing business online?

You cannot purchase online.

What divisions do you carry?

Pageant clothing only — gowns, swimsuits, interview suits, jewelry, shoes, and other attire worn for pageants, including talent and arrival outfits.

Do you offer custom design services?

Yes, we do offer custom design services. We can custom design and create gowns and costumes in house. We also have custom designs available through some of our vendors, who are leading pageant designers.

Do you offer gown registry?

Yes, we offer gown registry for national competitors.

What are some of the unique services offered at your store?

We are a one-stop pageant shop for a competitor entering any pageant system. We have a wide knowledge of various pageants, and believe it is crucial to understand each one. Many have distinct looks to strive for and some to avoid. Consulting sessions are tailored to each individual client and may include: wardrobe consulting that takes into account the client’s age, body type, height, coloring, budget, and personal taste; custom designer “dream wardrobes,” with every item of clothing tailored to fit the customer’s body; pageant consulting, including stage techniques basic walking skills, and interview preparation, with a game plan built according to the contestant and pageant system in which she is competing; color analysis by a trained color consultant; and wardrobe fitting and/or alterations. Shoes, jewelry, hosiery, bust enhancers, undergarments, and the like are available to complete any winning look.

We also host various seminars featuring nationally recognized photographers and makeup artists for photo shoots. Because we work by appointment only, each customer gets the undivided attention of the staff to guide them in their selections and preparations. To accommodate out-of-town customers, we also conduct about 10 trunk shows a year at hotels in various states, bringing with us a huge selection of inventory and a full staff, including a seamstress.

How do you reach your customers and grow your relationship with them?

Most of our customers come to us by word-of-mouth or through state pageants that we sponsor.

Where do you see your business and industry trends heading?

Pageants have gone through many changes in recent years. More and more people are learning about pageantry through reality TV shows as well as heightened exposure of national titleholders. I think this will encourage more young women to participate in the coming years.

Why do you love what you do?

I love what I do because it’s extremely rewarding. Rarely does a week go by that I do not receive a phone call or note from a satisfied customer saying thank you for making them feel special and look their best. I believe that I help boost self-confidence and bring out the best in each competitor whom I dress. It’s also great to see past customers like Susie Castillo and Maria Menounos achieve their great career success.

Maria Neves

www.thecrowningtouchinc.com
508-996-3758