Family comes first for Selma businessman
Published 6:59 pm Monday, July 14, 2014
Sam Dabit, left, helps his father, Zuheir, sort clothes at the family’s store, On Time Fashions, Monday afternoon. (Christopher Edmunds | Times-Journal)
By Christopher Edmunds
The Selma Times-Journal
Running a successful clothing store is a family affair for Zuheir Dabit, owner of On Time Fashions in downtown Selma.
The store’s Alabama Avenue location is stocked with clothing for every occasion, a slight change since Dabit’s parents started the business in 1974.
“We started out with just basically dress clothes when my parents had it, but now it’s about half and half dressy and casual,” Dabit said. “We didn’t carry any name brands, but since the ‘90s we carry the major brands.”
On Time Fashions now carries several major brands, including Levis, Chaps, Akoo and LRG. The racks are filled with everything from suits to shoes to casual shirts and pants.
Since Dabit received the business in the early 1990s from his father, the store has grown tremendously.
To make room for a rapidly expanding inventory, a dividing wall was removed in 2002, and On Time Fashions grew to double its original size.
Dabit said the expanded inventory is necessary because of the wide customer base at On Time Fashions.
“We carry items for everybody from dressing up a little kid to a 95-year-old man,” Dabit said. “From dressy to casual, we have whatever you need.”
The staff at On Time Fashions can do much more than just pick out a nice outfit.
Besides the retail clothing sales, the store can do alterations, custom shirt screen printing and more. Dabit said the tuxedos sold at the store rival what customers can rent for close to the same price.
“Anything that involves clothes, we do it,” Dabit said.
The store stocks school uniform items, but Dabit said his biggest season is always around Christmas.
“We sell a lot of gift certificates and in-store purchases for gifts,” he said.
While On Time Fashions has grown to include locations in Northport, Ala., Oxford, Ala., and Savannah, Ga.,
The Selma location is the original, and Dabit said it will always be home.
“We’re just looking to keep the family business going,” Dabit said. “My father is still involved in the business, and I hope my kids will keep it going one day.”
