Joe & Yvonne Raley: Passion for Fashion
High school sweethearts Joe and Yvonne Raley grew up in a small southern Oklahoma town and married at age 19. Both graduated college with distinction — Yvonne with a bachelor’s of science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Oklahoma and Joe with a bachelor’s in business/finance from University of Central Oklahoma.
Joe owns his own State Farm agency and has been with the company for 28 years. Yvonne, still a practicing dental hygienist after 28 years and a group fitness instructor, runs and owns the other family business, Nicole Maree Bridal at The Avenue Viera. They celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary in July.
The Raleys have two daughters, Alexa, 23, a doctorate student of physical therapy, and Ashton, 19, a business student.
How do you balance home and business. Does one of you take primary responsibility for the home or businesses or do together?
After becoming empty nesters, Yvonne had more time to pursue her passion for fashion and purchased LA Bridal, rebranding it to Nicole Maree Bridal. Now with each of us owning our own business, balance is key. Each one provides support for the other either in business and at home. Joe is everything from the bookkeeper, bill payer and maintenance man for the bridal shop, and Yvonne helps out wherever needed at the insurance agency.
Home is definitely a balance, where we work together to get what needs to be done.
What legacy are you hoping to create with your businesses? Do you give back to the community?
The main legacy we wish to create is with our customers. We strongly believe in providing exceptional customer service. We understand that customers have a choice as to where they buy their insurance and bridal dresses. However, we strive to provide that “experience” and have a variety of selection as to where we assist in meeting their wants/needs and help fulfill their dreams. We hope both businesses thrive even after our time has come and gone.
We strongly believe in being involved and giving back to our community. We are members of Melbourne, Palm Bay and Cocoa Beach chambers, with Joe serving on the Palm Bay Chamber board for over 10 years. We volunteer whenever possible for many nonprofits and strongly believe in supporting our schools by being active with their Partners in Education program. We also donate many dresses to many organizations to help those who cannot afford a dress.
What are your top 3 strategies that have contributed to your successes?
- Strong customer service philosophy, providing that “WOW experience.”
- Doing business with utmost integrity and strong work ethic.
- Having proactive vision for the future direction of the businesses that meet and exceed the customers’ changing expectations and needs.
Nicole Maree Bridal
2271 Town Center Ave. Ste 113
Melbourne
321-373-1002
IG: @nicolemareebridal
FB: /nicolemareebridal
State Farm Insurance Agent Joe Raley
5030 Minton Road, Suite 1, Palm Bay
321-723-0333
FB: Search "Joe Raley-State Farm Agent"
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