Harry Mayer Clothiers Honored with Small Business Leadership Award

Harry Mayer, Jr., the second-generation owner of Harry Mayer Clothiers in Meridian, Miss., was honored in April with a 2015 Small Business Leadership Award by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. The award was given at a community and business networking event.

“The award is given to a business with fifty employees or less that has been in business over five years,” said Mayer’s daughter Michelle, who is also works for the store. “It is given to successful businessmen who lead by example within their business and also their community; the award is based on community involvement, growth records within the business, evolvement of the business and a business succession plan.”

In an interview with the Meridian Star, Mayer was grateful and humble. “I would like to give thanks to the Dear Lord who has blessed me beyond belief with great health and who has allowed me to have a passion for a job that I really love. Second, I would thank my family for being loving and encouraging. Third, I cannot thank our wonderful staff enough for the great work that they do to make our company what it is today.”

“Not only was he our first choice but he was a unanimous choice,” EMBDC Chairman Bob Luke told the Star. “Harry is a great example of someone who offers great value and a commitment to service. He epitomizes good business and he loves his community.”

Mayer’s father, a Jewish immigrant who managed to get out of Nazi Germany in 1937 at the age of 17, opened the store in 1972 after managing a local department store. Mayer took over the business when his father passed away in 1981. The store moved from downtown Meridian to a new location on Highway 39 in about 2005. The store carries brands like Southern Tide, Scott Barber, Peter Millar and Cole Haan. Mayer added women’s wear, which has become about 30% of the business, in 1997.