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Thursday, March 30, 2006
i 1 i > i i n A'
featuring
‘Women in Retail”
Judith F. Osei Tutu
Owner, “Liberty Services”
By Fran Farrer-Nash
VIE CHARLOTTE POST
“Ladies should be looked
upon as queens. And, as queens
we want to look good, we want to
represent,” said Judith F. Osei
Tutu. That is why she broadened
her horizons and expanded her
original business plan. After
receiving rave reviews over her
daily choices of Africiui heritage
ensembles. Osei Tutu decided to
import a few for sale. The first
shipment moved much faster than
she imagined. Now she stocks a
full line of African clothes and fab
rics, shoes, jackets, handbags, and
jewelry.
Osei Tutu has assisted area
churches and businesses by pro
viding African attire for fashion
shows.. “You will find garments
and fabrics here that can’t be found
in other shops because they're not
only special orders, but special
designs,” she said..
Coming from a banking envi
ronment. Osei Tutu realized that
mergers, unannounced downsiz
ing, and generally unstable situa
tions were becoming the norm. ‘I
began thinking, it's dme to take a
risk - to do .something for my.self.
It if works, great, if not, at least I
tried,” said Osei Tutu.
As a former banker she found
that many African Americans did
not have, or could not get checking
accounts and credits cards which
Judith Tutu
makes it hiud to pay bills, make
purchases, or conduct business in
general. This prompted her move
into entrepreneurship. She opened
Liberty Services in 2001. The goal
was to provide a convenient bill
paying location, check cashing
alternatives, pre-paid phone iuid
credit cards, fax and notary ser
vices.
Relocating to Charlotte was
prompted while visiting friends in
1988. Osei Tutu saw women busi
ness owners, and realized it is
doable. “There’s not as much red
tape for women in business as for
men,” Osei Tutu said. “Charlotte
is what you make it. Live fast, or
relaxed, it's up to you. I loye it, I
feel at home," she said
A native of Ghana, Africa,
Osei Tutu immigrated to New
York in 1981. From 1987-1989,
she attended Long Island
Lfniver.sity, Brooklyn Campus,
transferred to the University of
Maryland Baltimore County, and
received her B.A. in marketing,
management^usiness in 1995.
Osei Tutu studied at Johns
Hopkins University from 1996-
1997 and is a candidate for a
Masters in liberal arts, internation
al business, languages and bank
ing.
Osei Tutu began a banking
career with Chase Manhattan
Bank as an account representative,
and was promoted to assistant
branch manager within two years.
In both positions she excelled top
ping previous accomplishments
and gamering commendations for
exceptional customer service.
Osei Tutu joined Metropolitan Life
Insurance/Metlife Securities as an
account representative, and earned
awards for selling four $1 Million
policies in a year. Knowing her
excellent banking record. The
Harbor Bank of Maryland hired
Osei Tutu as branch manager in
1999. She remained there until
relocating to Charlotte in 2001.
To relax Osei Tutu enjoys
reading, gardening and walking.
Tutu is happily married to Osei
Tutu Frimpong. They have have
two sons, Chris, 15, and Nick, 22
who works with Tutu in the store.
The family are members of
Friendship Missionary Baptist
Church.
Visit Judith at 3201 Beatties
Ford Road, Suite B, charlotte, NC
28216, call 704.398-1488, or
email:
IJbertyServices2@yahoo.com
PHOTOSAVADE NASH
Mecklenburg County
Women’s Commission
Hal Marshall Services Center
700 North Tryon St.
Suite 206
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704)336-3210
rAX(704)336-4198
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Brad Crawford
Account Executive
Direct: 704-622-9609
E-Mail: brad.segroup@hotmail.coD]
P.O. Box 790053
Charlotte, NC 28206
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