At Haberdasher, we treat our employees like family, and they, in turn, treat you like family too. We pride ourselves on being problem solvers, and we work hard to take the hassle out of uniforms and promotional products so that you can focus on what you do best—running your business.
In 2009 when we launched our husband-and-wife business, little did we know that much like our own family, it would grow and blossom. Our team’s hard work, expertise and good humor are the foundation of our continued success.
Christie Owens
Embroidery Manager
Henry Tucker
Lead Embroidery Operator
Ryan Smith
Embroiderer / Utility Man
Yvonne Peery
Office Administrator
Keith “Li’l Ronnie” Owens
Sales Representative
“I’ve known Scott and Helen since the mid-’90s. In 2009 when they launched Haberdasher, I was unemployed and offered to help them with some business development. Within a few weeks, I knew I never wanted to work in corporate America again. Twelve years later, I am still here and plan to retire here. Working for a small family-owned business has been an extremely rewarding last chapter of my long sales career.”
Laura | Sales Representative
Haberdasher employee since 2009
Helen Ilnicky
Chief
Helen was contemplating going back to school to earn a Masters of Library Science when the economy collapsed in 2009. She and Scott decided to go out on their own and launched Haberdasher Corporate Apparel. While she had a previous career as “Sellin’ Helen” in the real estate business, she’d left to focus on raising the three Ilnicky kids and managing her family’s busy household.
As the daughter of a CPA, bookkeeping was in her genes, and she found she enjoyed the challenges of running our uniform business. Although her role is behind the scenes and is focused mainly on purchasing and financial matters, most of our customers know that if you really want an answer—go to Helen.
When Helen isn’t running Haberdasher or the Ilnicky family she can be found making art out of recycled materials. She also enjoys writing, cycling, traveling to new places, and sharing her love of reading with her 29 years—and counting—book club.
Scott Ilnicky
Chief Haberdasher
Scott has spent his entire career in various sales roles and has been in the uniform and apparel business since 1995. His diverse experience in the uniform industry includes field sales in the industrial rental laundry business, running a national account team in the rental uniform business, working for the world’s largest apparel manufacturer and finally, direct sales. This extensive industry experience gives Haberdasher an edge in “building better mousetraps” for delivering uniforms to clients than the competition.
Scott is a DJ on a community radio station, WRIR, where he has hosted The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit show on Monday nights since 2008. When he is not out selling or spinning tunes, he can be found checking out live music, blasting tunes for the neighbors from his patio, watching movies, exercising and making lists.
Galen Plunkett
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Galen is the definition of the “renaissance employee.” He really can and does do a little bit of everything. Originally brought on board as Office Manager, it was soon clear that he had a diverse skill set that enabled him to not only manage the office but the warehouse too. Plus, as a bonus, he has a knack and passion for IT.
Since Galen joined Haberdasher in 2016, he has helped transform many of Haberdasher’s internal processes and systems and helped improve the way we interface with our customers, vendors and decorator partners. We do not know how we lived without him!
When Galen is not being a right-hand man at the office, he loves spending time with his wife, Katie, and son Leo, and their two loveable pups, Cassie and Winks. He is an excellent cook and handyman. He also enjoys going out to see live music, exploring Richmond and traveling with his family.
Christie Owens
EMBROIDERY MANAGER
Christie joined the team in 2020 when we brought the embroidery in-house, but our relationship with her goes back to 2014 when her own company began doing contract work for Haberdasher. She has spent several decades in this industry and is an expert in both embroidery and screen printing. She has run the decoration operations for several large companies and has owned and operated an apparel company, too.
Christie manages the embroidery crew at Haberdasher as well as our contract embroidery relationships. She has an eye for detail and is one reason our embroidery is the best in the business. She doubles as our in-house graphics person.
When Christie is not at work, she can be found volunteering in the gardens at parks in her neighborhoods, taking care of her backyard chickens, binging great television and spending time with family and friends.
Henry Tucker
LEAD EMBROIDERY OPERATOR
Henry joined the team when Haberdasher brought the embroidery in-house, but we feel like we have known him since we launched this business because he worked for two different embroiderers that used to decorate for Haberdasher. Henry has been an embroidery operator for over 30 years, and we do not think there is anyone in the region as good or as fast as him. He gobbles up the orders as fast as we can get the product in the warehouse doors.
When Henry is not knocking out orders, he loves working in his immaculate yard, tackling DIY projects and watching Westerns.
Ryan Smith
EMBROIDERER / UTILITY MAN
Ryan came on board when Haberdasher acquired another embroidery company. He is a skilled embroiderer and eager to learn the business. He is also a versatile team member who is happy to help by making deliveries in the Haberdasher van, checking in shipments or sorting orders for delivery.
When Ryan is not at work, he can be found playing bass and singing in one of his two punk rock bands, Talk Me Off and NC17.
Yvonne Peery
office administrator
Yvonne is Haberdasher’s newest team member but one of our oldest friends. She brings her UVA Comm School skill set, big company expertise and a set of fresh eyes to Haberdasher’s nagging operational issues. She is helping Haberdasher implement a new set of best practices. In addition to her admin role, she is helping to streamline many of our processes.
Yvonne loves to spend time with her family, especially at their home on the Potomac in Colonial Beach. She also enjoys traveling with her sister. She is a maker at heart and is happiest when gardening (or playing in the dirt!)
Keith “Li’l Ronnie” Owens
sales representative
Keith is the other half of the other married couple at Haberdasher. He and Christie have owned several embroidery and screen-printing companies together over the years. Although he now spends most of his time running his blues record label, Ellersoul Records, he brings vast industry knowledge to his part-time sales role and has a devoted customer base that followed him to Haberdasher.
When Keith is not selling apparel or signing artists to his label, he is likely to be found playing somewhere in one of his bands as Li’l Ronnie blowing his harmonica or banging his drums.
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