Megan Wettach first timer at 3rd Annual Bridal Fair in Keokuk, Iowa

Eastern Iowa's largest prom store will make its first appearance at the third annual Bridal Fair at the River City Mall in Keokuk Sunday, Jan. 29.

Since Megan Wettach opened Premier Prom in Mount Pleasant in October 2001, the 22-year-old owner has seen her business expand rapidly. She opened her bridal division in July 2004. Wettach also is a junior at the University of Iowa and commutes to classes from her hometown.

“It's a very difficult juggling act, but I have a very good staff and sales consultant,” said Wettach by phone. “They help the store run on a day-to-day basis and make it very successful. We've just renovated the salon. We also offer complimentary wine and cheese bridal consulting.”

The store's clientele comes from a three-hour radius of Mount Pleasant, according to Wettach, who is majoring in liberal studies with a certificate in entrepreneurship at Iowa. The store, which has 1,500 dresses, was featured in a six-page spread in Bridal Sources magazine.

Wettach credits her store's success to its large selection and premium service.

“If you listen to your customers and give them what they want, you'll be successful,” she said.

She also owns The Megan Amanda Collection, a line of interview suits for pageant participants carried by Nordstrom and Von Maur. The collection got a boost two years ago when she was awarded $5,000 for developing one of the best new venture business plans in Iowa. Gov. Tom Vilsack also mentioned her name in his 2002 State of the State Address.

Customers come from a six-hour radius of Mount Pleasant to see her line of pageant clothing, she said.

Her father has a MBA degree from the University of Iowa.

“It helped tremendously when I started,” Wettach said. “I want to focus on The Megan Amanda Collection and graduating at this point.”
[ Read it all at Keokuk's Gate City Online ]