![](media/image1.png){width="1.979861111111111in"
height="1.0083333333333333in"} ***News Release***

New York District Office

Release Date: August 21, 2006 Contact: John Miller (212) 264-7770

Release Number: 06-31 e-mail: john.miller@sba.gov

***Area Air Travelers Soon to Get Pink Slipped***

**New York, NY**--- Since its opening in New York's Grand Central
Terminal in 2000, upscale lingerie retailer, The Pink Slip, has grown
successful from a devoted following of commuters, sightseers and
tourists. Flush with that success the small business is now looking to
expand into the area's airport terminals.

The tiny 337 square-foot space generates anywhere from \$500,000 to
\$900,000 per year, ranking it number five amongst all its co-tenants in
the terminal. Loyal customers are also able to purchase online, what
company founder and owner, Margo Andros, refers to as the ultimate
selection of intimate apparel.

With degrees in business and journalism, Andros had found corporate life
at one of New York City's leading newspapers to be unrewarding.
Initially at a loss as to what to do to find career satisfaction, she
finally decided to combine her love of fashion with her entrepreneurial
spirit.

Andros' first business foray entailed buying close-out undergarments
from around Manhattan and hawking them at city flea markets. Having made
\$2000 on her first day at a flea market, she knew she had found her
future. She continued to buy close-outs and sold them at six different
flea markets as well as at a month-long Grand Central Terminal market
wherein she grossed \$50,000.

Andros then decided she needed her own retail location and move from
selling close-outs to selling high-end lingerie. After spotting a small
space in Grand Central she lobbied the terminal owners, New York's
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to lease it to her. MTA
representatives were reluctant as they didn't see much of a future for
her type of store in the terminal. So Andros approached the U.S. Small
Business Administration's SCORE organization for help. With mentoring
from her SCORE counselor, Marvin Rosen, a specialist in manufacturing
and retailing, she developed a strong business plan in order to go back
and lobby for the lease. The business plan combined with her
determination convinced the Grand Central Terminal's leasing agents to
support her business venture, and she got her lease.

"So many people come into a SCORE office without any real experience or
the slightest under-standing of what a huge undertaking a small business
is," said Rosen. "In our sessions together, we went over all the
essentials including the necessity of knowing who your customer is so
that the quality, styling and price-points of your merchandise will meet
their needs," added Rosen.

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Andros now knows that transportation hubs are the sweet spot for her
particular business. So she is currently seeking to expand her retail
presence into New York area airports JFK and Newark Freedom as well as
Chicago's O'Hare. She has been working on the details for almost two
years along with guidance from Rosen. With a loyal and ever-expanding
clientele, Andros also plans to develop a private-line collection.

Andros advises other aspiring entrepreneurs to surround themselves with
experienced people\-\-- like SCORE counselors. If her past achievements
are any indication of her success, air travelers will soon be able to
pick up dainty undergarments before handing their boarding passes to the
ticket agent.

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*All of the SBA's programs and services are provided to the public on a
non-discriminatory basis. For more information about the SBA please
visit [www.sba.gov/ny/ny](http://www.sba.gov/ny/ny).*