Fashion for women over 40: How Fall River Fashion became Perth’s go-to for locals

By Denis Armstrong

Michele Murphy understands that for many women, a love of fashion and desire to look good doesn't end at 40.

And the women of Perth agree enough to make Fall River Fashions one of the town's most visited retailers.

It's an old-school store — 10,000 square feet of hardwood floors, embossed tin ceiling, antique glass showcases and staff who ask if there's anything you need among the one-of-a-kind dresses, jewellery, handbags or housewares.

The store would feel like a dress shop straight out of the 1960s were it not for the trendy garments and accessories that are the latest fashions. Much of the store's DNA comes from Murphy herself, a smart-looking redhead who likes new takes on vintage couture.

“I love old department stores,” Murphy says. “I'm showing my age, but there's something nice about being served. We're successful because we're speaking to what a lot of people are looking for: quality products made in Canada.”

Since opening in 2006, Fall River Fashions has seen lots of success and has expanded twice — it is now virtually the size of a small department store. Murphy and her husband Paul Zammit also own a trendy gelato cafe adjacent to the shop, and a gourmet food and home décor business upstairs.

“I like a bit of chaos, I like a bit of crazy,” Murphy jokes without being flippant. A tough-minded entrepreneur who is not averse to a little risk, it's evident that she enjoys challenges.

“In business, it's either going to work or it's going to fail, and if it fails, you'll learn a lesson and you'll get it right the next time,” she says. “Do we sometimes put the cart before the horse? Yes. We jump right in.”

Murphy did just that in 2001 when, tired of her globe-trotting career as an IT specialist, she and Zammit opened Fall River Restaurant, an award-winning restaurant and clothing store “in the middle of nowhere” on Highway 7 in Maberly, Ont. Once named Greenest Restaurant in Canada, the couple ran it until 2014.

“When we started, the only thing we knew about restaurants was sitting on the other side of the bar, drinking fine wine,” she admits wryly. “Most people would have all their ducks lined up before getting into a business as risky as this. But we had a vision, did our due diligence and left the rest to hard work.”

Then, in 2006, Murphy saw the empty storefront, an old jewellery store at 33 Gore St. in Perth. She instantly fell in love with the space.

“That was all it took for me, to see an empty space that needed filling,” she says. “It's like the old department store. I looked at what the town was missing [and] knew it could support the business.”

Indeed, business was so good on Gore Street, the store's had to expand twice, into 35 and 37 Gore, the town's former newspaper offices, just as you see it now.

While COVID-19 had its impact on many businesses, the pandemic lockdowns did little to slow sales down.

“I believe that if you take care of yourself and look good, you feel good,” she says. “It's one of the little tactics I use to get through the hard days.”

And indeed, Murphy's known hard days.

In 2010, she was diagnosed with cancer. She approached her health challenge with the same Irish determination she runs her business with. In the end, to no one but her oncologist's surprise, she beat the cancer. That experience reinforced her belief that life is short and not to be squandered — and with hard work, anyone could do anything.

“There are no quitters in my world,” she says. “I like to keep moving. What's behind me is behind me. I'm looking forward to what's next,” before adding, “I wish more people subscribed to the thinking that they can make anything work and find happiness in what you do, whatever that is. With hard work, you can make things happen.”

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