While an investigation continues into S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s alleged misreporting of compensation from her parent’s clothing store (and another examines the financial dealings of her father, the company’s registered agent) questions are now being asked about Exotica International itself.
Specifically, how does a small mom-and-pop store manage to report such exorbitant earnings?
Also, why did Exotica International shut down just days before Haley was elected – and then file for reinstatement a little over a month after Haley was sworn in?
According to the S.C. Secretary of State’s office, Exotica International filed for administrative dissolution in October of 2010 – two weeks before Haley edged S.C. Senator Vincent Sheheen in a closer-than-expected gubernatorial election.
Haley – who ran the books for Exotica International for years – said after the election that her parents were retiring.
On February 28 of this year, however, the company applied for reinstatement.
Sources in Lexington County have whispered about Exotica for years – alleging that the clothing store is a front for a loan-sharking operation.
Locals say the storefront (located on the back side of a strip mall) is rarely open, and that it simply doesn’t have enough customers or inventory to support its multimillion dollar sales claims. Also, the company’s website doesn’t accept online sales – or post prices for merchandise on its website.
Multiple sources have told FITS that emails sent to Exotica requesting information about its clothing prices were not returned.
Hmmmm …
***
By Reality Check April 13, 2011 at 4:09 pm
The real question should be why would anyone ever purchase these clothes? Oh, wait… that doesn’t seem to be an option. Good thing!
By Anonymous April 13, 2011 at 4:49 pm
The photos on their website haven’t been updated since 1985. I didn’t know we even had the internet back then.
By cash April 13, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Let the games begin.
By cash April 13, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Is loan “sharking” legal in SC?
By ---------------------------------------------------------- April 13, 2011 at 5:58 pm
The place where the business was located on 378 always had messages on their signage about Proverbs31 — the perfect wife. That’s all I know about it.
Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
###
There was also a massive (seemed to me at the time anyway) billboard campaign in Greenville, SC surrounding area a couple of years ago with the above verse on it. My daughter graduated from Governor’s School in Greenville in 2009. At the time I didn’t connect the dots. But I sure as hell do ***now***.
Nikki Haley is the “Bride of Satan!”
By MUSC April 13, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I thought this was a sex shop?
By ---------------------------------------------------------- April 13, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Sorry — the verse on the signage and billboards was actually this one:
Proverbs 30:29
“Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.”
By jim lewis April 13, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Back in the 60′s before that fat commine bastard Khrushchev tried to shove those IBM’s up Kennedy’s ass, I recall seeing a few pro Castro ads when Castro was still the darling of the Political Aristocracy.
Many of the ads featured one of his Chief Lieutenants, a particular nasty little piece of work named Che Guevara.
True it has been many years and I have just left Fat Buddies II full of been and wings, however the broads pictured on the web site for Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor’s family business look just like the ones in the Guevara ads. Especially the one in the middle. If she ain’t got a IBM up her skirt then what else can explain her apple being more Adam than Eve.
Roll on Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor, roll on.
By Todd April 13, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Pretty sure my ex girlfriend bought a dildo from there.
By Raj SC April 13, 2011 at 10:41 pm
They were big sh*t years back… my wife would complain they would send her stuff say in this shit would look great on you… them charge her, and she would be left with bill for course vs. shit with no intercourse?
By grifter April 13, 2011 at 11:22 pm
So, if you go to their site, you see their “collection.” If you click, “save as” on any of those images, they will have a name already populated (what the image name is on their server), I did two, and they each said daymor5 and daymor6 or something like that. I googled daymor. Daymor is a “couture” line by a company called Blake and Company. http://blakeandcompany.com/about.php Right there you see that same model. But if you go to the Daymore page on Facebook, none of the dresses are the same. So, their website is obviously not updated with their inventory. It’s just so fishy and weird… Why ahve fall dresses on your site, last season, when it’s summer/spring time for mother of the bride, etc.? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=87129&id=64755701299&l=f747771064
By Wilber Force April 13, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Hey, it’s the family business that need to be undressed!
By Wilber Force April 13, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Hey sic, get us a picture of that multi million dollar-back of the strip mall-out of date inventory-in business-out of business-in business-tax violating company.We want to see where Haley learned “the value of a dollar”!
By joseph reynolds April 14, 2011 at 8:40 am
If this has been “whispered about” for years…why was it covered up in the 2 years before she was elected governor?
By trace April 14, 2011 at 12:54 pm
She said her husband was the men’s wear manager for the store. No one remembers them having a men’s wear department. Hmmm.
By Go Cocks! April 14, 2011 at 3:18 pm
I stopped in once around 2000 and they did indeed have a small men’s wear section.
By Blake April 14, 2011 at 4:55 pm
I someone mentioned my website http://www.BlakeandCompany.com and one of the lines we represent. I am not sure why? Can someone explain. Thanks!
By Caution April 14, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Tax season… FOIA request time… Let’s see if the Haleys have filed, shall we?
By trace April 15, 2011 at 4:21 am
Without a doubt, the clothing pics on the Exotica website are long outdated, and show no resemblance to the current collection. Very odd and big red flag.
By Libb April 15, 2011 at 9:25 am
Anybody else notice Sewell’s picture attached to “Raj’s” comment?
By CindyC April 15, 2011 at 9:46 am
The only thing I notice is Jim Lewis’ obsession with Gypsy Queen. Every post. Everyday. Same old rant. Same potty mouth. Sad life.
By Bemused April 15, 2011 at 11:36 am
Mr. Blake, the question is whether Exotica in Lexington County SC is a current customer of yours, and why apparently out of date photos of your line are posted on their current website. Could you enlighten us?
By trace April 15, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Remember when we played hide and seek as children? If you were close, they would say you’re getting hot. Well, you’re getting hot.
By Blake April 15, 2011 at 12:40 pm
I am the New York showroom representing one of the collections that they have up on their website. I do not sell that store. I beleive that one of the road reps does.
By trace April 15, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Be more specific.
By Blake April 15, 2011 at 1:04 pm
My company does not sell that store.
By Pricey Flak April 15, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Blake,
Does anyone representing that line sell to Exotica?
By Blake April 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Not sure I deal with the Northeast territory.
By Pricey Flak April 15, 2011 at 1:44 pm
I guess it would be another rep… duh…
By trace April 15, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Blake, I am sure you can find out. We need for you to find out.
By Blake April 15, 2011 at 2:53 pm
You can contact any of the vendors on the site direct to see if they are selling the store
By jeffy01 April 15, 2011 at 3:34 pm
So thanks Blake for popping into our little local discussion and adding absolutely nothing. Great info sherlock.
By Pricey Flak April 15, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Jeffy01,
Where is your southern hospitality?
By Soft Sigh from Hell April 15, 2011 at 6:25 pm
“Anybody else notice Sewell’s picture attached to “Raj’s” comment?”
I did indeed.
By Scooter April 15, 2011 at 7:52 pm
CindyC: If that is the same Jim Lewis that I know, I will tell you he is not one bit interested in Haley in any sense, except to expose her for what she seems to be. And, he is very smart, and does not have a sad life. Just saying….
By CindyC April 15, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Thanks Scooter. I was not aware that the people who post on Fits know who the other people are who post here. So, you are telling me Jim Lewis is his real name. Hmmm. Just out of curiosity how can you determine how smart a person is? And even more so, how do you know the mental state of ones being? Happy or sad? And if Jim lewis “is not one bit interested in Haley in any sense” I find it odd that he spends a tremendous amount of time showing his extreme dislike for her. Doesn’t add up.
If Jim Lewis is as smart as you say he is, one would think that he would expand his vocabulary beyond the 9 or so F-bombs he drops in everyone of his comments. The higher the education the less the need to call attention to yourself by using expletives. Again, doesn’t add up. Scooter you seem to be a regular here and my intuition tells me that something is a tad peculiar about your defense of J.L. Just saying…
By Jeffy01 April 15, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Sorry. I wasn’t very nice. Thanks Pricey
By eggaday April 16, 2011 at 7:34 am
I noticed Raj is Sewell. Interesting.
By marcus wilby April 16, 2011 at 10:12 am
Why you silly little hillbillies-don’t you recognize vintage chic when ya see It???
By ----------------------------------------------------------- April 16, 2011 at 10:43 am
@——————-
Oops. That would be Proverbs *31* : 29
Duress and numbers don’t mix.
By Robert Hagwood April 16, 2011 at 10:58 am
Does anyone know anyone personally who has actually bought something from this store?
By EmpressDash April 16, 2011 at 11:37 am
I’m strictly a Steinmart shopper myself and know of nobody who has actually frequented the place.
That little strip of highway — and perhaps all of 378 — is rife with BS-a-plenty.
There’s Congaree State Bank’s initial admin. offices which were located down the road from Exotica. There’s Southern Dental — hopefully the yankee dentist buying it out will correct much of the crapola. One can only hope. There’s Lexington Medical Center. Enough said. There’s that very dangerous access ramp to 1-26 toward Charleston there, where murderous trolls on wheels lurk.
Let me jog my brain a bit more.
By EmpressDash April 16, 2011 at 1:57 pm
After almost 2.5 hours of contemplation, Hwy 378 from Saluda to Sumter should be called the Corridor of Really Slick Horse Sh!t.
Slick — but hopefully not slick enough.
By eggaday April 16, 2011 at 3:44 pm
378 has Tyco, don’t forget Simplex Grinnell.
By mgsoh April 16, 2011 at 10:08 pm
And Jake Knotts Bridge. Ooohh the stories that want to well up from under it.
By cash April 18, 2011 at 12:14 pm
The former Exotica building was bought by New Bingus LLC. Anybody know about Bingus?
Pingback: Refinancing The Family Business | My Blog