In 1940, a group of salesmen that traveled the Carolinas met in Charlotte at the Hotel Charlotte and out of this meeting emerged the Men’s Apparel Club of the Carolinas, which is referred to by many of the old timers as “the Mac’s.” Due to a gasoline shortage, prior to the War, the best solution was to have a focal point to hold shows so that both salesmen and retailers could get together to do business.  Merchants could carpool in order to come to the shows.  This was the beginning of the buying Markets sponsored by the Men’s Apparel Club of the Carolinas. The Men’s Apparel Club was started by Mr. Brick Waddell (top photo) and Mr. Wilson Wood (bottom photo).  The first shows were held in Charlotte, High Point and Columbia.  Very shortly the membership doubled and from then on a problem with showing space arose.  At times the only solution was to room two salesmen in a room together.  The Selwyn Hotel became their permanent home after the war.  From there to the Radio Center on South Boulevard in 1954, to the Charlotte Merchandise Mart in 1961, and now at the Embassy Suites. The Men’s Apparel Club of the Carolinas has two major markets a year.  The two traditional markets (the SCM, or Southern Clothing Mart) are held at the Embassy Suites Hotel.  Our market encompasses Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Mr. Larry Holland believes in longevity, because he has been an administrator for over 45 years! Larry formerly served the Alamance Country Club as office manager, and also served as office manager of the Lilien-Hines Cadillac and Oldsmobile before coming to Charlotte in 1972. He has been the administrator for MAC for over 36 years.  This is a job that he really loves and he stated, “Not many people have a job that they really enjoy, but I have been fortunate enough to stay all of these years, and still like coming to work.” He has been drag racing for over fifty years and presently still loves getting in his dragster, when he “feels a need for speed.”  He was inducted into the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.  He stated, “This award and honor was very timely, because my plans were to retire from driving in 2008, when I reach my fiftieth year.  It will be a milestone in my life and time to hang up my driving shoes: But, I am having to much fun, to quit now. In October 2007 Holland aired a weekly TV show called 'The Need For Speed Featuring Profiles In Drag Racing' on Access TV Channel 21.

Ms. Dianne Norton joined the Men’s Apparel Club in February 2005, replacing Martha Young, who retired after 34-years, and Ruby Deese who retired after 10-years (pictured in photo left to right, Dianne, Ruby and Martha). Dianne has over 17 years experience in marketing and finance, management training and account management.  Prior to coming to the Men’s Apparel Club, Dianne worked in real estate as a construction coordinator, property manager, and real estate agent.  In addition, she has extensive experience in designing management training programs and implementing them for notable clients such as Gulfstream, BP Oil, Exxon, Bausch & Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, and Porsche, to name a few. Her techniques are already being used in many areas of administration for the Club. Dianne can be reached by phone at her office number of 704-366-3654, or by fax at 704-366-3651, or by e-mail.