CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA
Family clothing stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area: 19 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 19CBP 2023
- Employees
- 368mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.8U.S. 8.2
- Rank
- 221st of 607areas by count
Family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA by the numbers
There were 19 family clothing stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 448140, Family Clothing Stores). Together they reported 368 mid-March employees and $6,026,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 221st of the 607 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 243,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.8 family clothing stores per 100,000 people, 5.0% below the national rate of 8.2. Establishments average 19.4 employees, 26.7% below the U.S. average of 26.4. Payroll per employee comes to $16,375, 26.4% below the national $22,257.
| Measure | Lake Charles, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 19 | 363 | 27,986 |
| Mid-March employees | 368 (moderate noise) | 6,988 | 739,932 |
| Annual payroll | $6,026,000 (moderate noise) | $129,126,000 | $16,468,650,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.4 | 19.3 | 26.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $16,375 | $18,478 | $22,257 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA are
Of the family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA that had employees in March 2023, 21.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 17.7%). 52.6% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 4 | 21.1% | 17.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 6 | 31.6% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 15.8% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 15.8% | 27.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 15.8% | 16.7% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA
Independent clothing stores take calls about sizes, holds and alterations. Personal service helps compete with larger retailers.
A few of the calls that come in to family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA:
- A customer calls to ask whether a size is available.
- A customer calls about alterations.
- A customer calls about returns.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly hours and stock questions.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA
The average clothing store in Lake Charles, LA has 19.4 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 19 users would run $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 19 people cost $379.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,292. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Lake Charles, LA
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 337 (131 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 337 | 131 | Central | 1999 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What family clothing stores in Lake Charles, LA get with Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Lake Charles, LA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many family clothing stores are there in Lake Charles, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 19 family clothing stores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 368 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person clothing store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a clothing store in Lake Charles, LA use?
Area code 337 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a clothing store?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.