(note: cut and pasted, sorry for all the ">" marks.)
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
October 30, 2009
Fashion Boutiques and Independent Shops Thrive in North Bucktown
In the face of the withering economy and a lack of consumer
confidence, the small shopping village of North Bucktown boasts a
handful of successful independent shops who are enjoying increased
sales, record quarters, and a growing customer base. The smart,
strong, and savvy female entrepreneurs in this area represent a group
> of young and dynamic business leaders who have relied on their
> experience, intuition, and innovation to not only sidestep the
> recession, but to nurture their individual visions into thriving
> concepts that can withstand or even evade the volatility of general
> market fluctuations. Below is a sampling of four small retail
> businesses in North Bucktown who can boast that 2009 has been THEIR year.
>
> Longtime Bucktown shop owner, Julie Horowitz, says her almost nine-year-old
> gift shop, Virtu, has opened up a new channel to attract
> shoppers from a recession-proof market -- Bridal. By focusing on
> women who have a busy social calendar and are planning one of the most
> important days of their life, Ms. Horowitz has seen a significant
> sales increase in jewelry, hostess gifts, and thank you notes. She
> also has invested in high profile trunk shows, attracting enthusiastic
> collectors of specific accessory and artisan lines. "At our last trunk
> show people made very generous purchases, in some cases buying
> multiple objects," she reveals. Ms. Horowitz has also boosted her web
> presence to gain market share with out-of-town shoppers looking to
> purchase her artfully curated wares, and plans to imminently relaunch
> her website in time for holiday sales. Along with a consistent and
> personalized marketing program through emails to her top echelon of
> customers in tandem with biweekly e-newsletters, Ms. Horowitz has seen
> her sales raise by roughly 10% from 2008 to 2009.
>
> Rebecca Dohe, owner of the three-year-old Radiance Fine Jewelry,
> reveals that her well-placed internet ads, commitment to customer
> service, and unique collection of designers keeps her high-end jewelry
> shoppers coming back and generates positive word of mouth. "Most of
> my best customers are looking for different designs that their wife or
> girlfriend will not see on everyone else out there, and I strive to
> achieve that," she explains. In order to fully provide the highest
> level of customer service, she works personally with her customers,
> addressing goals, concerns, and problems with honest feedback and
> a trained eye on her products and craft. As a result of these
> strategies, Ms. Dohe has seen her sales rise over 8% from 2008,
> experiencing her best sales month during April of 2009, as well as
> enjoying her best quarter ever during second second quarter 2009, with
> March/April/May revenue doubling from last year's same time period.
>
> vive la femme's owner, Stephanie Sack, has seen her sales rise by 10%
> in 2009, emerging as the boutique's most successful year in its
> seven-year history. As the only independent boutique in Chicago
> offering the latest looks and trends exclusively in plus sizes, Ms.
> Sack has developed a devoted clientele of fashionable full-figured
> shoppers who look to her shop's options for work, weekends, and
> weddings. "In order to keep customers happy and outfitted, I realigned
> price points to reflect the current economy's limitations without
> sacrificing the fun and feminine style for which vive la femme is
> known," Ms. Sack explains. Clothing at vive la femme retails between
> $35 and $175, down from $65 to $575, and customers have responded
> positively to the new price points. Ms. Sack also sends a weekly
> email delineating the latest shipments and sales, and throws lavish
> events every few months to create a festive and fabulous atmosphere so
> integral to the vive la femme experience.
>
> Finally, Beth Brace at The Painted Lady recently moved into a larger
> space on the 2100 block of Damen, exponetially increasing the square
> footage to display her rambling collection of hand-painted antique
> furniture, as well as showcasing a matching range of bedding, wall
> art, accessories, linens, and lamps. "I keep a customer wish list in
> my pocket while hunting for fabulous wares at flea markets," Ms. Brace
> says. This delightfully intimate buying tactic results in a shop full
> of wonderful and whimical items with perfectly personal appeal to her
> loyal customer base who consistently rely on her for this
> specific aesthetic. Using a combination of reasonable prices,
> professional expertise, and an erring eye for design and decor, Ms.
> Brace enjoyed her most successful month ever in August of 2009 and has
> seen a 9% increase in sales from 2008 to 2009.
CONTACTS:
Virtu
Julie Horowitz
2034 N. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
772.235.3790
www.virtuchicago.com
info@virtuchicago.com
Rebecca C. Dohe
Radiance Fine Jewelry
2139 N. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773.486.5710
http://www.radiancefinejewelry.com/
rebecca@radiancefinejewelry.com
Stephanie Sack
vive la femme
2048 N. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773.772.7430
www.vivelafemme.com
vivelafemme@hotmail.com
Beth Brace
The Painted Lady
2128 N. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647-4540
773.489.9145
www.thepaintedladychicago.com
thepaintedladychicago@yahoo.com
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