Those with a passion for the fashionable know they are best served shopping for clothes and accessories at a store with an owner that shares that same zeal.
A practicing attorney for 15 years, Lisa Marcus had always been interested in fashion and sales. She held jewelry parties at her house and also sold real estate for a time. So when the opportunity to run her own clothing store in Plainview arose, the married mother of two jumped at the chance.
“I love that drive of the sale,” said Marcus, who took over as owner of Emily Sky Boutique in the Plainview Shopping Centre this past summer. “I’ve also always been interested in fashion and clothing and getting that perfect outfit for an event. This opportunity presented itself and I had to jump at it.”
A Staten Island transplant, Marcus came to Long Island to attend Stony Brook University and never looked back. She now lives in Merrick with her husband, Dave, and her children, Ava and Tyler. Marcus opened her version of Emily Sky Boutique on Sept. 9, but before that she worked to give the store her own personal touch while also learning the art of business ownership.
“I’ve never been so happy and never worked so many hours in my life,” she said. “And I’ve never committed to something as much as this, other than my family. It has been so nice meeting the friendly people around here; wishing me well and coming back and saying hi. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve been lucky to have so much help.”
Many friends and family stepped up to help Marcus comfortably slip into this career transition. One in particular is her friend Dahlia Fargnoli, who helped with renovations and fashionable concepts.
“She really went above and beyond,” she said. “Her fashion sense and style has been there every step of the way to help me.”
Another source of help is Laura Greenfield, the owner of the Emily Sky location in Commack. Both stores sell specialty women’s clothing and accessories — the clothing is not typical retail pieces and features more unique items.
“You won’t be wearing the same thing as everyone else,” said Marcus. “We have a wide range of clothing styles, from casual to dressy for women of all ages.”
Marcus said Emily Sky prides itself on one-on-one customer relationships. She said customers typically ask for the same sales rep over and over again; this means Emily Sky salespeople work to know exactly what colors and patters their customers might like. Marcus said the boutique has trendy clothes at fabulous prices with attentive stylists who give all clients personal attention — and her store’s motto is, “Why fit in when you can stand out?”
“We’ll get an item in and someone here will say, ‘I know a customer who would love that!’ and they’ll pull it and put it away for that specific customer,” she said. “It’s easier for the customer to shop that way. People are busy, so we take the time to dig and find that perfect outfit or that perfect accessory.”
The store also features a wide array of unique jewelry thanks to Jewel Wear by Toni Singer. It’s another way Emily Sky Boutique offers the full fashion experience, and another way Marcus has forged the transition to this new trendy lifestyle.
“I was always the one who everyone asked to go shopping when they had a party or event,” she said. “I went to law school, but I feel this is my true calling. And I feel so fortunate to have so many great friends and an incredible family in my life.”
To find out more about Emily Sky Boutique and its upcoming events — including a fundraiser for breast cancer research on Oct. 16, a dress event on Nov. 12 and a multi-vendor holiday trunk show on Dec. 2 — go to www.emilyskyfashions.com or call 516-822-8200.
