In 1994, with the ink not yet dry on my diploma, I went pounding the pavement looking for an interim job while I figured out “what I wanted to do with my life”. Having always had a love for fashion and, more importantly, style, I applied for a job at a shoe boutique hoping to get a taste of the retail business. I never suspected I would get the job considering the only experience I had was buying shoes, not really selling them. I interviewed with Tom, one of the store owners. He had an immense amount of energy, and was a little overwhelming at first. I was definitely intrigued by the passion and energy he had for his business. He wasn’t just looking for a warm body to run and get shoes, he wanted someone who could represent , and protect the integrity of his store. I got the job! I learned more about retail from working at this boutique than I ever did working for a retail giant like Saks Fifth Avenue. Customer service is the most important thing to Tom and John. They go out of their way to make a customer happy, and they taught us to do the same. They’re smart enough to know that building a good relationship with the customer will make that customer choose their store before another. It’s more than a machine to them, it’s personal. In these times, that will end up serving them well. That little boutique, which now has a total of 9 stores in New York and Connecticut and a web presence, was Plaza Too. They have just relaunched their Greenwich, CT store and have added some fantastic features and great new products.

When I walked into the store, I was like a kid in candy shop. Where should I look first? The jewelry counter was filled with beautiful pieces by Alexis Bittar, Gerard Yosca, and Kara Ross. Bags were displayed throughout by designers like Mulberry, Treesje, and Beirn. And of course, shoes, shoes, glorious shoes! They’ve added fun accessories from Commes Des Garcons, sunglasses by Thakoon, exquisite scented candles, and beautiful books. Tom and John couldn’t have picked a better time to relaunch the store. With the Holidays around the corner, they will be your “go to” place for awesome gifts. Whatever your price-point, you will find something fabulous at Plaza Too. If you can’t make it to one of their stores, check out their website. You won’t be disappointed! This shout out is more than just a nod to an old employer and fellow entrepreneur, it’s a shout out to my readers - when I find a place with integrity, one you can trust, I will always share it with you. Keep it up guys!

Now is the time for retailers like H&M, Forever21, Gap, Zara, and others to step it up. The American economy is in the can, and people are looking to conserve cash. Even the “wealthy” aren’t looking to spend a ton of money on fashion right now. So, all kinds of women will, no doubt, be visiting the lower-priced retail stores. I hope that this drives these retailers to be more organized, and work on how the merchandise is presented. Every time I go into Forever21, for example, there are racks and racks of clothing stuffed to the gills. Why can’t it be more organized? Why can’t the merchandise be displayed in a nicer fashion? Why does the Zara in Greenwich, CT look like a designer store, but the one on 5th Avenue looks like a hot mess? People want to feel good about the money they are spending, but how can they when retailers don’t treat their own merchandise with pride and respect?

Every store you come across right now is having a major sale. I recently walked through one of the high end department stores, and it looked like it had been ransacked by thieves. There were racks and racks of messy clothing strewn throughout the store. Even the Chanel sale rack was a wreck. Who’s going to buy a Chanel dress (even on sale is $2300.00) that is stuffed onto a rack without any care for the article of clothing? The shoe department looked like a garbage truck had dumped piles of Choo’s and Manolo’s all over the place. It took my breath away, and I was completely turned off by the state of chaos. I’m not usually one to shy away from a sale, but there was a sense of desperation that was lacking in earlier years. It’s obviously a representation of the state of our economy, but I think the retail stores have it all wrong. If they really want to sell the merchandise, then they should do a better job with the presentation. Maybe they should hold back the pre-fall collections, and properly display the summer sale merchandise. That way, they may actually unload more and still provide the customer with a good shopping experience. What have you experienced in stores lately?