Business of the Week: Seasonz Boutique, Mount Kisco
As the seller of vacuum cleaners and parts, Mount Kisco merchant Richard “Zee” Zolotorofe has ventured into a new business that couldn’t be more different than the one he helped build with his late father.
The younger Zolotorofe, who continues to chart Zee Vacuum, even after his dad’s death earlier this year, opened up Seasonz Boutique in 2011, offering customers of all ages a potpourri of gifts, from the very elegant to the practical and über trendy.
Zolotorofe, known around town simply as Richard “Zee,” describes his year-old boutique as a “seller of unique pieces that are always changing, even on a weekly basis.”
The idea for the 1,800-square-foot shop has evolved over time, said Zolotorofe, first starting out as an extension of his vacuum store business and then slowly turning into a full-fledged enterprise overseen by manager Jane Pieragostini and assistants Beth Vetare-Civitello and Helen Cranley. Without them, said Zolotorofe, the store wouldn’t be what it is today, adding that his staff “is the face of the business.”
The store has such an eclectic variety of items that it’s often hard to pinpoint what the average Seasonz Boutique customer is after, he said. Many customers shop at the South Moger Avenue boutique for wedding gifts or small, elegant items for a house gathering, while others buy for themselves.
Merchandise is varied, to be sure, and includes diffusers, scented candles, soaps, photo frames, dinnerware, glassware, jewelry and scarves.
Many of the products that Seasonz Boutique sells are American-made, a strategy that Zolotorofe is particular proud of. They include the popular Alex and Ani jewelry line, made in Cranston, R.I., that includes expandable wire bracelets and bangles; the Sea Stones collection of bottle stoppers, cabinet knobs and drink chillers that are made in Windham, N.H.; the J&I jewelry collection made in Philadelphia; and the extensive Vera Bradley collection of quilted handbags, accessories and luggage.
Other collections that can be found in the brightly lit store include Mariposa, Ralph Lauren, Michel Design Works, Spartina, Lafco,Thymes, DayNa Decker and Big Buddha.
Often Zolotorofe will buy just one item from a designer collection, be it a Michael Aram tabletop accessory or a candle holder, and once that item has sold, his staff must replace it. This often means rearranging a display with something that naturally fits in that space, a tactic that takes both imagination and creativity.
Throughout this elegantly designed store, there’s a story to tell, said Zolotorofe, who worked in the interior design department of a furniture company before obtaining a degree in marketing and accounting from Pace University. While he’s constantly browsing home design magazines looking for inspiration, Zolotorofe knows he must keep an eye on what’s trending, given the fickleness of the industry.
In addition to free gift wrapping, Pieragostini said a visit to Seasonz Boutique is a chance to experience excellent customer service in a store that’s all about providing a personal touch. Indeed Pieragostini and her co-workers, all Mount Kisco natives, take the time to not only chit chat with their customers, but also help them choose the right gift.
“This is a place to shop and a place where we’re having real conversations with our customers,” Pieragostini said. And if a customer is not satisfied with an item, they can bring it back for a full refund, even if it’s six months later, added Zolotorofe.
While growing up in the vacuum cleaning business may seem like an odd way to segue into a specialty boutique, it’s something that Zolotorofe is completely comfortable with. “It’s important to me that my customers have a real feeling of being treated well; it’s all about the service,” he said.
Seasonz Boutique is located at 53 S. Moger Ave. The store is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Like the store on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seasonz-boutique.com, or to inquire about available items in the store, call 914-666-4438 or e-mail seasonzgifts@aol.com.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
