New York City residents Anne Buckley and Therese Hoarty were both successful in their respective careers - finance and publishing - and they both loved to shop. Their initial joint venture was a traveling women’s clothing boutique, where they sold at house parties and at holiday and charity boutiques.

Buckley dreamed of opening a store, and in January of 2008, she opened Verano Boutique at 84 Main Street in Tuckahoe. She and Hoarty, now the store manager, keep a keen eye on price and style and “mix it up” with well-known – and some lesser known – labels.

What are some key lessons you've learned in your professional and personal life that you translated into your business?

I was on Wall Street, and my friend was in publishing, in accounting, and that’s been helping (us). For us it’s been about customer service and people skills, and you learn that as you go. We make it work with great items and affordable clothing, and we develop relationships with customers.

What suggestions would you offer someone who is considering opening a store?

You have to be prepared to be married to it and love what you’re doing or love what you’re selling. Another consideration is location, where you're going to be, the area. One of the reasons I picked this spot is because there are other stores and businesses around it. We're next to a lacrosse store, which is a huge sport in Bronxville.

If you could change one career decision you’ve made, what would it be and why?

I would have invested in a big sign (for the store) and been more careful about the inventory and the over buy in the earlier years. Sometimes you buy too much, yet you only can tell how it goes as you go along. Find the best pieces of the lines and more careful with your own inventory.

What can you tell me about ins and outs of owning a store? I’m sure there are many things the customer doesn’t see.

We now have a spring line so some (winter) clothes have to be steam-cleaned, some have to be put in storage. Then there’s housekeeping, and making sure the store is clean, and accounting. There's the set-up, too, from signing the lease to decorating to opening (for the first day). Again, you have to love what you do.

How do you stand above the crowd these days when shoppers are more economically-savvy?

You’ve got to be well-stocked – we carry a wide range of sizes and prices - and develop a loyal customer base. We support the local schools and donate merchandise and gift certificates for auction. You want to have a varied inventory and enough of what you’re selling without over buying. It's a fine line.

How has the economy affected business?

We opened at the start of 2008, and it (economy) took a downturn. The weather is also a factor - some days in January or February there was only one sale for the day. It's about developing relationships with your customers – ours come from nearby Bronxville, Yonkers, and New Rochelle as well as Tuckahoe. I  try to look at the long run instead of day-to-day sales.  One person who came in today has never been here before, and she'll be back for items she put aside. She'll tell a friend, who'll tell someone else. That's word-of-mouth advertising.

What would you like to see next in your boutique?

We’re always looking for new and different merchandise and to have things that are unique, that you won’t find in every store. Over the years I’ve edited it down and love looking for interesting jewelry at crafts stores. I’m always excited about shopping, and of course our lines change depending upon the season and the year.