Wear What When

Meet the Shopkeeper: Sweet Life

A stop-off in the state capital for some girly fun.

Posted by: Caitlin Creel on Aug 08, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Project Runway season four contestant Kit Pistol (left) once visited Olympia’s Sweet Life. You might consider visiting, too, now that you’ve met owner Erin Gillet (right).

Figuring you have some end-of-summer road trips on your calendar, we thought we’d go outside the city limits a bit in the next month or so. If you’re headed toward Ocean Shores or related points south and/or west, this first one is for you.

At Sweet Life in downtown Olympia, Erin Gillet delivers an unexpected, luxed-up vibe to local shoppers. Tucked among secondhand and vintage stores that peddle the ironic, indie look to Evergreen students and like-minded types, this women’s clothing store offers a dressed-up alternative to casual retro styles. Owner Erin Gillet does up the walls with peacock-spotted wallpaper and puts out an abundance of filled candy jars to prepare passersby for kicky, flowery mini-and maxi-dresses, well-cut blazers from small up-and-coming lines, and designer denim—the kind that pairs with stilettos not sneakers.

WWW: What album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Gillet: Born This Way by Lady Gaga

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first retail job was at Betsey Johnson in Seattle. I obtained a wealth of experience about the fashion and retail industry there, which helped me prepare for ownership, management, and the merchandising of my own store. I love that I am able to make my own decisions about my store. I love going to trade shows and being able to order what I love for the season. I also love that I get to create my own window displays and merchandise the store however I want.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite thing in the store right now is a Free People over-sized leopard french terry cardigan. Its amazingly comfortable and light weight. Perfect for summer and into the fall.

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
I love the atmosphere of downtown Olympia. Everyone is friendly and knows one another. I love all of our fellow downtown businesses but a few off my favorite restaurants are Lemongrass, Acqua Via, La Taqueria, and the 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop. It’s also very convenient to be right in between Starbucks and the Batdorf and Bronson coffee shop!

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
The weirdest thing that has ever happened in the store would have to be when Kit Pistol from Project Runway came to the store for a mini Olympia-style red carpet shopping event. It helped promote the store tremendously and was a fun day for everyone.

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Tags: Meet the Shopkeeper, Olympia, Project Runway

Meet the Shopkeeper: Coastal

Surf’s up in West Seattle.

Posted by: Caitlin Creel on Jul 18, 2011 at 06:50AM 0 Comments

Coastal owner Sarah Steere looks on the sunny side at her surf-centric clothing boutique.

When we took a day trip to Coastal on Alki Beach and met shop owner Sarah Steere, we hadn’t planned to introduce her to you immediately following an October-like ‘summer’ weekend. But in a way, it’s fitting. You can’t peddle board shorts, flip flops, bikinis, and sundresses in Seattle if you’re scared off by a gray here and there. Life’s a beach at the surf-angled co-ed boutique. And if you haven’t been to Seattle’s Laguna lately, consider a trip some sunny Thursday night, when, from 5 to 7, Coastal serves wine and Hansen’s sodas and features something sunny, or maybe winter-y, on sale.

WWW: What song or album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Steere: Contra by Vampire Weekend, and lately the Ziggy Marley station on Pandora has been fitting the mood on Alki.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first job in retail was at the Foot Locker! Growing up I always wanted to start a business and sold cookies, tee shirts with puffy paint, or anything I could think of. It was fitting that my friend Christy Pudduck and I ran into each other at an industry trade show eight years ago and decided to start Coastal together in West Seattle. Now, I get to experience every aspect of retail and learn so much more about the business side of things. I love how my job is different every day depending on the shop’s needs.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
This is way too hard, we have so many great things right now but on the top of my wish list are the women’s QSW Lorne Skinny Jeans, in the kelp colorway for $78. They are such a great neutral, fresh color; they go with everything and the fit is amazing, and they look like high-end denim but are so affordable. For men, I am loving the Billabong blinded pullover fleece. It is a light-weight, beachy pullover that’s perfect for our cool Seattle summer!

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
I like going to Nordstrom to window shop and see what they have for the season and I also love the local West Seattle boutiques because they are so close to home. Clementine, Carmilias, and Sweetie all have great styles right in the West Seattle neighborhood.

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
We’re right across the street from the beach! I love being right on the water. Alki has so many great options for coffee and eats: Pioneer coffee is a favorite (right next door) and of course Duke’s Chowder House has the best seafood on the beach. We also have a great salon right behind us called Elliot Salon that we all go to. Wheel Fun Bike rentals and Pepper are right next door as well.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
Last summer there was a lady who stole about five dresses off of our sale rack on our front porch—we couldn’t catch her—and then a couple of hours later Diana, our manager, walked right past her on the street and she was wearing every single one of the dresses all at the same time! Weird.

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Tags: Meet the Shopkeeper

Meet the Shopkeeper: Scenic Drive Factory

Set aside your notions of retail for a moment. (Grab your sewing notions though, if you’d like.) Meet the operators of a creative endeavor.

Posted by: Nico Ortega on May 16, 2011 at 10:00AM 1 Comments

Rachel Ravitch, one half of Scenic Drive Factory in Capitol Hill, can help you fix your jeans, buy and sell stuff, and, maybe, meet a DIY mate.

What do you get when you take a fleet of rent-by-the-hour recommissioned sewing machines, a neighborhood full of empowered projecteers, a monthly-or-so art show, and some market-style happenings here and there in which the products of all of the above, and others, are bought and sold? Why, a Scenic Drive of course. Nikki Mazzei and Rachel Ravitch’s Factory fosters community among Seattle designers and stuff-makers, and those who are interested in handmade art and style.

What song or album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Ravitch: The Cure: Standing on a Beach; The Singles (And Unavailable B-Sides), on cassette tape.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
Neither of us have really worked in retail. What we do is more of a creative endeavor than a retail atmosphere, in any case. We invite people in to create and are forming a network of independent designers. Later this spring, we will launch a mini-collection of ready-to-wear made from salvaged fabrics.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
We just found a new-to-us-sewing machine at the Goodwill: a Viking Husqvarna from the 70s. It’s a tank! It just needed a tiny bit of elbow grease and it runs like a dream! We now have three in the shop available for rent (among a plethora of other home sewing machines as well). We also just got an industrial serger machine that is super cute! It is from the 60s and is bright avocado green. It’s called a “Baby Lock.”

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
We love a good thrift. We won’t reveal our secrets, but we find a lot of our treasures at the Goodwill. All of the clothing and accessories we make are “remade from salvaged parts.”

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
Our local Stumptown on Pine is a daily morning (and often afternoon) haunt for us. Sometimes we embroider or work on computer stuff before the shop opens. We also love lunching and snacking at Travelers Tea Co.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
Wayne Coyne walked through in a giant clear plastic bubble rolled along by woodland elves! Yeah right, but that would be awesome. Men are sewing! Lots of men are sewing. They want to fix their own things and have ideas about how their clothing could fit better. It’s great! We are thinking of starting a sewing singles group…we’ll keep you posted!

NOTE: Scenic Drive’s next indoor marketplace goes down on Saturday May 28 from 2 to 9. See the store’s event page for more information.

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Tags: Meet the Shopkeeper, DIY Projects, Seattle DIY

New Store! Meet the Shopkeeper: Scout Apparel

Pine Street is getting a whole lot shoppier.

Posted by: Nico Ortega on May 09, 2011 at 07:30AM 0 Comments

Photo: Scout Apparel

SLIDESHOW: New on Capital Hill, Scout Apparel. The Shopkeepers were shy so in order to actually meet them face to face, you’ll have to go to the shop. Here, please meet some of their merchandise.

View Slideshow » Photo: Scout Apparel

SLIDESHOW: New on Capital Hill, Scout Apparel. The Shopkeepers were shy so in order to actually meet them face to face, you’ll have to go to the shop. Here, please meet some of their merchandise.

View Slideshow » Photo: Scout Apparel

An ombre sweatshirt at Scout.

View Slideshow » Photo: Scout Apparel

Those favored earrings the owners mentioned.

View Slideshow » Photo: Scout Apparel

Wear this mini-dress with Converse if you please.

Pine Street around Bellevue Ave is getting a whole lot shoppier these days. Just up from Melrose Market (home to Butter Home, Sonic Boom, and Marigold and Mint, RIP Velouria), there’s the critical mass of Vutique, Edie’s, Wall of Sound,, and now Scout Apparel. The new clothing boutique operated by Karen Krupp and Erin Dolan (recognize the name? She also owns Edie’s) deals in everday, very Seattle-feeling style for men and women. Think: easy-to-wear basics with on-trend details and Thursday night out-to-dinner dresses and pants-and-jackets combos that go with Converse and combat boots. And now, a little bit of insight from Krupp and Dolan, and a slideshow of key looks.

WWW: What album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Krupp: Johnny Cash’s American III: Solitary Man.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
Erin and I were both working at the mall; she had to wear pantyhose, I wore a khaki apron. Now we wear what we want and sell what we like.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Ax + Apple Native Son Necklace.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Office Depot; there’s not much time to shop when you’re starting a business!

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc., do you recommend?
The Melrose Market (meat, cheese, flowers plus awesome sandwiches at Homegrown), Bauhaus Coffee, Honey Hole, Hot Mama’s. It’s just a great neighborhood with a lot of energy, plus we’re between Mud Bay and a dog park, so we meet lots of great four-legged friends.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened in your store?
Nothing weird has happened inside the store yet, but we’ve only been open a week, so give it time.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Melrose Market, Meet the Shopkeeper

Meet the Shopkeeper: Kuhlman

Being Belltown: men’s and women’s classic, contemporary, urban vibology.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Mar 28, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Kuhlman assistant manager Erika Phipps

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Kuhlman assistant manager Erika Phipps

Scott Kuhlman’s eponymous store sits on one of the most Seattle-feeling stretches of Belltown. El Gaucho, the Ace Hotel, Cyclops restaurant are contemporary icons; nearby, Local 360 seems poised to become the same. The boutique itself can outfit them all. For women, there’s usually an urban-edged unkempt boho thing happening; for men there’s a classic, vaguely British, buttoned-up but rule-free vibe. Brands like Penguin are all about carrying on in traditional style—in the best way. In that same vein: hats. If head coverings make a comeback, we’ll credit Kate Middleton and Kuhlman. Key to the shop’s success: on-site tailoring. Kuhlman and company have made the service a priority even in their small quarters. Here, three minutes with assistant manager Erika Phipps.

WWW: What song is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Phipps: What we play depends on who is at the store; it could be jazz or 80s rock, but right now we are loving Mumford & Sons, and Adele.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first job in retail was at a women’s boutique in Ellensburg. I loved having regular clientele that I can help, and my least favorite part of the job was on those slow days when only a handful of customers would come in. At Kuhlman, I have a lot more responsibilities with my job which I absolutely love, everything from helping customers to dealing with sales reps and shopping for new merchandise for the store, receiving the new merch and setting up our fabulous visual displays.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
For women, I love all of the new spring/summer dresses we are getting in from various vendors, the Skunkfunk line is by far one of my favorites because their pieces are the biggest and brightest for women! For men it’s all about the button down shirt, whether it’s to go with a suit or just to wear around town. All of our men’s lines have definitely brought their A-game when it comes to these shirts. Our bow ties are a close second, we have a lot of fun colors and prints in those too!

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
The weirdest thing that I know of that’s happened at Kuhlman would be when a man came in for alterations and dropped trou in the middle of the store, he didn’t even go into the fitting room! Guess some people don’t have any problem with public nudity.

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Tags: Belltown, Meet the Shopkeeper

Meet the Shopkeeper: Alchemy Collections

The angle on the modern furniture at this Belltown shop is wordly and zen-spirational.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Mar 07, 2011 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Don’t take Alchemy Collections’ shop manager Danielle Mount’s taste in dark ’80s pop too seriously.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Don’t take Alchemy Collections’ shop manager Danielle Mount’s taste in dark ’80s pop too seriously.

When you walk past Buddha at a reflection pond upon entering, take that as your first clue that there’s an East-meets-West vibe at this particular modern-angled furniture shop. Opened in 2004 at the base of the Cristalla condominiums in Belltown, Alchemy Collections presents sushi plates, sectional sofas, and contemporary floor coverings that would work in Craftsman homes and condos. Here, store manager Danielle Mount takes us inside.

WWW: What song is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Mount: New Order, “Leave Me Alone”

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first real retail job was for a beauty store in the mall. It was a great place to start and something to get me through college, and it also showed me that working for a small and local company is where I should be. Alchemy Collections is just that: small and local, too. I can’t see myself working for anyone else.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
I would be purchasing these Solis lamps we have on display if only I had a spot for them. They are simple yet striking and I haven’t seen anything else out there in the market like them.

Great Jones Home. They have a beautiful mix of vintage with a modern twist. Extremely different than what we have to offer, so I don’t feel like I am cheating.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
I feel that [there was a void] a few years back here in Seattle, but [we have filled it.] Prior to Alchemy opening, I feel that Seattle had only two types of furniture stores: one being well-made and expensive and two being cheap yet poorly crafted. I honestly think that Alchemy filled the void.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
Not much out of the ordinary happens here at the store, but we do see quite an eclectic mix of customers which can prove quite interesting on a day to day basis. Seattle has a wide array of people and we seem to get them all.

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Tags: Belltown, Home Decor, Meet the Shopkeeper

Meet the Shopkeeper: Alexandria Rossoff

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Feb 21, 2011 at 08:00AM 1 Comments

Owner Alexandria Rossoff (center) and two of her favorite gems; shop employees Melanie (left) and Lucia (right).

It seems fitting that it faces the grand entrance to one of Seattle’s most regal and old-world spots. The wedding and engagement rings, world-sourced chandelier earrings, handsome timepieces, and precious-stone brooches at Alexandria Rossoff Jewels and Rare Finds give the splendor and history across the street a run for their money. The gemologist, appraiser, and jeweler and her team buy, consign, valuate, restore, design, and clean fine finds. And yes, they sell them, too.

WWW: What song is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Rossoff: “How Deep is the Ocean?,” the Billie Holiday song done by Etta James.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first, second, third, and fourth jobs were all in jewelry. I have worked all the Saturdays of my adult life, and holidays have never felt like they are my holiday, but it comes with the territory! The good news is, I am now beautifully supported by my staff so it is getting easier; my hard work is offset with interesting travel to find more jewelry. What I love most of all is finding the treasure and pairing it with its new owner. And I have a thirst for learning. The history, gemology, design, and restoration aspects of working in jewelry are never-ending so I never stop learning!

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
I am attracted to beautiful older cut diamonds like our 3.10 carat European cut diamond ring and also billowy gems like moonstone and the Labradorite cabochon ring. I have a bad habit of longing for the piece of jewelry I am showing, having once fallen in love with it, so it is always a game of wanting to hold back the jewelry and also let it go!

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
I tend to dress in solids, mostly black cashmere, to showcase my jewelry. I like perusing the racks at Ragamoffyn’s and Alexandra’s. I am also almost always wearing one of local scarf designer Janell de Varona’s scarves.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
I am a big supporter of pre-owned fine things. I collect vintage clothing, fabric, furniture, and cars. I look for environments where every piece is unique, and personally continue to fight the good fight in offering Seattle that special shopping experience. We need the city’s support in keeping independent businesses thriving.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
Famous people run under the radar in Seattle. We’re often surprised by who comes in, and their casual appearances. But what’s more fun to watch is that, on the other side of the counter, people who have never met before often help each other shop — kindred in their appreciation of our jewelry.

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Tags: Downtown, Jewelry, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Wedding and Engagement Rings

Meet the Shopkeepers: Hip Zephyr

Now with music videos!, our shopkeeper series finds us up on Phinney Ridge again.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 31, 2011 at 07:00AM 3 Comments

How can they help you? Hip Zephyr owner Dana Smith and manager Jessica Clark.

What’s a Hip Zephyr? On Phinney Ridge, it’s a women’s clothing shop that functions like an episode of What Not to Wear, except that the emphasis is on what you should wear. Elsewhere, it might be a with-it lily, a cool Greek god, or a savvy marshmallow-based candy consumed in Latvia. Here, Dana Smith and Jessica Clark of the neighborhood boutique talk about flattering shapes and runaway signage.

WWW: What song is playing on Hip Zephyr’s sound system right now?
Smith and Clark: ‘Hot Cold’ by Basement Jaxx

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
Smith: I am a full-time nurse, and prior to opening Hip Zephyr four years ago, I hadn’t worked retail. I have always had a passion for all things fashion, and came from a business-oriented family, which led me to follow my dream and open the store.
Clark: My first retail job was as a sales girl in a small boutique in San Francisco, 14 years ago. I fell in love with helping women feel confident and beautiful back then, and I love it just as much today. The difference between what I did then and what I do now is that in addition to establishing relationships with customers, I now have my hands in all other aspects of the business from merchandising to buying to business maintenance.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Smith: My favorite thing in the store right now is our Love Heals Jewelry. Love Heals is a small, family-owned company out of Northern California that crafts gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces using precious and semi-precious stones and vintage charms. I love that they’re socially conscious, planting 10 trees for every necklace sold. And the long necklaces we currently have in from them look great with tunic tops and skinny jeans.
Clark: The piece I’m coveting right now is our June Leather puffer vest. It’s made of buttery soft leather, filled with goose down and lined with pretty printed silk. It features an elasticized waist band that pulls it in through the mid-section, creating a flattering hourglass shape – and it has a built in cell phone pocket on the inside.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Clark: I love trolling around Seattle’s never-ending supply of thrift and vintage shops. There is just something about finding special, unique pieces that no one else is wearing that makes me smile on the inside!

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
We think every neighborhood needs a store like Hip Zephyr that carries high-quality, fashion forward styles that can’t readily be found elsewhere in the city and offers top-notch fashion consulting.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
The sandwich board that we keep on the sidewalk outside has been stolen five times in the past four years…and it always comes back to us! Twice it ventured down to Greenlake — which wound up being fantastic advertising!! — and most recently it turned up on the roof of a church in North Seattle!

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Tags: Phinney Ridge, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeeper: Frock Shop

Locally made skirts and, coming soon, frothy prom dresses on Phinney Ridge.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 20, 2011 at 08:00AM 2 Comments

Frock Shop owner Suzy Fairchild and future Frock shopper Sadie.

When you ask people what they love about Seattle they often say it’s our neighborhoods — each one a little world unto itself. Phinney Ridge is a prime example, thanks in part to the Frock Shop, where gals from near and far happen upon easy-to-wear floral-printed knee-length skirts and feminine, ruffly tops. And if they’ve got a little one in toe, wee hats by Hoot Organic. The look — vintage-inspired, easy but never frumpy, girly in a tomboy kind of way — with options from independent designers as well as inexpensive mainstream lines, suits the cozy, homey, earthy, tuned-in nabe to a T.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous ‘How can I help you?’ question?
Fairchild: We always say Hi to everyone who comes into the shop. You can usually tell those who would like help and those who don’t. I’ve always hated being followed around boutiques by overbearing sales people, so we really wanted to avoid that.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite thing in the shop right now are Glamspoon skirts. They are all one of a kind and handmade in Seattle. I own 3.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Anthropologie and Nordstrom Rack.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
Seattle is missing a formal dress shop. I regularly get teens in looking for unique prom dresses. They don’t want to go to the mall or department stores. I am planning to have a larger formal section this spring to cover some of the prom and formal wedding business.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
A little girl had a pee in one of our dressing rooms!

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Tags: Phinney Ridge, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeepers: Tottini

With this South Lake Union kid’s shop, little ones never have to know about poor design, drab ideas, or wasteful materials.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 10, 2011 at 08:10AM 1 Comments

Photo: photo courtesy Tottini

Tottini co-owners Melissa Van Flandern and Melissa Maffei; you’d be surprised what they can get into the back of your compact hybrid.

At Tottini in South Lake Union, Melissa Van Flandern and Melissa Maffei prove the kids are people, too. Half-sized sustainably built and well-styled furniture isn’t about humoring the little ones, it’s about making sure they grow up with – and in and on – a thoughtful, design-centric perspective. Playthings, books, and accessories follow suit.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous “How can I help you?” question?
Van Flander and Meffei: Since Tottini is a kid’s store we like to have a fun, comfortable experience for our customers, who are often with their children. We usually don’t usually say ,“How can I help you?” and instead offer a warm greeting and smile, letting the customer know we’re available.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Of course we love everything in our shop, however a couple new lines we are currently in love with include bath products and toys from Hoppop from Belgium and arts and crafts by Seedling from New Zealand.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
We enjoy visiting Clover House, a super cute gift shop in South Lake Union, and Izilla Toys on Capitol Hill. also stumbled upon Lavender Heart in Madison Valley recently and found some great holiday gift items.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
Unfortunately, over the last few years Seattle has lost quite a few children’s clothing shops. We’d love to see [more open up].

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
We often get a chuckle when customers want to load very large furniture into very tiny cars! We suppose it’s wishful thinking… although we’ve actually fit a crib and changing table into the back of a Prius.

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Tags: Seattle Toys, Eastlake, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeeper: Venue

Diane Macrae talks about encaustic paintings and close encounters of the friendly kind.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 04, 2011 at 07:20AM 4 Comments

Photo: Steve Shelton

Need help getting a gift for someone special? Venue owner Diane Macrae can help…for the most part.

Wouldn’t it be good if every city stopped importing mindless tourist junk and instead opened a version of Venue so that no matter where you went, you’d be able to access local artists and their work? Of course, Diane Macrae’s little-bit-of-everything boutique (from gourmet chocolates to keepsake boxes) isn’t just for tourists. Seattleites with a sense of pride and community love accessing those same artisans – about forty are represented at any given time, some of whom have studio space inside the shop – and their jewelry, photographs, handbags, glasswork, inspired home decor, and more.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous ‘How can I help you?’ question?
Macrae: We have such a varied clientele: locals who live up the street and tourists from around the world — all different ages, all different walks of life. Something that is important in Venue is that people get to know a little about the artist who made the object they’re looking at. In the same way, we’d like to get to know the customers who walk into our shop. We ask questions to find out where they are from, what their day been like, or even where did they get that fabulous pair of shoes. It’s amazing how a friendly encounter can make the experience more pleasant for both shopper and sales person.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
We are constantly signing up new artists at Venue and I really love our most recent artist, Emily Alice Peck. The encaustic paintings are charming and fresh and have been an immediate favorite of our customers, too.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
My multi-chain retail indulgence is Anthropologie. My favorite local shop for gifts is Lucca in Ballard, and the other place I spend money when I’m not in my store is Bastille. They keep me well fed several times a week.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
Yikes ! I try not to think about this because if I thought of a type of store that is missing from Seattle, I might want to try to open it! Honestly, though, every time I think of what might be missing, I realize there’s a shop that covers that.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
This isn’t really the weirdest, but maybe most awkward. Venue is full of great art and during the Holidays, couples often come in together looking at what we have. One time a couple were admiring a framed photograph. A few days later one of them came in to purchase the photograph for the other as a surprise. A few more days later the other person came in to buy the same photograph, which was gone. ‘It was just here !’, they exclaimed. ‘Yes, it was purchased the other day,’ they were told. ‘Well, I would like to have the artist print another one up… unless…well…what did the person look like who bought the one that was here?’ What would you do?

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Tags: Ballard, Meet the Shopkeeper

Meet the Shopkeeper: Ketch

A fisherman’s daughter opens a boutique in (where else) Ballard.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Dec 28, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Ketch owner Stephanie Kaldestad is waiting for something weird to happen.

When Stephanie Kaldestad told us of her Ballard heritage, we figured that the name of her new boutique had something to do with sailboats, or one’s seafood haul. Nope, the fashion veteran (Nordstrom, Michael Kors, Gucci) told us that Ketch is simply a play on that thing that girlfriends say to one another, ’You’re such a good catch.’

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous “How can I help you?” question?
Kaldestad: It’s all about making the customers feel comfortable and welcomed. A simple hello and smile usually does the trick.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
I have so many favorites, but if I have to narrow it down, I’d say its between the Twiggy James Jeans or the Zambos and Siega Peggy Clutch.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
When I need a hostess gift or card I shop at Clover House, they have the best selection. I also love Pacific Galleries in SoDo. My interior designer, Laura Zeck, introduced me to this place when we were searching for the perfect pieces for Ketch. I am now obsessed and love getting lost in this huge store.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
I would love to have a store that sells vintage hand bags because I love the look of old and used hand bags.I have a few designer hand bags and no matter how hard a I try to make them look used, I just can’t seem to get the same look that grandma’s handbags have.

Photo: Ketch

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
Fortunately, nothing weird has happened in our store. But we’ve only been open for three months. I’m sure I’ll have some great stories soon. Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself.

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Tags: new, Ballard, Meet the Shopkeeper