It”™s not often you walk into a clothing boutique and are asked: “Can I order you something to eat?”
Or, “How about some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”
“How about some water?”
You could say Kim Miller has a good heart.
Especially after surviving five heart attacks in four days.
Miller is the owner of Surviving Sisters”™ Boutique in Hyde Park, “Where,” as the store motto put it, “you can shop ”™til your heart”™s content!”
She believes the four mini and one massive heart attacks that almost took her life in December 2003 came from the stress of the death of her grandmother, with whom she was very close, and from her heavy work schedule. The life-changing experience inspired Miller to help educate women about the effects of stress and heart disease.
“Vassar Brothers Hospital, God and the doctors saved my life,” said Miller.
“I joined the Heart Association after recovering and became one of their key note speakers (at their) Heart Ball at The Grand, did commercials and helped out with CPR Monday and all kind of fundraising events. After the first huge fundraising event (the 2005 American Heart Association”™s Annual Heart Walk), I had gotten an award for the fifth top fundraiser out of 1,600 people.”
But Miller didn”™t want to stop fundraising there.
“I know God had left me here for a reason and that reason is Surviving Sisters”™ Boutique,” she said. Miller says the “Surviving Sisters”™” portion of the name draws in people more than “Boutique.” The name originated with Miller”™s survival and that of her good friend, who is a three-time cancer survivor.
Putting under one roof her two passions: the restaurant and retail industries, Miller said she wanted to incorporate fundraising into a boutique, but on her own terms: “Do my fundraising my way without anybody telling me what, when, where or how and work for whatever charities and nonprofits I want to work with,” she said.
Since the shop opened its doors in April 2006, Miller has worked with and raised money for various charities including Breast Cancer Options, AIDS New York, battered women”™s shelters and the American Heart Association, for which Miller created a “heart room” upstairs in the Junior section. Ten percent of any purchases made in that section is donated to the American Heart Association. In addition, the many vendors and artists that have items in the store have donated a portion of their proceeds toward Miller”™s fundraising.
With her 29-year background in the restaurant industry Miller knows how to host a get together.
Also sharing the Junior section is a dance floor that goes back to Miller”™s disco club days when she opened up Bogey”™s Night Club at another Dutchess County site. She still hosts shop-and-dance birthday parties.
If you need a little R & R in between shopping sprints, Miller has a bar and lounge in the back of the store for shoppers to order in lunch, or as Miller noted, wives have left their husbands there to watch television while they peruse the merchandise.
There is a variety of items from all around the world. The store originally carried clothing for women and juniors and branched out to women size 3X and newborns. Miller just started a men”™s section, as well.
The new and vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry come from a variety of places and people: artists, vendors, consignees and a two-year international shopping spree Miller and her daughter Victoria went on for the store. From islands like Aruba and Puerto Rico, to CaliforniaNew York City, the duo picked up one-of-a-kind items. Miller also has friends in Europe who send her clothes for the store. and fashion capital
When is comes to the economy”™s effect on business, Miller has been feeling the pinch.
“The first five, six months I could not keep up. It was wonderful, business: terrific,” said Miller. “I don”™t know what happened. I probably have 10 times more merchandise than I did when I first opened. The store started picking up three months ago and for three months it was like, ”˜smile, relief, sigh.”™ But in the past month since July 4”¦with the economy right now, people are worried about gas and oil, can”™t live without either. Gotta use the gas to get to the job, to pay for the oil … I think people are really watching their pennies.”
“You don”™t have to waste your gas driving to the mall,” said Miller. “I am the only store between Rhinebeck and Poughkeepsie. So why would you want to go across the bridge to Kingston or go to the mall in Wappingers and waste your gas?”
As for a legacy she would like her store to leave behind, Miller is focused on the here and now.
“I don”™t know about a legacy,” said Miller. “I never thought about this store in terms of that. I don”™t look at 10 years down the road. Today is a beautiful day. I am blessed to be here today.”
