One year ago, as Wall Street was rocking and the nation was girding for recession, Lori Land and Daniele Churchill decided to open a clothing store ”“ and they weren”™t the least bit nervous.
“Within a month we had found our location, drew up our contracts, met with our lawyer and we came to an agreement,” said Land, a former fashion model and designer. “We had no doubt for the area that we”™re in that we were going to be successful.”
The store, Churchill”™s of Mount Kisco at 41 S. Moger Ave., sells designer clothing and accessories for men and women. Churchill said the store carries a mix of different designers, and price points, rarely seen outside of Manhattan”™s Madison Avenue.
“We wanted to bring a little bit of the city up here,” Churchill said. “We”™re doing really well. Having a men”™s store is a need that”™s been missing in this area for quite a long time. It”™s a niche that has not been tapped into.”
Land, who began a modeling career at age 17 and entered the wholesale side of the clothing business after having a child at 22, said she dreamed of opening a boutique in Westchester. Churchill, whose mother was a model in Paris, was a fan of Land”™s designer label, J2.
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The women said their combined fashion sense ”“ and that they offer free tailoring ”“ enhances the customer-service experience.
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“Clients love the fact that we take the time and consult with them and show them how to put clothing together,” Land said. “Wardrobe consulting is kind of like having a personal trainer and making your clothes work for you.”
For women, the store carries everything from fur outerwear pieces to handmade Italian boots to evening dresses, suits and accessories; men can choose from suits, ties, leather and denim goods.
Land said there are “lots of exotic skins in the store, from python to crocodile.”
She and Churchill have signed a seven-year lease for the 3,500-square-foot-store, which was formally a Washington Mutual Bank. The two women traveled the world for ideas for the store in the months prior to opening in July.
Future plans for the store include expansion and e-commerce.
“It would be nice to open up another Churchill”™s,” Churchill said. “That”™s our goal, to have multiple stores and an online business.”
