Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Schneiderman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The store was originally opened in 2015 by Lisa Goldberg in Wellesley, MA. I was Lisa’s retail consultant since day 1 of the companies inception. I had many years of retail experience working at Barney’s and Intermix and she came to me for guidance since she had previously worked on the wholesale side of fashion as a handbag designer.
In Spring of 2017, Lisa decided she wanted to spend more time at home with her kids and came to me to take over the business. It was a very easy transition since Legit always seemed like home to me.
In September of 2017 Legit opened as a pop-up shop at The Street in Chestnut Hill. In November the lease in Wellesley was ending and I signed on permanently in the space in Chestnut Hill. It was evident that Legit needed to be in Chestnut Hill where there is multiple fitness gyms and boutiques in a very close proximity.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been fun! There are so many emerging activewear and athleisure brands in the market and each one brings something different. Retail will always be challenging but this activewear niche is exciting and very motivating to the client.
The biggest challenge is online selling. A lot of time and money needs to be invested in making your site a success. My first priority is the brick and mortar store. Ensuring people have a good experience and come back wanting more.
Legit Activewear – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are known for carrying brands that you cannot get anywhere else in the area. And as much as people like to buy online, activewear needs to be tried on. The customer needs to feel the fabrics, measure the compression, see what it looks like on the body at all angles. We carry brands that are fashion forward. I don’t want to carry brands that you see in every store. Nor do I buy a lot of one style. Once it sells out, I’m done and on to the next. The clothes really do carry you through the day to night. People like the casual comfortable lifestyle while still looking stylish. To a lot of my clients, jeans are mostly worn at night. Leggings, sweats, joggers are for the day.
I started a Legit Fit Club comprised of 7 people in the fitness community who motivate people daily and make Boston Strong. They are featured on the website along with monthly blog posts. I plan to add 5 more members of the club at the beginning of 2018 and continue to grow the club bringing the local fitness/health/fashion community together.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Hearing from customers how much they love the store. When I hear them say how amazing the assortment is and see them return for more is the most gratifying part of the job. When people come back then you know you are doing something right.
And seeing the Legit sign go up at The Street. Made it all seem REAL.
Pricing:
- Leggings start at $69
Contact Info:
- Address: 33 Boylston St Suite 3335
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 - Website: www.legitactivewear.com
- Phone: 617-232-2393
- Email: info@legitactivewear.com
- Instagram: legitactivewear
- Facebook: legitactivewear
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
