Today we’d like to introduce you to Marian Klausner.
Marian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was actually an attorney, in practice for eight years, before opening the shop in 1994. I had been the program director of a small nonprofit women’s criminal justice project which ran out of funding and I found myself unexpectedly unemployed. I had been painting furniture and home accessories and doing local craft markets on weekends and really loved the energy of the makers’ community. I secretly had always wanted to own a small boutique but it always seemed like a crazy dream.
One morning I walked past a vacant shop in Brookline with a “for rent” sign and truly on a whim I signed the lease for a year. I asked every artisan I knew to collaborate and in a few weeks opened Shake the Tree Gallery, focusing exclusively on handmade crafts, with a local focus – ceramics, jewelry, paper, glass, metal, yarn etc…(Kind of like “etsy” before etsy) The gallery existed for ten years and then in 2004 I decided to move to the North end, which was just about to enjoy a renaissance with the Big Dig nearing completion and the Greenway starting to bloom.
It was a perfect opportunity to reimagine how I wanted my shop to look and to develop a new aesthetic. I dropped the “gallery” from the name and the shop evolved into a contemporary women’s clothing and gift boutique, showcasing all the things I love.
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel fortunate that the business has been successful since I opened in 1994 but I think the key to “staying power” is to always re-evaluate what I am selling, how my displays look, how my staffing pattern is, etc…Nothing is static and the challenge is not to get too comfortable with the status quo. In the last 23 years, I have moved locations three times (once from Brookline to the North end and I am now in my second North End location). Each move was crazy and stressful but also a gift of opportunity to ask myself how I wanted my business to operate. The other ongoing challenge is to always stay on top of current style trends in fashion and home, but that is something I love.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Shake the Tree has lovingly curated a collection of beautiful clothes, handmade jewelry, contemporary home goods, colorful stationery, small brand apothecary, craft cocktail supplies + barware, global cookbooks, and darling baby gifts. Inspired by travels to the sophisticated chic neighborhoods of Paris, the intricate patterned tile work of the souks in Morocco and the vibrant colors of flower markets in India, I have filled the brightly lit space with everything I love, celebrating fashion, beauty, home-cooked meals and intimate gatherings with friends. We are proud to support local makers and frequently host small batch tastings and trunk shows.
The North End, known mostly for Italian food and pastries, is now home to more than a dozen independently-owned shops and Shake was one of the first of the newer shops to come into the neighborhood after the Big Dig was completed. We take a strong leadership role in coordinating neighborhood wide shopping strolls during the holidays and love being a part of this vibrant neighborhood.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I have lived in Boston since my college days and love the city! There are so many thriving commercial neighborhoods in the city from Beacon Hill to the South End to South Boston and, of course, the North End. Our neighborhood, often known as “Little Italy” is one of the oldest parts of the city and filled with historic winding streets, cobblestone alleys, revolutionary era churches, mom and pop pastry shops, pizzerias, salumerias and, of course, lots of classic Italian restaurants, cafes and coffee shops with the recent influx of trendy little shops, it has been a wonderful place for my business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 67 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113 - Website: Www.shakethetreeboston.com
- Phone: 617-742-0484
- Email: shakethetree@rcn.com
- Instagram: @shakethetreeboston
- Facebook: Shake the tree
- Twitter: Shakethetreebos
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