Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Garabedian.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sarah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to own my own shop. In February 2017 I was shown the space at 26 Prince Street in the North End and I fell in love with it! My husband and I decided that the space was too perfect to give up and we just went for it! Then the hard work began. I had to figure out how to start a business and get it up and running in just a few months. My goal was to be open for the summer since the North End is known for having a lot of tourists visiting all summer long. Luckily we were open April 29th of 2017 and we haven’t looked back.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The past year has been a HUGE learning experience. From the beginning there were definitely struggles, whether it was figuring out how much inventory to order and what kind of inventory the locals and tourists would like, to how to get people in the door when there isn’t a lot of extra money to spend on advertising.
Loft & Vine – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The idea behind Loft & Vine came from us living in the North End. My husband and I (and dog & cat) live in a loft and there isn’t any garden area outside, except we have a small deck that we use for ‘urban gardening’. We wanted to offer products for the urbanite, like seed kits, small gardening tools, lots of fun vases and pots. We also sell quirky kitchen items that come in handy for local North Enders. Of course home gifts are a big part of what we sell, like pretty bowls, pint glasses, baking dishes, candles, and lots of fun tea towels.
This year I’m so excited to be offering more and more local-artist products. We have two local candle makers, a local soap maker, and a few new local jewelry designers that are really popular with our customers. We also have artwork from two different local artists which are both fan-favorites!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being happy in what you’re doing, working really hard, connecting with people and taking risks and giving yourself the space to make mistakes and learn from them. What’s important is to find the right balance of ‘always striving to be better’ with ‘what we’re doing is good and we should be proud!’ Not always easy but it’s a journey.
Contact Info:
- Address: 26 Prince Street
Boston, Ma 02113 - Website: www.loftandvine.com
- Phone: 617-816-2499
- Email: sarah@loftandvine.com
- Instagram: @loftandvine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoftandVine/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/loftandvine
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.
