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Business & Tech

Q & A: Anna Ryan of Solo Fashion

The new store features designer styles at budget prices.

When opened in April 2011, part of Anna Ryan’s life-long dream had been fulfilled. Ryan, a former nurse from a family of medical professionals, took her passion for design and turned it into a business at 336 Main St. in Farmingdale. Her fashion boutique is open seven days a week. She ultimately hopes to have her own designer line of women’s clothing.

What makes Solo Fashion Outlet different?
Ryan: We’re the only fashion designer boutique in Farmingdale and we combine that with budget prices. Our store is focused on women from 25 to 50 and we offer designer labels like Michael Kors, Biacci, Nicole Miller and many other European designers. We are a one-stop shop. We offer casual designer clothing, tops, dresses, and pants, along with high-end jewelry and handbags. We carry Swarovski jewelry too. We’re planning to add shoes in the future. Our clothing sizes run from extra small to 3x and our prices range from $10 to $50 and we’re always offering discounts of 25 percent to 45 percent. We’re going to be running monthly sale parties too where we’ll have champagne for our customers while they shop.

How is business in this economy?
Ryan: For me, we’ve been busy since we offer designer clothes at budget prices. We have clothes that are being advertised online for $300 and we sell it for $55. But I’m doing a lot of advertising to let shoppers know we are here. We’re on Facebook and we have a web site that will go up soon. We’re starting a campaign on the back of McDonald coupons where we’ll offer $10 off any purchase. We’re also going to be a vendor at Bethpage State Park’s event for breast cancer.

What is the best/worst thing about running a business on Main Street?
Ryan: Being located on a Main Street gives us a lot of attention. We’re able to put one of our mannequins wearing one of our dresses right outside the front door of the store and that helps to advertise our business. We like being in Farmingdale. It’s a nice quiet town with parking both in front of the store and behind. The restaurant and bars draw a lot of customers to the area that see our store and come in. Our customers come from all over Long Island. Some of them from Huntington are encouraging me to open a second store there.

What is your busiest time of the year?
Ryan: We carry seasonal clothing so our brightly-colored, well-made summer tops, dresses, and pants are very popular. We’ll start to move into fall and winter items shortly.

What is the most rewarding part of being part of the Farmingdale community?
Ryan: Everyone at Village Hall has been very nice and especially our neighbors along Main Street. Tony, the owner of Caracara Mexican Grill, has been welcoming and we all give each other discounts and marketing tips.

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