North, the brainchild of Tammy Ehrenfeld, celebrated its grand opening last week to much fanfare, offering a variety of medium to high-end women’s fashion, as well as boy’s clothes in sizes five through 12.
Ehrenfeld, who holds a degree in fashion merchandising, noted that North is about more than just retail selling, it is designed to be a complete experience. She said that the unique name of her store stemmed from a desire to create a “shopping destination” women wouldn’t have to travel to Manhattan for.
“We hope to do more than just sell things. We aim to provide a service to women, to give them direction – if they want it – so they are able to select pieces that they will feel marvelous in,” she said. “Secondly, we want women to know that they can find sophisticated clothing north of the city.”
Although she earned a degree in fashion more than 25 years ago – and held a position at Lip Service clothing in Hollywood, where she once helped style Guns N’ Roses – Ehrenfeld instead wound up pursuing a career in advertising and marketing on the East Coast.
Now, getting back to her roots, Ehrenfeld believes that her experience working closely with brands and seeing how consumers interact with those brands give her a different perspective to owning and operating a clothing store.
“While many brands have adapted and kept up with what the public expects, other than eCommerce, I haven’t seen much change in the retail formula,” she said. “Consumers have the benefit of information at their fingertips, why not bring a little of that information directly to the consumer person to person.”
Despite some hiccups in securing the proper paperwork and permits with the village, Ehrenfeld has erected a home away from home for women at 65 Pondfield Road, the former home of La Dentelliere.
“North is not only about selling things. It’s about women, friendship and community,” she said. “I purposefully carved out a section in the shop with a sofa and chairs for women to hang out at. In the coming years, I hope women come to find it as a comfortable place to come and visit, as well as a place to find things that help their beauty shine.”
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