By Jennifer Farnsworth
Saratoga Saddlery and International Boutique closed its shop at 506 Broadway in Saratoga Springs will operate, when businesses are allowed to re-open in New York state, at 392 Broadway.
“We loved where we were. It was a beautiful store, but this is a spot with much better foot traffic. We are very happy with it,” said owner Sabine Rodgers.
The current state regulations have forced her to close her “new” doors, so Rodgers has turned her focus to online orders. She said the first two weeks after the shutdown were devastating.
“For two straight weeks we had no orders, nothing. Now we have started to receive some business, but not what we are used to,” she said.
Rodgers acknowledges this is a challenging time to keep any small business open, including her own where she has had to layoff 12 employees. She said she wants to get them back to work as soon as possible.
“I worry about them. I want to get them back. As soon as I get the green light I am hoping to be able to,” said Rodgers.
Rodgers said she found a designer who makes masks and matching blouses, bringing a layer of fashion to mask wearing during the pandemic which has left many people feeling unsettled.
“It is awkward to start wearing a mask when you have never done it before. So I thought if we can make it fun somehow, almost fashionable, maybe that will help in some way,” she said.
In addition to comfort work-from-home apparel, Rodgers also started thinking about how many people will be forced to cancel vacations. She said, “while we may not be able to travel to tropical places we can still have fun necessities like stylish sunglasses.”
Rodgers said she sat down and thought about the things she could market that may help provide some happiness to her customers during this challenging period. Her store’s Facebook page includes photos of work-from-home clothing that is both comfortable and stylish.
“The clothes we wear can influence our mood. Maybe it’s time to change out of your PJs and into a comfortable, yet very stylish, outfit for the day. It helps to put on something that makes you not only look good, but feel good,” said Rodgers.
As she settles into her new location, Rodgers said she has re-imagined what she can offer to those who are looking for some sort of comfort.
Rodgers said her boutique specializes in the equestrian lifestyle and outdoor fashion, and she looks forward to the day when she can find herself selling more of those items, in person, to people who are shopping in Saratoga.
“I look forward to having our grand opening, when the streets are once again filled with people, it’s what we love about Saratoga,” said Rodgers.
Her website is SaratogaSaddlery.com.