San Francisco Boutique Adds Designer and Relocates
In the world of retail, it’s all about location, location, location.
With that in mind, San Francisco’s Studio 3579 boutique recently relocated one block away in the Mission District to a corner spot that should bring in more traffic.
The boutique, now located at 499 Dolores St., is run by Saffron Rare Threads designer Priya Saraswati and Joy Opfer of Joy O Designs. For about eight months, the fledgling store was located at 3579 17th St., but it was time for a change.
“The previous location was a great starter/incubator and had wonderful, supportive destination shoppers,” Opfer said. “But the new location, with its high profile, has allowed us to be stumbled upon by a much larger pool of shoppers.”
After the boutique moved, Dutchy handbag designer Audree Halasz joined up in May to add to the store’s collection.
The idea of sharing the space works well for the designers because they target the same customer without competing with each other. “Our lines are complementary in style and price point, and by offering only our three lines, we provide an environment whereby customers can easily put a cohesive look together while connecting with the brands and the designers themselves,” Saraswati said. Another advantage of having such a space is that “it allows visitors to see your whole line [in contrast to] other retail stores, where they just get a selection of styles,” Halasz explained.
Studio 3579 also offers shoppers exclusive styles from Saffron Rare Threads and Joy O Designs.
Saraswati sells some of the most popular styles from Saffron Rare Threads in special fabrics that are only available in small quantities, including stretch-denim trousers, printed silk tops and skirts, and printed knit tops and dresses. Opfer sees the shop as providing a huge advantage to market and sell individual items, samples and one-offs. “I also use many natural stones, and it would not be practical to put them in a production line,” she noted, “as their variation from samples can be more than some retailers can tolerate.”
The partners plan to host sample sales and other events at the shop, including an evening with a personal stylist. Upcoming events include an opening party on June 12 and a sample sale in July.
For more information, call (415) 626-2533 or visit www.studio3579.com. —Dena Smolek
