Business owner opened boutique despite pandemic
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
The COVID-19 outbreak may have closed schools, shut down businesses and canceled sporting events, but it wasn’t going to deter Washington Township resident Monica Nalevanko from living her dream as a clothing store owner and fashion consultant.
So in March, when Nalevanko had to postpone the grand opening of Rodeo Drive Boutique at 400 Liberty St. in Perryopolis, she did the next best thing.
Instead of customers coming to her, Nalevanko went to her customers.
“I was shut down before I even opened up,” she recalled. “But I was determined to do this. I went in to the store faithfully every day, put clothes together and started posting online. People started calling me, so I would take the clothes out to their homes, put my mask on and take my credit card machine with me.”
Nalevanko’s drive to succeed has paid off. Despite not having an official opening and only allowing 10 customers into the store, she has attracted clients from areas such as Harrison City, McMurray and Cranberry Township. She also ships clothes to customers across the country, including Florida and California.
“I post daily outfits on Facebook and Instagram, fashion tips, wardrobe essentials and how to accessorize,” she said. “The lawyers and doctors from Pittsburgh are in seventh heaven.”
Nalevanko stocks her store with popular American-made clothing brands such as Tyche, Blue Ivy, Urban X, Free People, INC, Chico’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Trina Turk.
She also carries jewelry and other accessories and purchases all her clothes from Los Angeles’ popular Garment District.
“I buy from a few different companies on the cutting edge of fashion,” she said. “I’m watching for two or three hours every day to see what’s coming out.
“The quality is there. When they’re delivered, they’re already on hangers and don’t need steamed.”
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