Apr 23, 2008

Sylvia’s By the SeaBy Brian P. NanosWickedLocal.com

Scituate – To Sylvia Killion, getting into the clothing business has been something like jumping onto a treadmill already in motion.

Killion, the owner of Sylvia’s by the Sea, opened The Runway at Sylvia’s in November. Attached to her Front Street gift store, The Runway sells clothes, and since November, Killion has been trying to learn the intricacies of running a clothing store while, at the same time, actually running her clothing store.

Now that she has worked her way through The Runway’s first winter, Killion will hold grand opening events on May 3 and 4.

On Saturday May 3, the store will give free makeovers. On Sunday, May 4, Killion is holding a fashion show at The River Club from 2 to 5 p.m. The first 200 guests to reserve seats for the event will be treated to hors d’oeuvres and a trunk show from John Medeiros Jewelry.

Killion said the biggest transition has been getting used to a field in which the merchandise changes seasonally. With gifts, she said, she has the ability to keep some things on the shelves year-round. However, when she opened The Runway in November, Killion had to find a distributor who could quickly ship her winter clothes.

In her gift shop, Killion would have time to reorder items that were selling well. In the clothing store, however, she instead has to move all the old items aside to make room for summer gear, such as bathing suits, which she said are already on the way.

In that environment, Killion said she only gets on chance to order the right clothes before the season is over.

“You really have to be right on with it comes to purchasing,” she said.

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