Stephanie English was a regular customer of women’s clothing store Erietta Boutique long before she took over ownership in 2015. “There was always a warm reception here,” she recalls. “And there is such great energy in the Carrot Common. It feels grounded and vibrant. It’s not mainstream, but also very family and community oriented.”
It was a chance encounter, however, that led Stephanie to take over the store that the eponymous Erietta Gatos opened in the 1980s. “I went to public school with Erietta’s daughter in Pickering,” she says. “When I moved to Toronto, I ran into her because we lived on the same street. It was a coincidence.”
It didn’t take long for Erietta’s daughter to match her long-lost school friend with her mom, who was ready to retire. “Erietta wanted someone to take over who respected the foundation she had built, but also to continue to build on it,” recalls Stephanie. Erietta knew Stephanie was the perfect fit. Sitting at the counter of a juice bar across the square from her boutique, Stephanie says, “I had a lot of jobs that led me to this point. I had worked in retail administration and in sales. This was my dream job.”
After Stephanie bought the store, Erietta stayed on to mentor. Stephanie lives by Erietta’s advice. “Know your customers. Talk to them and find out who they are,” Erietta advised her. “And when you buy, you always have to have the customer in mind.” Stephanie laughs. “You can’t just buy for yourself.”
