We recently connected with Carrie Vanderhoof and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I opened my Artisan Boutique in April of 2015 after leaving a near 20 year career in Engineering. My goal was to open a shop that focuses on artisan goods, while committing an eco-conscious manner of business and creating a retail environment that offers a more sustainable and local product line.

My boutique is populated with one of a kind, small batch products that impart the personality of the artist. We currently feature 70 small batch artisans, mostly located in New York, and their body of work is as diverse and eclectic as they are, which creates a truly unique collage of colors, textures and energy.

We do not subscribe to the idea of trends, nor do we believe in telling folks what is in or the next new hot item. We aim to create a space that encourages folks to live in color, and purchase products from a place of joy or inspiration. We curate the shop in a way that co-mingles the vast array of products to allow them to shine brighter as a collective.

We want to create a cheerful, engaging, and meaningful retail space that is stress free and more interested in customer enjoyment than chasing a sale.

We also believe strongly in giving back to the community that supports us, and we have been involved in several major fundraising events and campaigns since we opened our doors.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After roughly 17 years as an Environmental Engineering with the State of NY, I decided to take a leap of faith and invest in myself and pursue my dreams of opening my own business in April 2015.

With a passion for art and fashion my husband and I set off to open a bohemian inspired store, with a warm, up-cycled shabby chic interior. My love for the arts stems back to my childhood and I was influenced and mentored by my Aunt who was an Art Teacher and Free Lance Artist. I nurtured my interest in art throughout my adolescence and teen age years and spent hours in my room creating across numerous mediums. During my high-school years, I spent all my free time in the art room, and was given the freedom to explore the world of art outside of a prescribed curriculum during junior and senior years. That free reign allowed me to express myself in a manner that was deeply reflective and therapeutic.

My dream of studying art in my college years was quelched due to an illness in the family and I was encouraged to choose a more practical field of study that would guarantee a stable career. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was just 8 years old. Our family structure was turned upside down, and the family unit that felt so stable and safe, fractured into pieces. My mother went back into the work force and landed a job at Syracuse University which gratefully provided free tuition for my undergrad education. That benefit however came with some strong opinions on what path to pursue, and while my love for the arts was earnest, it had to take a back seat while I applied my passion for the environment and obtained a degree in Environmental Engineering. For 17 years I rarely looked back, and creating art took a back seat. I would still express my artistic side in my fashion, my interior decor, my cooking, and my general self expression.

As the years passed, it became clear the light inside me was dimming and I craved the freedom to create, to express, to connect and to steer my own ship. I began fashion merchandising on the side as an outlet from the day to day grind, and soon my light began to shine, and then one day the idea of Boho Chic Boutique came into frame. I took that leap with my husband by my side and for roughly 10 years now I have never looked back.

Boho Chic Boutique was a new venture for both my husband and I, we opened April 2015 in the Village of Waterford, New York, and have since relocated the shop to Ballston Spa NY in April 2018.

Our goal is to provide unique items including clothing and accessories, jewelry, candles, greeting cards, reclaimed wooden housewares and re-purposed furniture. We represent artists from near and far, and look to continuously seek out new artists and product lines. We pride ourselves on creating a warm retail space, full of color, personality and fun. We are committed to supporting local artists and giving back to the community.

We are most proud of connecting with our audience, and staying true to our calling. We have been honored to be voted Best of Saratoga 6 years in a row in several categories, The Best of the Best in 2024 in the Saratogian, and a 2024 Bestie Finalist in the Capital Region Magazine.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Jumping from Engineer to Entrepreneur seemed insane to most of my friend circle and family, but to me it was the most sane thing I had done, and one that saved me. I have always been the kind of person that when someone says “you can’t do that”, I respond with “watch me”. My passion and determination has definitely helped build my reputation. I didn’t just open my doors and sit back and hope people would come. I went out there and introduced myself to the world. Everywhere I went, I brought my business cards, engaged in conversation, and put my personality on display without hesitation. I was real with people, honest and transparent about the reasons I started my business, and my story became one that folks resonated with and they appreciated my willingness to bear my soul.

This honesty and openness is part of every day business at our shop. I pride myself in making space for every person that walks inside. My passion for our shop is immediately evident, and I love sharing the back stories of all the artisans we showcase, as well as intimately knowing my product line.

My customers appreciate my enthusiasm and knowledge and that has established the trust in our shop and our way of doing business.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

We are very active on all social media platforms, and we use Square Email Marketing and Square Loyalty Programs to reach our customer base.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bohochicny.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohochicny
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bohochicny
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-vanderhoof-58b140b8
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boho-chic-boutique-ballston-spa-2