Sev Shak Prepares for Move to West Hartford

A relatively new Avon store known for its fashion, accessories and colorful array of merchandise will reopen next week in West Hartford Center, in a location owner Sevanne Ngamariju hopes will bring her store more visibility.

After opening Sev Shak next to Clyde St. Amand Hair Designs toward the back of Avon Village Marketplace last year, Ngamariju is excited to announce that she is moving to West Hartford Center between Grants Restaurant & Bar and Bella Gusta on Farmington Avenue. The site was formerly occupied by .

Ngamariju closed her Avon store in February and will reopen in West Hartford on April 1.

“It’s a good move for us," Ngamariju, a Trinidad and Tobego native and Hartford resident, said. "Where I was was just too hidden and exposure’s just the key thing for any business to thrive.”

West Hartford Center is a place that many people flock to for a walk or to access the many restaurants and shops. Ngamariju said that being near the hub of foot traffic is key for a retail business like hers. The diverse nature and tourism draw of West Hartford Center makes it prime real estate, according to Ngamariju.

“We didn’t expect to get it (West Hartford) this quickly or this soon,” she said. "We need to be in between the businesses that are already doing it, that already have the traffic.”

Lynda Przybylski, owner of Bella Gusta, is also hoping the stores will be complementary, and draw from a similar customer base.

Ngamariju had also looked at Glastonbury as a possible new location for Sev Shak, finding that to be another prime shopping area.

She will still offer many junior sizes in clothing, but she hopes to expand her selection for adult women.

"A woman wants to look fabulous too, not just the younger folks," Ngamariju said, adding that there will be "no shortness of color" at her new store location and that it will maintain the "same fab feel."

Ngamariju pays close attention to trending fashion and posts about anticipated hot items for the upcoming seasons on Facebook. This year, she said floral patterns are popular.

She also stays tuned into what her customers are looking for, the "wheels always turning" in her head for new ideas. No business is set in stone, she said, and Sev Shak is constantly evolving.

The success of a business is a combination of luck and location among other factors, she said. She advises business owners to carefully consider their market before choosing where they want to put their store.

"That could make or break you," Ngamariju said.

Several shoppers nationwide have purchased merchandise online through Sev Shak's website, www.sevshak.com, which launched February of 2012. Even though Ngamariju hasn't spent a lot of time publicizing the website, she said many are discovering it and hearing about it from friends.

Ngamariju is appreciative of her time in Avon, where she learned a lot running her first store and gained many loyal customers. Despite her remote location in Avon Village Marketplace, set far back from Route 44 and hidden behind other buildings, she said that several people came to her store after hearing about it by word of mouth.

"It was a great start for a new business and it’s just time to move on," Ngamariju said. "I truly think we're going to fit in here (West Hartford)."

Sev Shak's new location is 981 C Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. Hours remain the same as her former Avon location – Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. People can reach her through the store's toll-free number at 1-888-943-1974.