STORE AROUND THE CORNER: Olivia

With a passion for fashion, Swedish store owner Annika Sandstrom was drawn to the open-air shopping concept of St. Armands Circle because it reminded her of the European style of shopping with which she had grown up.

The feel of the circle and the individuality of all the stores made her instantly comfortable and happy to call it home to her women’s fashions store, Olivia, since 1986.

Olivia provides a unique palette of clothing, jewelry and accessories for women to define their own sense of style.

“We believe boutiques, like people, develop a personality and the wonderful thing is no two are identical,” Sandstrom said. “Our buying, merchandising, staff and customer service are unique to our store. No one else has this same combination — Olivia's personality is a mesh of all these factors.”

Olivia’s demographic is defined more by attitude than any other factor — Sandstrom caters to “women (who) have a love of fashion and seek the unique to achieve a personal style.” The store has a relaxed atmosphere and offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the circle.

“We sincerely appreciate the great people that come into Olivia's,” she said. “We want everyone that comes in to feel welcome and provide them with the service they deserve. We do not have a formula for this. We tailor our service to meet each individual’s needs.”

Sandstrom and her staff strive to make the Olivia experience fun for everyone who comes in the door.

“Olivia is what we hope every woman will come to think of as their best friend when it comes to fashion," she said.

Contact Stephanie Hannum at [email protected].

BASICS
Olivia
Owner: Annika Sandstrom
Address: 9 South Blvd. of the Presidents, Sarasota
Phone: 388-1677
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday
Line of business: Contemporary women's fashions
Employees: Three
Website: www.OliviasFashion.com
What makes the business unique: Olivia’s buying, merchandising, staff and customer service are unique to the store.