Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Yarno.
Hi Susan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Susan, and want to invite you to Medford, MN to explore my store, Off Like A Kite! Located in the Medford Outlet Center, you will find a comfortable, neatly organized store full of brand-name clothing, accessories, and shabby chic home decor at a fraction of retail cost.
With women’s clothing in sizes small to 3X, I curate every piece and bring in name-brand clothing that is gently worn. In the home decor section, you may find high-end dishes, artwork, lamps, crystals, and more. And of course, Off Like A Kite also has brand-name shoes and jewelry. Women are traveling throughout southern Minnesota to shop the wide selection of gently used purses with brands like Coach, Michal Kors, Vera Bradley, and Baggallini just to name a few.
Previously, I owned a store in Forest Lake but moved to the Southern Minnesota area to be near family. My mom was a fashionista way before that was a hip term. She loved to shop for herself, for the family, for gifts for friends, and for all the special occasions. With her creativity, she created our home to be a hangout place that was always open to friends, family, and neighbors. She was the epitome of a PTA, Blue Bird leader and always cheering for her family.
Our home was her canvas and she was constantly looking to upscale the houseboy wallpaper, change out paint, and add new furniture (you get the idea!). So, as I grew up, my love for fashion, home, and a sense of community and family is where my heart was…. and still is.
Off Like A Kite is a place you can shop for upscale items. Yet, you can also bring your brand name, gently used items to the store to sell. I can’t wait to see you! Having been in business for one year, I have met so many people within the community and have given back in many ways. One of the recent partnerships is being a drop-off location for Rachel’s Light which is a women’s shelter in Owatonna!
Off Like a Kite – where fashionista, fun, and frugality combine.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The challenge is that people are saying that retail brick-and-mortar is dead. However, I have found that customers want to shop, get advice, and try on outfits.
Everyone still wants a new outfit for a special occasion, a new job, or just a wardrobe update. Off Like A Kite fills the gap for those who want to shop in person and buy the latest trends within a reasonable budget.
As you know, we’re big fans of Off Like A Kite. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am proud to have a brick-and-mortar store where people can come in and feel things and get personal shopping assistance. It’s the personal connections where ladies have asked me to put together an outfit from head to toe for a meeting, an event, an anniversary, or a girls’ weekend. I take great pride in bringing in the best quality items and have women reach out to me to ask if I could help them locate a specific item.
My exceptional reputation has people reaching out daily wanting to sell me their brand-name apparel and home decor. Each one receives an appointment where I go over every item and select only the items I know my customers will love.
When I started Off Like A Kite, I knew I loved meeting people Since then, I have truly met and created a community of women who want to look great, feel great, and not break the bank doing it.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
When I graduated from college in 1983 is when I received my first Coach bag from my parents as a work bag to start my career. I cherished that as a symbol of my accomplishment and knowing that my parents invested in it, which made it even more valuable.
Some would say that was the start of my handbag journey and over the years, I have come to realize that a great purse can make an outfit, it is timeless and is always in style. When someone goes to a clothing store, they may not find an item of clothing that fits or that makes them confident, but a handbag always fits and is an investment.
Over the years, I have purchased over 50 purses to accessorize my outfits and fit my moods. Some are functional, some are fun, some are elegant, and some are all business. Yet, every one of them tells a story, brings me back to a place and time, and reminds me of a great memory.
Contact Info:
- Website: offlikeakite.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/offlikeakite
- Facebook: facebook.com/offlikeakitemedford
