Hailing from a tillage farm in Co Laois, Mary Miller and her daughter Jenny now own and manage Fifty Seven Boutique, with two outlets in Laois and Kildare.
That was not always the plan, however, as Mary explains.
“I was an only child and was farming by myself. I met my husband and we began farming collectively. We live and have a tillage farm in Co Laois, where I was a stay-at-home mother with four children,” she says.
Mary Miller was a tillage farmer and stay at home mother of four before taking a leap of faith into fashion. \ Claire Nash
“By 2003 the children were all going to school. I saw an opening in Portarlington where a very well-established ladies boutique had closed and I just went for it. I knew the trade and realised the brands would only supply one store in any given town at a time. So, I knew I had to make my move quickly.”
In its 16 years, Fifty Seven Boutique has endured both boom and bust. Resilient and tactful, however, Mary saw her boutique come through the economic downturn.
Jenny Miller left a career in teaching to join her mother in the family business. \ Claire Nash
“We were very lucky to have been able to withstand the recession. Spending went and it was tight for a few years. But I readjusted things and was lucky to stay open. I liked the business and didn’t want to be defeated. The recession was still there and the spending never really came back to the extent it was in the boom, but we are doing well,” she reveals.
With the support of her daughter Jenny, Mary has since expanded the empire.
“Jenny was 13 when I opened the boutique at first. She loved it from day one. She always worked here on a Saturday and came on all the buying trips. She went off to college and qualified as a secondary school teacher. She worked for a while at it, went travelling for some time and eventually made the choice to come back to the boutique,” she says.
Irish pottery display at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
With both mother and daughter on the same page, Mary and Jenny followed their instinct and began research into a suitable premises in Athy, Co Kildare. Jenny explains why she made the leap of faith into fashion.
“I taught for a short while in secondary schools before I went travelling. It was during this time away that I got the opportunity to think. I returned home at Christmas 2015 having fully decided that I was going to take a break from the classroom. With the help and support from family, I wanted to work in Fifty Seven Boutique,” she says.
Giftware at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Turning the page to open a new chapter, the Miller ladies would remain fully dedicated to the Portarlington store, whilst further supporting local craft and independent trade in their new Athy outlet.
“The first step in this plan was to try and improve the shop in Portarlington, which we did by introducing the Gift Emporium. This is an addition alongside our existing boutique business and we take great pride in supporting local craft designers, many fabulous Irish crafters along with an ever-expanding range of beautiful gift products from overseas,” explains Jenny.
Giftwear at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Describing their gift range as similar to that of Avoca and Kilkenny Designs, Jenny and Mary Miller are proud to offer high-end Irish clothing, shoes and giftware in both boutiques.
“Over the years we have made a big effort to stock primarily Irish brands. We have a strong emphasis on the Irish labels, like Avalon, Paco, Kate Cooper, Stephen Pearce, Nicholas Mosse and much more. We like to try and add something new each and every season. We also have vouchers, which are redeemable in both the Portarlington and Athy stores, without expiry,” Mary says.
Accessories at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Like mother, like daughter, Jenny looks forward to a bright future with not one but two businesses to manage and develop. Positive and conscientious, Jenny encourages rural entrepreneurs everywhere to follow their dreams.
Giftwear and accessories at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
“I am a relatively young girl who has turned down the safety and security of a teaching position in favour of becoming self-employed. I believe that there is a future in the independent retail trade in rural towns in Ireland despite the massive threat from large multinationals and online shopping. I am glad I followed my gut,” she finishes.
Find Fifty Seven Boutique on Facebook.
For further information, contact 057-8645-570 or 059-8638-611
Read more
I-SPY success with mother-daughter dream team
Alison Clarke: brains, business and beauty
Hailing from a tillage farm in Co Laois, Mary Miller and her daughter Jenny now own and manage Fifty Seven Boutique, with two outlets in Laois and Kildare.
That was not always the plan, however, as Mary explains.
“I was an only child and was farming by myself. I met my husband and we began farming collectively. We live and have a tillage farm in Co Laois, where I was a stay-at-home mother with four children,” she says.
Mary Miller was a tillage farmer and stay at home mother of four before taking a leap of faith into fashion. \ Claire Nash
“By 2003 the children were all going to school. I saw an opening in Portarlington where a very well-established ladies boutique had closed and I just went for it. I knew the trade and realised the brands would only supply one store in any given town at a time. So, I knew I had to make my move quickly.”
In its 16 years, Fifty Seven Boutique has endured both boom and bust. Resilient and tactful, however, Mary saw her boutique come through the economic downturn.
Jenny Miller left a career in teaching to join her mother in the family business. \ Claire Nash
“We were very lucky to have been able to withstand the recession. Spending went and it was tight for a few years. But I readjusted things and was lucky to stay open. I liked the business and didn’t want to be defeated. The recession was still there and the spending never really came back to the extent it was in the boom, but we are doing well,” she reveals.
With the support of her daughter Jenny, Mary has since expanded the empire.
“Jenny was 13 when I opened the boutique at first. She loved it from day one. She always worked here on a Saturday and came on all the buying trips. She went off to college and qualified as a secondary school teacher. She worked for a while at it, went travelling for some time and eventually made the choice to come back to the boutique,” she says.
Irish pottery display at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
With both mother and daughter on the same page, Mary and Jenny followed their instinct and began research into a suitable premises in Athy, Co Kildare. Jenny explains why she made the leap of faith into fashion.
“I taught for a short while in secondary schools before I went travelling. It was during this time away that I got the opportunity to think. I returned home at Christmas 2015 having fully decided that I was going to take a break from the classroom. With the help and support from family, I wanted to work in Fifty Seven Boutique,” she says.
Giftware at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Turning the page to open a new chapter, the Miller ladies would remain fully dedicated to the Portarlington store, whilst further supporting local craft and independent trade in their new Athy outlet.
“The first step in this plan was to try and improve the shop in Portarlington, which we did by introducing the Gift Emporium. This is an addition alongside our existing boutique business and we take great pride in supporting local craft designers, many fabulous Irish crafters along with an ever-expanding range of beautiful gift products from overseas,” explains Jenny.
Giftwear at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Describing their gift range as similar to that of Avoca and Kilkenny Designs, Jenny and Mary Miller are proud to offer high-end Irish clothing, shoes and giftware in both boutiques.
“Over the years we have made a big effort to stock primarily Irish brands. We have a strong emphasis on the Irish labels, like Avalon, Paco, Kate Cooper, Stephen Pearce, Nicholas Mosse and much more. We like to try and add something new each and every season. We also have vouchers, which are redeemable in both the Portarlington and Athy stores, without expiry,” Mary says.
Accessories at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
Like mother, like daughter, Jenny looks forward to a bright future with not one but two businesses to manage and develop. Positive and conscientious, Jenny encourages rural entrepreneurs everywhere to follow their dreams.
Giftwear and accessories at Fifty Seven Boutique. \ Claire Nash
“I am a relatively young girl who has turned down the safety and security of a teaching position in favour of becoming self-employed. I believe that there is a future in the independent retail trade in rural towns in Ireland despite the massive threat from large multinationals and online shopping. I am glad I followed my gut,” she finishes.
Find Fifty Seven Boutique on Facebook.
For further information, contact 057-8645-570 or 059-8638-611
Read more
I-SPY success with mother-daughter dream team
Alison Clarke: brains, business and beauty
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