Business

Women sell high fashion in basement boutique
Consultants for designer
line offer convenience,
personalized service
By linda denicola
Staff Writer

Terry Pollio (l), a consultant with Julianna Collezione, and Laura D’Urso, an associate consultant, examine the clothes available at Pollio’s Freehold Township boutique.

Two fashionable young mothers are having fun selling a line of clothing from home while still enjoying the flexibility of stay-at-home mothers.

Terry Pollio of Freehold Township and Laura D’Urso of Marlboro are consultants for the Juliana Collezione, the business of a European-born, New York-based designer whose line of stylish clothing is sold all over the country and in Puerto Rico.

Created in 1994, the Juliana Collezione line is intended to provide high quality design and manufacturing coupled with personal service and value.

They run the home-based business from Pollio’s basement boutique on Hunt Road in Freehold Township.

Pollio started selling the line of designer clothing in January and had her first showing in February.

That’s when she met D’Urso, who came to check out the clothing line. The two women hit it off and decided to join forces with D’Urso becoming Pollio’s assistant.

The collaboration was especially fortuitous since D’Urso had some industry experience.

"I worked in the garment center in Manhattan doing what I’m doing now. I left the business when I got married and had my daughter. I loved the line when I saw it."

Pollio was an elementary school teacher in Staten Island, N.Y., but left the profession when she had her first child. She and her husband moved to Freehold Township 11 years ago when her son was born. She also has a 9-year-old daughter.

"I got involved with the clothing line because of my husband," she said.

"He works with a man whose wife is a regional manager for Juliana. He thought I might be interested, so he put me in touch with her. During my first show, I met Laura."

The women do four shows a year. Their last show was late November and their next will run in February.

"It’s like a trunk show," D’Urso said. "We get the most recent line for 10 days, then we pack all of the clothes up and ship them to another consultant.

"We are the only people selling the Juliana line in this area," she added.

The women provide one-on-one shopping by appointment only. "We serve coffee during the day and wine at night. It’s a very personal and private way to shop," D’Urso said.

"We try to create a friendly environment. It’s a night out for the woman, who may be a stay-at-home mother like us," Pollio added.

Beside attractive, well-made clothing for daytime, evening and cruises, they sell hand bags and wallets to go with the line. During the pre-holiday showing, the basement boutique was festive looking with red slipcovers on the couches and evening wear like a gown and pantsuit in gold and red, as well as a deep blue suit with fur cuffs, jewel-tone sweaters and leather jackets.

"We cater to everyone, including older women who are stylish but not trendy. In other words, for women who don’t want to wear the styles that bare the belly."

The sample clothing comes in sizes from four to 10, but they provide "fit sets" that range from size 0 to 16.

Gina Romano of Colts Neck had scheduled an appointment to see the fall holiday collection.

She said she loves the line because of the quality of the clothes and the way they fit her tall, slim frame.

"I shop here every season," Romano said.

"After three children, my body has changed, but the clothing fits so well."

Pollio, who is tall herself, said the designer makes her clothes long because it’s easier to shorten something than it is to lengthen.

Both women said they loved working for the designer for many reasons: one of which is the opportunity to go into Manhattan for three regional meetings and one national meeting every year. "They wine and dine us, and we get to see a fashion show," D’Urso said.

Pollio, who is a typical suburban parent who has to drive her children to just about everything, said she loves the fact that she can schedule her clients around her children’s activities.

It worked for Romano, too. It was mid-day when she arrived with her 2-year-old son.

While she rifled through the racks and chatted with the two women, her son slept on one of the red couches.

Anyone interested in scheduling an appointment to view the February collection may call Pollio at (732) 462-2511.