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Sarah Van Aken has already established herself as successful entrepreneur here in Philly, but she's not content to hang it up just yet. The 36-year-old owner of Sansom Street's SA VA boutique tells the Daily News that big plans are in the works to expand her eco-friendly brand of women's apparel, which is designed and manufactured in a garment center adjacent to the boutique.
Van Aken reveals that a new website design is on the horizon, and there are plans to expand SA VA via wholesale. Also, the businesswoman notes that she'd like to open additional SA VA boutiques outside of Philadelphia, and to relocate SA VA's existing location to a bigger space within the city.
Despite a less-than-perfect economy, Van Aken notes that finding skilled labor is one of her company's most daunting challenges. "We need people who understand how to use multiple machines and how garments go together," she says. "It's much different from somebody sitting at a single-needle sewing machine."
· Entrepreneur thinks local with clothing workshop [Philly.com]
· SA VA [Official Site]