W here can a woman go to shop, drink, and get cruised by guys while supporting women entrepreneurs and local charities? That’s a Girls’ Night Out at Lua, of course!
For two years now, Gina Avoletta, Hoboken resident and general manager of City Bistro, has been bringing women business owners to a trendy social gathering of curious customers that seems to be the fastest growing shopping event in Hoboken.
The shopping scene
This is the fourth time Avoletta is hosting Girls’ Night Out, and it’s the third she’s running it out of brother John Avoletta’s stylish and modern restaurant Lua at 1300 Sinatra Drive with a riverfront view of the Manhattan skyline.
“There’s a lot of women that own businesses in Hoboken – I wanted it to be about them,” Avoletta said. “Then, there’s women that work full-time jobs, but they have passions on the side, so it’s really just to promote the woman.”
Andrea Moschella, owner of Good Kleen Fun, “Hoboken’s only bath, beauty, and gift boutique” at 529 Washington St., has been to every Girls’ Night Out. She’s amazed at how the event grew from about seven vendors on the second floor at City Bistro and blossomed into something amazing – even men are coming now, she said. And she still gets a great response at the event that helped her business get off the ground.
“I just started out two years ago and I was trying figure out how to get Good Kleen Fun’s name out. Even though I was on Washington Street, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people automatically are going to go shop there.
There’s a lot of stores and you get in your groove … and maybe you don’t go near Sixth and Washington when you live on Fourth and Park, so I thought what a great way to reach these young women who are professionals and want to have a fun night out with cocktails.”
Moschella’s best-selling product?
“Believe it or not, it’s called Clear My Head, and it’s a jar of herbs that helps you with your sinuses and allergies,” said Moschella. “It is my number one seller for two years. I’ve sold thousands. [Customers] love it. I have people who smell it at this event, and then come back in and they’re like, ‘Okay, I need ten because I’m giving it to all my friends for the holidays.’ So this event here is fantastic for getting people to come back into the store.”
Shopping for charity
But a Girls’ Night Out isn’t just about shopping.
“There’s going to be drink specials and food specials. There’s going to be a DJ, pictures with Santa – that money will go to donations. I mean, that’s all donated. I don’t take any money. Whatever money a business makes, that’s different. But every vendor gives one donation – whether it’s a gift certificate or a physical gift – that gets raffled off. That raffle money goes directly to charity,” which this time around includes CASA (the Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer program), a group in Hoboken that delivers toys to kids for the holidays, and a dog rescue group that Avoletta adopted her pet from.
Amy Grossberg, another Hoboken resident, has been helping Avoletta organize Girls’ Night Out from the beginning, but she’s also vendor – her business is Just Because Invitations, distributing stationery and invitations to local stores.
“There’s really no downside to this,” said Grossberg. “It’s just a fun night for everyone. And everyone benefits from it.”
Who’s who
There are a lot of repeat participants as well as some new faces as Girls’ Night Out has grown to an estimated 40 vendors this time around. Noelle Joseph, a former Hoboken resident who owns In Your Skivvies, a Web-based business, is a veteran of the event. Her specialty is sexy loungewear accentuated by Swarovski crystals, which can be customized to say what you want.
This will be the first Girls’ Night Out for Tracey Haines owner of Glamor Girl, which specializes in personal home parties for handbags, which she’ll be bringing in the latest trend; animal prints.
Megan Avery, a Hoboken resident and proprietor of M Avery Designs at 266 Seventh St., is also selling handbags and accessories. She said many are interested in the clutches, which can be custom-made, even adding a wrist strap.
Many businesses will be represented, covering a variety of shopping needs and services.
Koru Wedding, 106 Fourth Street in Hoboken, www.koruwedding.com, will offer discussion on wedding plans. Paul Michael, 1102 Washington St. in Hoboken, www.paulmichaelapparel.com, will offer quality men’s apparel. Salon Caru, 104 Hudson St. in Hoboken, saloncaru.com, will give hair consultations.
About A Girl, 529 Washington St. in Hoboken, www.aboutagirlnj.com, will offer handbags and accessories. Bark Avenue K9, www.barkavenuek9.com, will have gifts for your pet from shirts to toys.
RubyHands, rubyhands.com, will offer silk screened T-shirts that they sell at Galatea Lingerie at 1224 Washington St. in Hoboken.
Silpada Designs, www.silpada.com, will offer sterling silver jewelry. Ooh La La Boutique will offer women and children’s clothing. Tara from Carol Malony will offer lingerie. Jill Kelly Swimwear will offer swimsuits. Kristin Brandt and Janet Green Designs will offer jewelry.
“Girls are ready to shop, and guys are ready to hunt for girls,” said Avoletta. “So if a guy knows that it’s a Girls’ Night Out, they’re here, and if the girls know anything about shopping and drinking, they’re here. So, the doors are open.”