Editor’s note: The April 28 print edition of The Business Journal celebrated our newsroom’s 25th anniversary. As part of that package, we featured articles about other local businesses celebrating noteworthy anniversaries. Here’s one of them.

It has been 10 years since sisters Janet Danielian and Norma Haynes opened their first Ooh La La Boutique at 1305 N. Willow in Clovis.

In that time, the popularity of Ooh La La and its trendy yet affordable women’s clothing and accessories grew so quickly the sisters were able to open a second location in River Park in 2010.

Now, Haynes, who handles the accounting and backend of the business, said the duo plans to bring its customers an online store.

“We’ll always still have brick-and-mortar stores,” said Haynes, adding that they prefer providing service to customers face-to-face and building relationships.

Between their longtime vendors, loyal customers and 30 employees, Haynes said the cornerstone to success for the business is relationships. “These relationships make things tick,” she said.

And while it’s fun to run a fashion boutique, Haynes said success also requires hard work and dedication.

“People think it’s all fun and glamorous to work in fashion and around clothes, and from the outside it is, but on the inside it is still a business and it is hard work,” Haynes said. “You have to keep your eye on the ball all the time.”

For Haynes, who had 30 years of prior experience as a controller, that means keeping a close watch on the books, while for Danielian, whose background is in retail management, it means paying close attention to new trends and buying, and not overbuying, the right stuff for the Fresno market.

While it isn’t easy, Haynes said owning your own business is gratifying. “You get the feeling that you’re really accomplishing something,” she said.

Plus, Haynes said Fresno is a great community for a small business owner. “The local support is there.”