Business Q&A: Cathy's Touch

Children rarely enjoy getting dressed up for formal affairs – it’s a fact of life.

When the need arises, parents are often at a loss as to where to go to get the right outfit for the right occasion and finding the right combination of price and quality is often a trial for moms and dads these days.

That’s where Cathy’s Touch comes in. First opening their doors for business 20 years ago in Baldwin, after 10 years, the purveyor of children’s wear moved to it’s current location in Merrick, where they’ve remained ever since.

Cathy’s Touch co-owner, Lorraine Castanio, recently spoke to Patch about supplying the kids of Merrick with the duds they need for life’s special occasions.

What types of occasions do you cover?

We cover everything, from communions, christenings, flower girls, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, baby’s first birthdays, ring bearers and more. We serve both boys and girls.

So, if a child needs an outfit for an occasion, how does the process go when they step into your shop with their parents?

We have stock and ready to wear clothing but we also do customs. We have our own designers. You can pick out your own fabric and designs that you like, and then we send it out to the designers, who make it. We also make all our own accessories and we decorate all our own shoes, pocketbooks, gloves, and so on. That we do here on the premises.

You started your business in Baldwin, but after a decade, you re-located to Merrick. Why the move?

When we were in Baldwin, we were off the beaten path. We were just starting out and we were in a little, small store. We wanted to move into more of a neighborhood and here in Merrick, we’re right in the heart of the town. We donate a lot to the PTA, we’ve done fashion shows and more.

Since you deal exclusively with formal wear, are people going to find it difficult to find outfits for their kids that will fit their budgets?

We have all price ranges. I have christening outfits that are $59, and I have christening outfits that are $300. I try to have something for everyone.

What do you like the best about owning and operating a business in Merrick?

We do like being involved. We love the Merrick Chamber of Commerce and we get involved with the street fair and the Kid Fest. With the tree-lined streets, it’s just a beautiful neighborhood.