From Health Care to Lingerie: New Shop a Morphosis for Owner

Betty Machin, who has lived in Miller Place since 1999, worked in healthcare administration for 16 years before deciding it was time for a change; a big change.

When LaurieAnne's Boutique moved a few spots down in the King Kullen Shopping Center in Mt. Sinai near the newly opened Tapestry Salon, this space between Subway and Rite Aid became available.

Machin found it back in May and decided to take the leap in October; resigning from her position to make the move...to lingerie.

"She used to drive to work in Melville from Miller Place for all these years and finally had it with the commute," said Bob Damon, realtor for the location.

Machin said she attended a trade show last year and was hooked since then. After acquiring the space and getting everything together, Morphosis Lingerie opened at 5507 Nesconset Highway in Mt. Sinai in December. She will be holding her grand opening on Feb. 2 to get ready for Valentine's Day.

"That is my big hoorah," Machin said. "That’s what I’ve been gearing up for. I did the soft opening in December just to get a feel, and thank goodness I did that, it’s taught me so much in those six weeks or so.  It was a great opportunity to lead up to Valentine’s day."

She recently brough in 414 pieces of hosiery for the grand opening, and has been getting attention through a lingerie photo contest -- for both women and men -- with WRCN in which the winner receives a $250 certificate to the store.

"I am loving it," she said. "I’m exhausted, it’s catching up to me because I gave myself two weeks to open the store and it was chaos. I already had the inventory but as for getting the fixtures, lighting, gas, it was a lot to do."

So far, the unique transition has been a good one for Machin.