Tarot by Hilary Offers Professional Tarot Card Readings

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. This series is as much about supporting companies as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.

Our spotlight today is on Hilary Parry of Tarot by Hilary.

Business: Tarot by Hilary
Owners: Hilary Parry
Website: www.tarotbyhilary.com
Address: PO Box 103 * Tarrytown, NY (I make housecalls)
Contact_Info: Hilary Parry * 914-236-4452 * tarrytowntarot@gmail.com

How did you come up with the name?

It’s pretty straightforward: I am Hilary, and I read tarot! :)

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?

It is more convenient for me to come to my clients vs. them coming to me, as I don’t have an office space of my own (that may change in future!). I started this business here because this is where I was born and raised. I am very proud to be from Tarrytown, and even if I were to move, my email address (tarrytowntarot) would not change. Tarrytown will always be a part of who I am.

Briefly, what business are you in?

Professional Tarot Readings

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Treating my business as a business and not as a hobby.

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?

It is difficult to be a legitimate tarot reader when there are con artists claiming “curses” and trying to get more money out of you. It makes all of us doing this for a living look bad, and it takes power away from the client. The challenge was keeping in mind that there are con artists and phonies in almost every business field. It is not my job to convince anyone that what I do is real. It IS my job to be of service to my clients.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?

Launching my website in September 2011. Being featured in Maxim Magazine’s January/February 2014 issue with Super Bowl Predictions. Winning a year-long apprenticeship with Theresa Reed (aka The Tarot Lady) in 2011. All wonderful moments!

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?

My clients ask me lots of similar questions (outside of their readings) which results in what I write about in my blog. That way, I have a place to direct them to if they ask a familiar question, without having to reinvent the wheel each time.

How do you deal with difficult customers?

“Difficult” is such a loaded word, and one person’s difficult person is another person’s dream client. I try to determine when scheduling with someone what their expectations are of a tarot reading, and then I explain how I see tarot reading (that it is a mirror of the client’s life, showing patterns that give rise to future situations). If our expectations match, then I proceed with scheduling them for an appointment. If they don’t, I try to refer them out to someone I think will fit them better.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?

I strongly support other local businesses by trying to shop locally whenever possible. I would love to work with local businesses with any fundraisers or parties... or even donations of gift certificates for readings!

The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.

Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.