by Laura Faye Smith

Wednesday, July 20th, 2005

Pop Quiz: When you think about an ultimate place to shop for high fashion handbags and jewelry, do you think of Fifth Avenue in New York, or Gresham, Oregon? Maybe Gresham isn't the first place you think of, but it should definitely be in your top ten! For those who would trade a season of front row seats at the Rose Garden for a pass to New York's Fashion Week, Accents of Elegance is a local, best-kept-secret store you should definitely mince your Manolos to. This divine little boutique is pocketed inside a hair salon in Gresham's Historical Downtown district, and impressively, they generate 90% of their customer base from New York. That's right-Manhattan fashionistas, who have access to some of the swankiest stores in the country, flock to Gresham's Accents of Elegance to snap up the hottest bags, wallets, and jewelry from Franco Sarto, Whiting and Davis, Lodis, Pandora, and multiple other A-list brands.

Accents of Elegance owners Vona and Brenda, both former Nordstrom employees, have been enjoying quite the style skyrocket to success. They have been featured in national magazines such as Lucky, More, and Latina, and they recently received a call from the Vice President of Marketing at Whiting and Davis in New York to find out if there was anything HE could do for THEM. Not bad for an online store!

Check out our website.. Click Here.. http://accentsofelegance.com

The online store idea was inspired four years ago by Vona's husband, who is president of UPC, a company that provides websites for businesses. Intrigued at the idea of an online store, Vona collaborated with her longtime friend Brenda to put some of their favorite products online. The Franco Sarto "Hide and Seek" bag was one of those products, and little did they realize that they were the only online store to carry it. When the Hide and Seek sold out in NYC, desperate Manhattan mavens flooded the Accents of Elegance website with orders, buying out their entire stock and creating a 200 person waiting list-not to mention the beginning of a large and faithful New York customer following.

Energized by their thriving online business, Brenda and Vona then opened their charming Gresham boutique inside the Pazazz Hair Salon at 302 NE Roberts Street. In addition to Franco Sarto, Accents of Elegance is one of the top selling stores for Whiting and Davis's line of bags, as well as those by Inge Christopher, Hobo International, and Lodis. The strength of their online presence has powered Accents of Elegance with such buff buying muscle that they're able to attend the same fashion shows and purchase the same high caliber of merchandise as major department stores. When asked about fall handbag trends, Brenda predicted a season of richness and texture-with metallic colors, sumptuous furs, buttery soft suede, and intoxicating gypsy colors such as peacock, moss, hazel, amethyst, and especially emerald green. The store also sparkles with exclusive lines of sought after jewelry, by designers such as Pandora and Papillion Treasures. Vona and Brenda were first introduced to Pandora by their Franco Sarto representative, and they anticipate it will quickly become one of their top selling brands.

A Pandora bracelet could be best described as one of the most beautiful charm bracelets you've ever seen, with intricate "screw on" beads and clasps (clasps keep the beads from sliding around on the chain) that allow the customer to self-design a personalized and exquisite piece of jewelry. You start by selecting a thick sterling silver or 14k gold bracelet chain, and then add as many gorgeously carved silver and gold beads as your heart desires, or checkbook allows. Bead prices range from $6 for a simple clasp, up to $1,500 for more decadent baubles-but whether you choose a couple carefully selected charms or a pack on a stunning wrist full, you are certain to create a completely unique and stunning accessory that you will wear every day and with everything. (At least, that's what you tell your significant other if any eyebrows are raised about how much you spent.)

Accents of Elegance is one of only 500 stores in the U. S. that are authorized to carry the Pandora Match line, which consists of necklaces and rings of the same nature as the bracelets. Pandora puts out new charms twice a year, and Brenda and Vona are breathlessly awaiting their new shipment of beads in August, which will include beads of colored Venetian glass, as well as anklets, toe rings, and brooches. If you hustle down to Accents on Elegance to get your bracelet started now, you'll have time to decide what else it needs before indulging yourself on the smorgasbord of new charms in August. Although Brenda and Vona currently refer to their little fashion fortress as "The Nordstrom's Closet" (trust me, it's cozy-with 5-7 customers, it feels full), the duo are slated to take over 1,100 square feet at the opposite end of their current building in the summer of 2006. Not only will they waste no time filling the shelves with even more fabulous merchandise to choose and peruse, but their current devotion to exceptional customer service will expand along with their floor space. Vona and Brenda write a personal thank you note to every customer that purchases something from their store, be it online or in person. Like their elegant merchandise, these ladies are the height of class and flair.

"The biggest hurdle we have to overcome is making people realize that we're not selling knockoffs-this is the real deal," says Vona. The petite size of their boutique combined with the fact that they sell their bags for about 10% less than most major department stores can make many savvy shoppers suspicious. But the truth is that due to their online success, they have secured their niche in being small and mighty. Currently, about 70% of their business is done via the web, but they'd love to see that number even out as more Oregonians become aware of this local treasure So pay a visit to Accents of Elegance and then start spreadin' the news-a little piece of the Big Apple just fell in our backyard.

http://accentsofelegance.com