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| We have the hottest stuff and the prices are so right!” That’s what Owner Cari Wilke says about the new Bella Boutique in Lincoln. It offers a new form of shopping that goes well with its stylish offerings: It’s called “occasional shopping.” You may want to try it because you might end up really liking it. Now, about this “occasional shopping” bit. Bella Boutique is only open the first Wednesday through Sunday of every month. If you like the idea, you may want to mark your calendar and set up a reminder every month so you don’t miss out. Cari says that shopping at Bella Boutique is just plain fun. First off, there’s an entire wall of handbags. Styles are inspired by the hippest and trendiest designers from around the world, according to Cari. These are not thrown-together knockoffs, she adds. The designs are inspired by the much pricier original versions. They are designed to hold up, and the prices are much cheaper. Many of the purses are between $35 and $40, and Cari promises that you’ll have a difficult time choosing just one. Cari goes on to say that these bags are perfect for her. She was tired of buying low-priced handbags that fell apart two weeks later. Or she would buy a quality designer bag for $125 and use only that same bag year-round because she felt guilty spending more money than that. A friend took her to a Bella Boutique in another city, and she instantly fell in love. “I bought three or four bags that first trip and never returned a single one since the bags are so reasonably priced.” That is only one reason why Cari says she wanted to open a Bella Boutique. She points out that when shopping at most boutiques, you’ll typically find only one or two customers in there at the same time. At this boutique, there are usually 12 to 15 customers in there at one time, and they all have a great time, Cari says. She loves the atmosphere, the occasional shopping concept, and every item in the boutique. There are nearly one dozen Bella Boutiques in the U.S. with the same occasional shopping hours. The Lincoln shop is the newest one. The owners tell me that they expect many more Bella Boutiques to spring up across the country because of their combination of exciting selections and reasonable prices. There are also fashionable jewelry pieces and collections available. The typical prices are around $20 for a necklace, with top-end prices being around $40. Cari says you will also find flirty, fresh, must-have clothing. In fact, Cari is stocking more clothing items than most Bella Boutiques do. She says she loves the unique clothing and knows that Lincoln customers will too. Cari explains that the owners of the boutique chain travel across the nation, zipping from location to location scouting the most sought-after styles with truly affordable prices. Their goal is to find some of the hottest new items so you will be delighted when you stop in and in turn, become a repeat customer. They want you to be able to start your own clothing trend and/or borrow from the magazines or movies. Cari says her customers are almost anyone, from trendsetters, to “jazzy” working girls, classy soccer moms, and fashionable grandmas. She caters to anyone who likes to look good and appreciates both hot styles and cool prices. Cari calls it “trendy without being spendy.” She certainly seems to cater to handbag ultra-fanatics. If that’s you, Cari mentions a must-have item you may want to examine. It’s called a Pouchee. It’s a soft bag that is an organizer. Once you fill it and put all your stuff in the appropriate pockets and compartments, you can take the whole Pouchee out and put it into another bag. This makes changing purses easier than making up your mind on what to wear, Cari comments. Right next to the Pouchee collection is the Card Cubby collection. The Card Cubby is a very small four-inch purse with alphabetized cards in it. There is enough room for your coupons or business cards or whatever else you might need to be in order. Cari says she also loves the fun and colorful headbands in stock because they do not slip thanks to a backing of velveteen. In addition to the prices, Cari mentions some other ways to save money. For instance, there is always a monthly special to look forward to. There are discounts for referring a friend, and frequent drawings for a free handbag. For the “addicted,” there is a “handbag therapy” card. For every $10 you spend, you get a punch on your card. With 20 punches you earn $30 off your next purchase. Here’s a unique idea: How about hosting a private party at Bella Boutique? Since the boutique is open only at limited times, the rest of the days are available for a girl’s night out, a co-worker shopping session, a bachelorette party, client events, or just because. The shop is turned over to only you and those you invite. The boutique provides some hors d’oeuvres and a beverage to add to the fun. You earn 10% of the total amount purchased for being the hostess. Here’s a tip from Cari: Consider having your party on the Tuesday before they open; you’ll get a first look at the newest trends available in the boutique. For Cari, opening this shop has become a family project. She has four sisters, and they have each helped out in some terrific ways, she says. Even her mom, who is also a co-owner, is doing a lot to help out with this project. Diane Pudenz will be the onsite manager. She is the person you’ll see most often when you visit the Lincoln Bella Boutique. “I have worked in an office for so many years. When this opportunity arose, it sounded so different and so fun,” she says. “I knew if I didn’t do something like this now, I never would. It’s exciting.” Cari will be working behind-the-scenes. She has a solid background in retail, having worked as a manager of an Omaha department store. She also understands marketing. A big part of her duties will include staying busy re-stocking merchandise since she expects it to fly out of the store incredibly fast, she says. Are you ready for the Bella Boutique experience? You might want to mark your calendar for the first Wednesday through Sunday of next month. Bella Boutique is located at 5500 Old Cheney Road, Suite 7. It is located just north of the Lincoln Racquet Club. |
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