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A business plan for baubles
By MELIA BOWIE, Times Staff Writer
ARBOR GREENE -- Want a little fashion advice this fall? Big hair is coming back. So is the color purple. "Navy is going to be big. All kinds of greens and browns, naturals," advises Rachel Friedman, a twenty-something trendsetter from Los Angeles who moved her one-woman business here two years ago. Now she is working to launch her company, Gemara's Gems, locally -- selling to salons and throwing home parties to establish herself. College student or soccer mom, every woman wants an accessory that says cute and funky, said Friedman, 27. And if they've bought such a bauble in New Tampa or its surrounding areas, odds are it came from her. She sells to Bostonian, Spa Malia and more. Initially, this was a side business, said Friedman, who lives in Arbor Greene and used to work in event planning and retail. The lure of buying trips and a flexible schedule led her into jewelry, and soon, clothing distribution. But fashion can be fickle, and Friedman is careful to stay ahead of the curve. "People want things that are different," she said. "They don't want things that everybody has that you can find anywhere. So if you're searching for a whimsical theme bracelet (cowboys or beach scenes or even pet poodles), ask Friedman. If you want to lighten up your wardrobe with a slinky T-shirt or rhinestone-rimmed sandals, she's your supplier. "They're very popular and very pretty," said Cheri Spiker, client services specialist at Spa Malia in Hunter's Green. "We sell a lot of them." Early holiday shoppers have already placed orders. Now Friedman is looking to overhaul her inventory for the coming shopping season. "Costume jewelry is in," she said. "A lot of people only wear the real thing. But there's so much costume jewelry out there, and it's so much fun that people are getting into it. "Shells are going to be big," she added, meandering through an assortment of bracelets, body scrubs and custom-made T-shirts during a recent Arbor Greene home party. And while toe rings are the trend right now, an expiration date is fast approaching. That means another buying trip to locate the latest accessories for her neighbors and clients. "I'm just really into it," Friedman said of her work. "I get to meet new people every day, and I love bringing new fashion trends to them; it excites them and makes their day."
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From the Times |
