Party bags at the
trendy boutique

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Better than being a kid in a candy store, women can lock themselves into a handbag and accessory store and go at it. Talk about a girls’ night out.
This invitation for fun is a big part of the success of Lindsay Brooke and her fashionable boutique, Bags and Bling. The shop is at 2442 Cottman Ave., across from the Roosevelt Mall.
The concept works like this: If there’s a woman who’d like to host a boutique party for friends, which can benefit both the hostess and Bags and Bling, Brooke will provide the place. She schedules these intermittent, in-store purse parties on an evening from Tuesdays to Fridays, closing the store that night at 7:30 — a half hour earlier than the usual weeknight closing time.
The hostess receives 10 percent of the merchandise sales from the party that can be applied toward her own purchases. Her guests (at least 20 must attend) also receive discounts for making more than one purchase.
Brooke provides beverages and snacks, but the party hostess is welcome to bring a favorite treat as a personal touch. These events, she said, can be ideal for birthday parties, bachelorette parties or a fun girls’ night out — whatever the hostess would like it to be.
"It’s her party. By doing it here, it’s less invasive," Brooke said. "You don’t have to clean the house. You have a good time with less stress. It works out very well."
Brooke offers each hostess the option of locking the shop doors, thus having the place for her guests, or leaving the doors open and earning an additional percentage of purchases made by shoppers off the street.
"A big crowd draws a crowd," Brooke said.
There is no cost to the hostess, nor is there a sales minimum required to receive the hostess incentive.
It’s a win-win situation, according to the boutique owner.
"If twenty or thirty girls come to a purse party, then that’s twenty or thirty more who know about my store," Brooke said.
That’s why much of the store’s business has been word of mouth. Fridays are already booked for parties through July. While summer is traditionally a slower time because of vacations, people are still very receptive to having parties, according to Brooke.
Though her boutique has been open for just over two months, she sees a lot of repeat business.
One customer came back last week and explained that she’d brought a friend who would appreciate all the "cute" things in Brooke’s store.
The sherbet-hued walls serve as a backdrop for the handbags of all shapes and colors. Metallics, buckles and interesting hardware styles are what’s hot, according to the young entrepreneur.
Some of the fun, fashionable styles that won’t break the bank include a teal leather bag with a padlock, an apricot bag with a giant zipper pull, small metallic bags, really big bags, textures in leather and fabric, and animal-print patchwork purses.
The handbags range from $25 to $75, with styles suitable for girls of 15 or 80.
"My mom-mom loves everything," Brooke said.
The Bling part of the store’s name refers to trendy and unique sterling silver and fashion jewelry, which is priced from $15 to $60.
"I buy what I like," Brooke said of the store’s inventory.
Charm bracelets with elephants, along with animal-pattern hearts, are big sellers at Bags and Bling.
Brooke graduated from the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where she studied business and fashion. Though just 23, she also lived in Italy and brings all of her experience to Bags and Bling, even designing some of the jewelry herself, including bracelets, with really interesting shapes of moonstone and abalone, as well as a beautiful turquoise and marcasite ring.
The marcasite and cubic zirconia pieces, white and colored, offer brides plenty to choose from for themselves and their bridesmaids.
"I want to make it easy for the brides. For me it’s all about building relationships with my customers," Brooke said. ••
Bags and Bling is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 215-335-2345.
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com