We’ve Got Purses, Yes We Do! January 13, 2010

We’ve Got Purses, How ’bout You??

Wendy has just returned from the San Francisco with lots of purses in tow.  Come in right away before they are gone – I’m not sure when her next trip to the City by the Bay will be!

Lots of colors and styles – priced right so you can indulge yourself without guilt.  We all need a new purse once in awhile, right?

Why Neighborhood Stores are Important…A Story January 13, 2010

The holiday season was recently upon us, and Fresh was busy.  Lots of gift buying activity was going on in the neighborhood, and we were doing our best to provide well-priced gifts.  One of our most popular gift items was a cute pearl bracelet with an enamel flower:

This darling little stretch bracelet came in 6 colors – black, ivory, amethyst, burgundy, silver blue, green. A little something to pop that holiday outfit, or the perfect gift for a friend.

We noticed that the bracelets were selling fast!  Several dozen bracelets later, we began to notice a pattern – lots of the neighborhood women were buying them for holiday gifts.  Then we heard something else – at some local holiday gift exchanges, these bracelets were the item most in demand.  Some women came in to Fresh and reported that they were the victorious winner of the coveted bracelet; others came in asking if we had any more – they didn’t go home with the bracelet so they were going to buy one for themselves.  One woman told me that she came  to the gift exchange wearing her previously purchased bracelet, and the other guests were trying to take it from her!

Why does this mean neighborhood stores are important?  We know these women and knew that they would love these bracelets.  They were able to quickly pop in and buy the bracelet, knowing that we could tell them who had already purchased one, or what color their friend said they preferred.  It was like a club.  We had a lot of laughs with our customers over it.

I don’t see that happening at a big chain store.  Just something to think about….

New Year’s Resolutions at Fresh! January 5, 2010

It has been an interesting year here at Fresh – lots of triumphs, a few setbacks, and lots of hard work in between.  We are excited for the New Year – new merchandise, new attitudes, and new adventures!  We’re looking at many new ways to provide a enjoyable and creative atmosphere for your shopping pleasure.  Watch for fun events, great new treasures, and as always, Chelsea the dog (our official greeter)!

Please come in and check us out as we start our third year in business!  We couldn’t do it without a great deal of help, from our wonderful UPS man, Vic, the great staff at Starbucks next door, our long-suffering husbands and of course, our fabulous customers!

Here’s to a promising and prosperous 2010!

Wendy, Julia and the rest of us at Fresh

Lotions and Soaps and Frames…Oh My! December 9, 2009

New products from Dolce Mia Designs!

Dreaming of a Hawaiian vacation?  Can’t quite afford it right now?  Catch some of that vacation feeling with soaps and lotions from Dolce Mia.

Take a sensory trip to the islands with Vintage Hawaiian Tropical Citrus Liquid Soap and Shea  Butter Lotion.  Or give a gift of surf and sun with Surfer Boy and Surfer Girl Mango Tangerine Liquid Soap and Shea Butter Lotion.

We also have Skiing Sweet Almond Shea Butter Lotion and Liquid Soap.  All of Dolce Mia’s soaps  are castile soap which is very gentle for sensitive skin, as well as all natural.

Soap – $18       Lotion – $26

If lotions and soaps aren’t what you had in mind, check out the vintage look photo frames also made by Dolce Mia.  We like the Vintage Skiing frame and the Vintage Hawaii frame, but you can also do a bit of Paris with the Retro Paris frame.  If you need something for the little girl in your life, try the Vintage Ballerina frame.  Frames – $28

December 2, 2009

Looking for the perfect gift for the little ones on your list?  Board  books by Seattle author Sara Anderson are just the thing.

Fruit and its companion book, Vegetables, are very popular  among the younger set – add to your favorite tots’ little library with A Day at the Market, a must for anyone who loves Seattle and the Pike Place Market.  All ages will enjoy the bright colors and lovingly recreated market scenes in this book!

Sara Anderson will be at Fresh on Sunday, December 20th from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. to sign copies of her beautiful books.  Make sure to join us!

http://www.saranderson.com/

Look What We Made! November 23, 2009

Introducing our new card line – A Fresh Romance!

Vintage-inspired cards, with a special Northwest twist!  Also available, “Sand Point Seduction”!

More selections are in the works – do you have a suggestion for your favorite neighborhood?  Let us know – you may see it in the store soon!  $3 each.

Introducing Modern Notes – Quality scents, minimal packaging, low cost! November 20, 2009

We’ve got it – the perfect hostess gift, teacher gift, holiday gift.         Modern Notes Luxury Home Fragrances are produced by a Seattle company.  They use the same high quality fragrances and designs as luxury brand diffusers, but at a fraction of the cost.  Not much packaging either – no extra boxes or plastic.

Available at Fresh in 7 scents.  Verbena, Orange-Clove-Bergamot, Ginger & White Tea, Flower Market, Sakura Blossum, Vanilla Amber, and Fig Leaf.

$15 each, includes a package of seven reed diffuser sticks.

Girl’s Night Out This Week! November 9, 2009

Need a break this week?  Come to Fresh Thursday, November 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm for Girl’s Night Out!  Relax, shop, and catch up with friends while enjoying wine and treats.

We will have a few local artists on hand displaying their work.  Nick Pietsch will be here to present his new line of jewelry, all handcrafted from gold, sterling silver and gemstones.

Local photographer and card maker Monica Heckman will be bringing her new photo cards from her recent trip to Paris!   We are always excited to see Monica’s work –  here is a preview:

Don’t forget some chocolate!  Seattle chocolate diva Leta Goldberg of My Divine Chocolates will serve up samples of her truly divine chocolates.  Her small gift boxes of delectable chocolates are the perfect little gift this holiday season!

Girl’s Night Out!  Thursday, November 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

Scarf-tacular Saturday! November 2, 2009

Do you suffer from scarf-phobia?

I bought my first suit – navy blue, from Casual Corner-right after I graduated from college in 1985.  I thought I looked pretty awesome with my shoulder pads and a cute scarf tied jauntily around my neck. I had never thought about wearing a scarf for anything but a ski trip.  To me, this scarf said to the world that I was ready to make my mark. How could this one accessory make me look and feel so professional and put together? My affair with scarves began….

Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t a love affair. I couldn’t figure out any other way to wear my scarves except tied jauntily around my neck.  Gone were the days of tying a scarf under the chin a la Audrey…

And I wasn’t hip enough to do the Rhoda thing….

So the affair ended. No more scarves. Too hard to figure out, can’t tie them right - I’m done.

The affair started up again a year ago. Was it love this time? Would scarves disappoint me again, or should I take a leap of faith and give them one more chance? Well, with maturity comes wisdom….and a Fresh take on how to wear a scarf! The fear was gone! I’ve learned to wrap them, knot them, tie them, loop them, combine different textures and colors. So many stylish looks to be had! Now, I wear one almost daily.

Come to Fresh this Saturday to learn more about how to tie a           scarf.  Face your fear and learn new ways to be scarf-tastic!  Visit     the store between 12 and 2 p.m. and get 10% off any scarf.

Spooky Sale Time!!! October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!!

There’s still time to find cool Halloween decorations for your homes and friends at Fresh….Stop by and trick-or-treat with us.

Everything Halloween is now 30% off!!!