Fashion essentials: Berne Anderson opens shop. (Personal Passions).Berne Anderson wants to start a fashion revolution, bagging the trends and getting men and women to think seriously about dressing--the way they used to during Hollywood's glamour years and the way they still do in Europe. "The key is quality and style," says the 48-year-old chemical hazardous waste Hazardous waste Any solid, liquid, or gaseous waste materials that, if improperly managed or disposed of, may pose substantial hazards to human health and the environment. Every industrial country in the world has had problems with managing hazardous wastes. coordinator. "In Europe, most [people] have tiny closets, [but] they always look good. We have full closets, and what's our favorite complaint? 'I have nothing to wear.' I don't think we quite get it, but I can dream, can't I?" sighs Anderson, who has had a lifelong love affair with clothes. But Anderson, who once hoped to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , is doing more than dreaming. In 1999, with an initial investment of $30,000, he opened a European-inspired boutique Boutique A small investment firm specializing in offering specific, but limited services to a select number of individuals. Notes: These investment firms are the alternatives to large financial supermarkets. They provide a highly personalized environment for investing. in Easton, Pennsylvania Easton is a city in Northampton County, in the eastern region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 26,263 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Northampton CountyGR6. , called Essentially British. That same year, clients of his wife, Meg, a realtor, said the house they were considering buying would be the ideal location for Anderson's fledgling business. They bought the house and, in true British fashion, Anderson opened the boutique on the ground floor in 2000. He currently sells British and American goods including shirts, ties, dresses, and English shoes. "It's small, so I try not to keep it cluttered clut·ter n. 1. A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble: sorted through the clutter in the attic. 2. A confused noise; a clatter. v. ," he says. "Because it's my home, patrons feel like they're among friends. We sit and talk about fashion. We even drink wine on Fridays." You can visit his boutique online at www.essentially-british.com or call 610-252-0347. Getting Started * DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB: Retail revenue can be inconsistent. Having a day job, says Anderson, allows him to enjoy his passion and alleviates the pressure of sustaining his business. * DON'T OVEREXTEND o·ver·ex·tend tr.v. o·ver·ex·tend·ed, o·ver·ex·tend·ing, o·ver·ex·tends 1. To expand or disperse beyond a safe or reasonable limit: overextended their defenses. 2. YOURSELF: Don't try to please everyone. Find a product and commit to it, suggests Anderson. "I could easily sell trendy clothes, but I'm too committed to selling a particular style of clothing. It may not be as popular, but it's what I believe in." * KNOW YOUR MARKET: "When you're green, it's easy to buy wrong instead of smart," Anderson says. "The color pink is a tough sell for black men in the U.S. In Spain, it's considered masculine MASCULINE. That which belongs to the male sex. 2. The masculine sometimes includes the feminine, vide an example under the article Man, and see also the articles Gender, Worthiest of blood; Poth. Intr. au titre 16, des Testamens et Donations Testamentaires, n. . Those differences should determine what you buy, not what a merchant is pushing." Sonia Alleyne E-mail: alleynes@blackenterprise.com |
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