Eight Palm Beach retailers packing up for good; others cite best sales ever May 4, 2008 – Posted in: Press
By ROBERT JANJIGIAN
Published: May 04, 2008
Palm Beach Daily News
With the “season” coming to a close, there have been some noticeable closings on the island’s retail front. Closed or soon to pack up and vamoose are: Rebecca Romero, Okra, Devonshire, Sub Chrono, N.P. Trent, Hollywould, Grand Armée and Brighton Pavilion. There’s always change in the retail mix of Palm Beach’s shopping districts, so these departures are not so surprising – or indicative of any specific ailment of the island’s economic picture. In fact, when I spoke to some store owners and managers over the past few weeks, they have reported that this season, with all the talk of recession, has produced their best sales figures ever.
Mother of pearls – Adele Kahn, who has owned and operated the House of Kahn estate jewelry store, 231 Peruvian Ave., with her husband, Edward, for more than four decades, doesn’t plan on going anywhere. She is expanding her reach, in fact, by bringing in hundreds of pearl necklaces this week, which she contends are an affordable and appropriate gift for Mother’s Day, just a week away.
Though the focus of her business is still on the buying and selling of gemstone jewelry, Kahn noticed the higher-quality, lower-priced pearls being produced by the Chinese. Always a fan of the classic pearl necklace, Kahn couldn’t resist the freshwater cultured pearl necklaces.
“Our top-priced pearl necklace with the Chinese pearls is $750,” she said. Pearls featured range in size from 5.5 to 9 millimeters and are strung into necklaces of varying lengths, from 18 to 72 inches. Several colors are available as well. Kahn doesn’t feel like she’s competing with her established estate jewelry business with these pearl pieces, however.
“Due to the color shifts of pearls over time and with wear, we’ve never dealt with secondhand cultured pearl jewelry,” she said. “Oriental (natural) pearls are the exception,”Kahn said.
“And necklaces of Orientals are much pricier than any cultured pearl necklace, going for $25,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and number of the pearls.”
Kahn, of course, will be happy to sell one of several Oriental pearl pieces she has acquired, if the Chinese freshwater variety doesn’t float your boat and you’re feeling that you need to open your wallet a little wider for dear old Mom.
Rocking sensation – Fragrance house Bond No. 9 has teamed up with Swarovski to create new packaging for its Bryant Park, Bleecker Street and Nuits de Noho scents. The limited-edition 50ml flaçons, released in time for Mother’s Day, are encrusted with throusands of Swarovski crystals in several color schemes. Each is $650 and available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 172 Worth Ave.
Pulitzer prize – Everybody in these parts associates the Pulitzer name with fashion, thanks to resident style icon Lilly Pulitzer and her powerful and identifiable printed apparel. So, it comes as no surprise that Kourtney Pulitzer, who married into the family several years ago, is giving the fashion business a try, but on the retail end of things. Pulitzer recently opened an eponymous boutique at 205 N. Federal Highway in Lake Worth.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, she’s hosting an open house featuring on-trend clothes and accessories from the likes of Julie Brown, Karlie, Nanette Lepore, Autumn Cashmere and Lubella, as well as premium denim from Rag & Bone, J Brand, Red Engine and Kut. For information, call 233-9919.