Tricia’s Treasure Chest
by June 14, 1999 12:00 am 98 views
Owner: Patricia Silk
Address: 1528 W. Sunset Ave., Suite E,
Springdale, 72764
Phone: 501-750-7393
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday-Saturday
Start-up date: May 4
For the first time in several years, Tricia Silk is staying put. After following craft fair and flea market schedules in Memphis, Silk moved into Northwest Arkansas to offer customers an eclectic shopping experience.
Classic jewelry store merchandise such as gold and sterling silver necklaces and bracelets can be found in the cases. However, tooth fairy boxes, children’s jewelry and a selection of hair accessories make up a more unique spread of products for Silk. Attending to current trends in jewelry fashions is also important to Silk.
“You can’t come in here without finding something you’ll want to buy,” Silk says.
Working with the fairs and markets showed Silk how dramatic the mark-up for jewelry retail can be in stationary stores compared to traveling markets. When Silk set up shop in Springdale, she decided to stray from the mark-up trend, selling jewelry and perfumes for much less than department or specialty stores.
“This way everyone can have something they want, and still stay in their budget,” Silk says. Allowing lay-away is another step Silk took to let customers purchase the jewelry they want by paying it off over several months.
“We are a hometown jewelry store, affordable,” Silk says.
Currently, Silk is the only employee of the store, and Silk says she is happy with that for now. By serving each customer personally, Silk says, she learns the customer’s individual needs.
“You have to listen to your customers because they pay your bills,” Silk says.
Silk moved with her husband from Memphis last November when he was transferred. Before moving, Silk worked as a dispatcher for Cargill Inc. for more than 15 years. Part of her job included being on call 24-hours a day, and, with working the fairs as well, Silk grew accustomed to the hectic schedule.
Slowing down from the Memphis pace of life to the Springdale pace turned out to be the biggest challenge for Silk.
A grand opening for Silk’s shop is tentatively set for July.