Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Ultimate Sale Event

Wouldn't it be great to be able to walk into a store, select anything you love, AND have it be on sale?

Well right now, Zoey Bloom is doing just that. You can select from fine jewelry and fashion jewelry from designers like Dana David and Robert Lee Morris, amazing handbags from collections like Kooba, Lockheart, Francesco Biasia, Rebecca Minkoff and many others, shoes from Kate Spade, BCBG Max Azria and Beverly Feldman and EVEN anything that is on their Clearance sale! So pick up that 18 karat gold bracelet you saw in a magazine, a diamond pendant, a great pair of chandelier earrings, a new spring designer handbag, or a great pair of shoes now while the bargain can be had!

It sure beats being tempted by all of the newest styles as you make your way to the back of the store (because you want a bargain) and having to pick through last seasons left-overs!

This event is running through the end of February and is valid for any single item in their store or on their Web site, noe exceptions, no small print! When shopping on line, use coupon code: SPCLEAN25

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Free Shipping ? Better Look Twice at Your Savings!

I really get a kick out some of the Web sites out there. Knowing that the number one reason people leave one Web site for another is to find free shipping, many web retailers are padding the prices of the merchandise itself to make up for what they claim to be offering us for "free". The bottom line, it that their customers actually end up paying more.

One good example is a shoe I just listed on zoeybloom.net. The shoe is by Beverly Feldman and it is called the Barcelona. Just for kicks, I Googled it to see who else was selling it on line as I often do. I found many sites selling the same item for $20 more than us and half of them offered "Free Shipping". Hey, wake up people, we offer free shipping on regular priced merchandise right now too but even when we do not have the free shipping special going on, the ground shipping would only come to $12 for this shoe; it still nets $8 less which will buy you lunch in a lot of places! In this case, it was Amazon but sites like the incredibly popular Zappos pads their base prices with consistency.

Bottom line: Be sure to watch the base prices too if you have this thing about only buying from sites with "Free Shipping" Sometimes it is a hoax! Buyer Beware!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Addicted to Reading Glasses

It's not easy getting older, but declining eyesight is something I personally experience. Note I didn't say (experienced); It keeps on getting worse! As evidenced by the readers glued to my head in my profile picture, I need readers. Like with most people, at first I started holding the menus farther back then I swore my arms were getting shorter. I went to the optometrist at that point and he told me my eyes were getting old (as if that were any better than saying I am getting old) and that most people at my age (there he goes again) will need reading glasses. He told me what strength I should buy and sent me on my way to the drug store to pick up a pair. When I got there, they all looked like the style my dad wore some 20 years earlier! Since I couldn't read the price tag, I bought a pair anyhow. This was the beginning of my reading glass addiction. Suddenly I regained my independence. Nobody had to read menus to me anymore, I started reading books again and I stopped mis-quoting the prices on the merchandise to my customers!

Here is where it starts to get bad. No longer can I deal with the drug store, "old man" styled glasses. My wife was even teasing me about them. I was wearing them on my face all of the time. If I was not reading, the glasses rested on my head. I was on a quest to find some with style and this is not easy, especially for men. One day, the president of Saks at the time, came in my office and plopped a pair of very stylish readers on my desk and that started my "collection". Now, I must have about 20 pair of them scattered throughout the house and office and life. And you know what? I am STILL finding myself without them.

About 6 months ago, on a buying trip, I found a pair of readers I that I could always count on. They folded up into a case about the size of a credit card, weighed nothing and looked pretty sharp. At only $20, I had to have them for our store. The moment they came in I bought a pair myself and asked my wife if she would keep them for me in her purse. This solved my problem once and for all. The glasses have become the single most re-ordered style in the store and I no longer need an interpreter when dining out!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Having a Baby Doesn't Mean You Have to Give up Style

When I saw this bag on another blog, I fell in love with it! it. Upon closer inspection that I noticed that it was a DIAPER bag! This leather Diaper bag from Rosie Pope is the diaper bag of the stars, it is leather, and it is under $400! Yes, you can carry the same bag Jennifer Garner carries. Check it out, click on the picture for more information!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

Designer "IT" Bags are Loosing Their Appeal - Women are Opting for Unique


An article I read a while ago titled “’It’ bags are out,” says it nicely. According to the January 2008 article in The Wall Street Journal, which notes that “The proliferation of knockoffs has helped erode the mystique of owning a high-end bag. Affluent customers have grown confident in their own sense of style and (are) increasingly turning to unique accessories to set themselves apart from the crowd.”




I agree 1000 percent. Who wants to look like everyone else anyhow. When you own the "It" bag, not only do you look like everybody else with money ... you look like many others who buy copies on the street for $25 in the same season! Really, show your own personal style ladies!




It's is exciting to see so many fresh and creative designers out there turning out high quality like SHIH and Treesje in handbags, Claudia Lobao and Dana David in fashion jewelry.




Women are having fun with fashion again and their options are growing every day!

The Forcast for 2009 is Bright and Sunny!



Even before Michelle Obama's wonderful bright and colorful clothing was in the spotlight, color was in the cards for spring and summer 2009. Color makes people smile, it energizes and lifts the spirit. It is just what we need as we enter into this new year of renewed hope; we have been through a lot! Vibrant shades of emerald, purple, hot pink, orange and yellow will pump some energy back into us again. Carry a bright handbag like these from SHIH and Kooba, along with your other accessories like these earrings by Jose and Maria Barrera for evening and you will bring your wardrobe up to date. It will really change the look and don't be surprised if it doesn't change your outlook as well!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

A Unique Boutique in Tampa


Zoey Bloom, in Tampa, Florida has the right idea. They built a store that offers their customers stylish alternatives to the logo designer bags like Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton etc. Not only is it refreshing to see so many really cool looking alternatives, it is refreshing to know that they are available at 1/4 of the price!

Another benefit of such a store is that you are not going to be seeing these bags on every other woman in town! They buy one or two (max) of most everything and they also have real fashion in ther fashion jewelry. You can buy those huge hoops and chandelier earrings you see in the fashion magazines and on celebrities.

From the moment you walk in the door, you feel as though you have been projected to New York's trendy, Madison Avenue. The only difference is that at Zoey Bloom, you can actually receive old-fashioned, personal service! Visit them on-line at http://www.zoeybloom.net

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The First

Hi Everyone,

Jim is my name, and this is my first post. (no, this is not a 12 step program)

I am part owner of Zoey Bloom Inc. and www.zoeybloom.net , a better woman's accessory boutique and Web store located in Tampa, Florida. My partner is Jo Anne.

I look forward to sharing with you notes, observations, comments and probably a few other random things that mostly have to do with my life as a buyer, shop owner, my buying trips, shopping, shoppers, fashion, and designers especially in the accessory market.

Please feel free to ask any questions and share your own thoughts.