Avec Panache: Five Years Doing Business With Flair

When it comes to style, women can be very outspoken on the subject. Put four women together and you are likely to get four different opinions and little consensus.

For the owners of Avec Panache, having four women involved in the boutique has not been a challenge, on the contrary, in its five years in business the boutique has thrived, thanks in part to its owners sharing their individual tastes and a flair for business.

Avec Panache, which means with flair in French, celebrated its fifth anniversary last month. The owners, Sally Conness, Kathy Carter, Audrey Pareigis and Pat Janko opened at a difficult economic time, yet the business has steadily grown its customer base.

The women knew each other in different ways, whether through work or through their children, and they spent time talking about what they might do if they didn’t have their day-to-day jobs and roles to deal with, Conness said. The business was the result of their discussions.

“We based the business on our experience as shoppers and parents,” Conness said.

The owners manage every aspect of the boutique and have no other employees, they each split time working in the shop.

“We call it a one-of-a-kind boutique. We can provide the customer with anything they need to celebrate any occasion with style,” Conness said.

Carter added, “Each of us brings something different to the business.”

While working with friends is not always the best thing to do to build or maintain a relationship, Carter and Conness said that the women have maintained their friendships and the bonds have grown even stronger through the business.

Avec Panache sells an eclectic mix of items including jewelry, serving ware, linens, baby items, cards and giftwrap, paper goods and a sprinkle of vintage items. In addition, they have a bridal registry.

The boutique is always displaying new items, but some items in particular are sought out among its clientele, Conness said. One item in particular, Firefly jewelry, which is made in Guatemala and is a fair-trade product draws in customers looking for unique, yet affordable jewelry, she said. 

“We try to find unique, affordable products, sometimes even one-of-a-kind items,” Carter said.

Another unique item is the Beatriz Ball serving ware they sell. It is handmade of mixed-metals and never needs to be polished. The serving ware is food safe and many brides-to-be register for it. 

“We try new things and can know pretty quickly what people like,” Conness said, adding it’s something the owners have learned over the years.

“It’s a great asset to the store, we all bring our own sense of taste and style,” she said, adding that Carter has the skill to help shoppers planning themed parties choose exactly what they need for the perfect event, including favors and any other details.

“She’s the theme queen,” Conness said.

After five years in the business, the owners are still looking to grow and expand the boutique.

“We kind of feel we are where we thought we’d be,” she said.

Carter agreed. “Our customer base has grown and we are on a first name basis with our customers,” she said. “We have a lot of people who come to us just for gifts because they know we are able to get them boxed and bowed and ready to give.”

Learn more about Avec Panache.

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