Kelly Jolley of Genevieve Bond GiftsWhile February is Cupid's time to shine, Karen Schaerer of Hixson has been doing some matchmaking of her own. Schaerer, who is known among her friends as a "jewelry guru" with a penchant for watches, received a text message from a friend visiting the Rolex store in Las Vegas. The text said her friend and her husband had found the perfect watch.
"I replied, 'Oh please don't buy that out there! Come home and let Rone Regency help you,'" she recalls. Schaerer's friends then contacted Rone with the style number, and were subsequently delighted with Rone's extraordinary service."
The friend has since thanked Schaerer for the introduction, noting how special she and her husband felt when visiting the local jewelry store. Schaerer tries to patronize as many local shops as possible, particularly when buying holiday gifts. For Valentine's Day, the mother of two expects to pick up specialty chocolates from Rembrandt's Coffee House or a new shirt from Bruce Baird & Co. for her husband, Burt. The Broad Street men's store keeps her abreast of any new arrivals and they will happily repair any item without charge should something go wrong.
"It's not just about the purchase," explains Schaerer, who points out local businesses are usually quick to replace or make good on products or services gone wrong.
Beyond excellent service, shopping local benefits everyone in the supply chain by keeping dollars within the city limits. Plum Nelly owner, Catharine Daniels takes this a step further by offering gifts made by local and regional artists, such as jewelry by Christina Glidden or Caroline Pate, champagne flutes by Prentice Hicks, brownie mixes by Alchemy Spice, or candles by Umbra Essence.
Of course, such specialized inventories also allow patrons the opportunity to find things as unique as the person they're buying for, says Daniels. An artist's information card may be included in each complimentary gift-wrapped box. Daniel's North Shore boutique also offers shipping services, becoming a one-stop shop for busy customers, she says.
Schaerer's passion for shopping local goes beyond exceptional service and exclusive wares. As the wife of a small business owner, she understands the critical role that small shops play in the community.
"I'm on a lot of fundraising committees and I'm often the one asking for donations for our schools and other nonprofits," she explains. "The local shops seem to be the ones giving the most back to Chattanooga, and in turn I like to support them."
Now that's what you call a match made in heaven.