Accessories Boutique Joins Downtown Kirkwood Shopping Scene

The location of Sparkle Boutique near the intersection of South Kirkwood Road and Monroe Avenue puts owner Diana Slay exactly where she wants to be.

Slay opened Sparkle Aug. 22, and already she is seeing success in Downtown Kirkwood at 217 South Kirkwood Rd.

"The foot traffic's been great. We've had a lot of activity," she said, adding the location is a perfect spot to catch the eye of drivers.

Sparkle is a boutique store that sells accessories and gifts. The business carries fashion items like purses, hats, sunglasses and jewelry but also gift items like candles and soap. Many of the products are locally made.

"With so many little boutiques around, it seems like Kirkwood's become the destination for specialty shops," Slay said. "I figured I'd bring something a little different to the area."

Before opening Sparkle, Slay worked in retail at The Limited. 

"I always had a passion for accessories and glamming things up simply with a great pair of earrings or a purse or scarf," she said. Slay added that she likes accessories because one size fits all, and that accessories "make you feel good in a pick me up way."

The decision to add gifts to the store came from feedback from friends. 

"Friends always tell me I give good gifts, so I bring things to the store that I would like to give," Slay said. Gifts range in price but focus on smaller "just-because" items that are affordable.

Slay is excited to be part of the Downtown Kirkwood boutique scene. She frequents other boutiques to keep up with inventory, so she can refer customers to stores during their Kirkwood shopping experience. 

To learn more about Sparkle Boutique, visit the store's Facebook page and website. 

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