BY KAREN YOUNG
Who doesn’t need a little “bling” in their life? Especially around the holiday season? The big problem for most of us is how to afford it. Tarzana resident Carol Wexler, owner of www.borrowedbling.com has come up with solution by bringing a money-saving “Hollywood perk” to the public — and this week she’s offering it up- close, live and personal at a lower price.
This Thursday to Saturday, December 10 to 12 from noon – 7pm, Wexler is sponsoring an enormous trunk show/end of the year blow out sale to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She does this event each year to honor her father who passed away from a Leukemia type blood disorder five years ago (sale details at end of this article). Items range from $29-$189 with most under $100.
Borrowed Bling owner, Carol Wexler.
Borrowed Bling has been selling and renting out “lab-grown” jewelry and accessories to TV shows and celebrities for the past 10 years. Wexler put a new twist on her company a few years back by launching a website so that the public could have access to the same goods that celebrities are wearing.
You can become a buying member of the site for FREE, or you can sign up to be a renting member. A member can rent $750 worth of jewelry and accessories starting at $29.95 for an entire month, or rent $1800 worth of these sparkling items for under $100. The site houses an impressive library of lab-grown diamond jewelry, crystal evening bags, belts, sunglasses, and dozens of other radiant accessories. Members are able to borrow (rent) an unlimited amount of these items each month, having two or three items in their possession at a time, for one monthly flat rate.
Sophisticated Swirls
By late January, Borrowed Bling will be adding over 100 new items and posting live video feed of every item, so that you can finally see the true sparkle and dazzle of these items in person, so check back with them frequently in 2010.
Entrepreneur Carol Wexler talks about her philosophy and her company. Read on:
What did you do before Borrowed Bling? I have a Master’s Degree in education. I was a school teacher and Grad School professor for 10 years. But I also owned my own small fashion companies on the side since I was 19.
Radiant canary drops.
What were those companies? I owned Captivating Creations and handmade bustiers when Madonna made them so popular back in the 80’s. I sold them to stores on Melrose, Santa Monica and in Palm Springs. I also owned Crystal Cocoon, which made top quality crystal accessories and jewelry. I even owned “Actin’ Up” which was my own acting and improv class for kids. I love to do anything creative.
Oval Office.
Why did you start Borrowed Bling? As a woman who spent most of her life making under $50,000 a year as a school teacher I found it unfair that the richest people in the world were most often the ones who never had to pay for anything. Celebrities are always being loaned fancy jewels, when it is really the mainstream American woman who could really benefit from being able to save money and just borrow these items when she needed them, or get the celebrity look for a better, more wholesale price.
Bangles.
How did you cook up this idea? When I saw how often Hollywood T.V. shows or celebrities just wanted to use my items for a night or a season it gave me the idea that ALL women would LOVE the ability to have an endless rotation of jewelry and accessories. It’s like a library for jewels!
Do you have a certain philosophy or mission behind your company? To bring the best looking items, with the highest quality to my customers and for a very smart and affordable price. I also believe that standing behind your product and customer satisfaction are number one. But our catch-phrase is “Shhhh….Hollywood’s Best Kept Secret Can Now Be Your Secret Too!”
Earrings.
What sets Borrowed Bling apart? The fact that we were the first website in U.S. history to offer the option to buy or rent jewelry to the American public back in 2006. The fact that we use lab-grown diamonds to keep the look high, but the cost low. The fact that we participate in over 50 charity events a year and have helped to raise over $500,000 for various causes over the past decade.
How do you want women to feel when they wear your Bling? Like a million bucks! I want them to feel decadent and pampered. I want them to feel classy and pretty. But just as important as this is for them to also feel savvy and smart because they know that they got that “million dollar red carpet” look for a small and smart amount of money. As “they” say….it’s chic to look expensive but it doesn’t have to be expensive to look chic! I love that and have found it SO true in my own life.
Hamatite floral purse on black.
What are your top selling products? Do you see any trends in the world of Bling? Earrings and rings always seem to win out over necklaces and bracelets. Right now it is large hoops and large rings. White gold and silver have always sold much better for me than yellow.
Who is the Borrowed Bling woman? I think that 90% of all women love to sparkle and feel glamorous. “Diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend,”as they say. The Borrowed Bling woman isn’t just someone who wants to look pretty though, she is someone who is smart and savvy and knows the value of a dollar. She knows that it’s more fun to get compliments on something that was very affordable than to get compliments on something that set her wallet back much farther than is really necessary. She can be anything from a newlywed, to a schoolteacher – or from an heiress to a movie star. We have pieces for everyone at all price levels, and who doesn’t want to look great for a great price?!
Million Dollar Baby.
Last question…do you have advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? It’s not enough to have a good idea or even a good product. You must have a good business mind and see opportunities where others would not. Every good business person must understand that it is not just a product that is being sold, it’s an image, a reputation and a relationship between you and your customer that you are selling. It’s also important to have 100% drive and conviction in what you are doing and to never take no for an answer. To me the word “no” just means I am asking the wrong person or asking in the wrong way.
The sale benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be held Thurs. Dec. 10 to Sat. Dec. 12 (noon to 7 pm) at Mulholland Park Estates 3724 Litchfield Lane,Tarzana, CA 91356 (Please mention Borrowed Bling to the guard to gain entry) For more details & info please call: 800-922-7260 www.borrowedbling.com. Many of Borrowed Bling’s items have been seen on The Young and the Restless, the models of the Deal or No Deal game show, The Tyra Banks Show, Inside Edition, KTLA News, E! News, the Good Housekeeping T.V. special and The Today Show. This will be a huge blow-out, end-of-the-year sale with most items ranging between $29 – $189.
Karen Young is the Editor/Publisher of My Daily Find
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