By STACI PARKS

slp025@latech.edu

 

The Beehive opened its new doors last Tuesday to eager customers with a colorfully massive wall of purses, a whole section devoted solely to jewelry and a significantly expanded home décor section.

The new store is located in the Graham Shopping Center on the North Service Road off of Interstate 20, which also houses Bath & Body Works, Stage and Goodies.

Co-owners Amy Bernard, a 1989 Tech graduate of business, and her husband Brent, a 1988 Tech graduate of marketing, are excited about the new location.

“We just outgrew the other location,” Bernard said.

“We had parking issues and needed more room to show [our merchandise].”

Bernard said many factors contributed to the selection of the new location.

“The shopping center is very busy,” Bernard said.

“Also, it’s highly visible from the interstate and is equipped with lots of parking. We expect to double our business. We have high expectations with our newly increased exposure.”

Bernard said new additions to the sales selection will include Merle Norman cosmetics, which are expected to be in the store either around Christmas or the first of January.

The expansion of the home décor section is another aspect of the store Bernard said she is excited to showcase.

“We have some substantial pieces in our home décor collection,” Bernard said.

She said the collection includes an array of small chests, more picture frames and decorative mirrors. 

“We have bigger pieces, now, that we couldn’t display in that smaller area,” Bernard said.

She said along with the upgraded building, the store will also begin to use a barcode system.

Bernard said there have been no price increases within the new store.

“We’ve hired about three or four new people [since the new location has been open],” Bernard said.

Bernard also said she plans to hire three or four more employees.

Katie Cheshier, a Beehive employee and a junior speech pathology major, said she likes the new store.

“Customers have complimented on how good the store looks on the inside and the improved parking situation,” Cheshier said.

Cheshier, along with the customers, is grateful for the improved parking at the new location.

“It was hard for me to go to from work to class,” Cheshier said. “It’s easier to get in and out of this parking lot.”

Cara Peterson, a senior fashion merchandising major, said the old location’s parking was always cramped and difficult to maneuver.

“You could never find a parking place,” Peterson said. “And when you did, it was hard to get out of it.”

The parking is not the only thing Peterson likes about the new store.

Suitably placed next to the diverse purse selection are rows of flats, wedges, heels and boots altogether luring customers.

Bernard said the most popular items have been floater necklaces, which are big crystal beads on transparent wire, and twist beads, which were popular in the ’80s.

“We’ve kind of brought them back,” Bernard said. “[Both of those items] have been really hot this year for us.”