Monday, January 5, 2009

SoboStyle starts our year off right

Walking in to SoboStyle in Columbus, Ohio, always makes my heart skip a beat. From the elegant, 3-windowed storefront to its well-organized groupings of stylish vignettes, Sobo always feels just right. Kind of like bumping into an old friend while reading the latest InStyle -- comfortable and familiar, but full of the latest and best must-haves!

Sobo's owner, Katie Palmer, was our first Ohio customer. A Columbus native, Katie has spent her career in retail. After school in Colorado and working in San Francisco, Katie returned home to open her own store in 2001. In 2004, she moved into her current, larger space after spending 4 months renovating the building. In 2005, she was named Businessperson of the Year by her Clintonville neighborhood's chamber of commerce.

Katie is committed to keeping the store's selection of merchandise fresh. Shopping a variety of sources, from the gift markets to the flea markets, she keeps the store stocked with a well-edited variety of jewelry (our favorites include the Lisa Toland line and the super-cute oversize knit floral pins), accessories (people always ask me about the scarf I bought from her last year), kids' merchandise and books. New favorites include an eco-friendly line of candles and bags.

Sobo also stocks a fabulous selection of vintage furniture from several Midwest vendors, all lovingly updated. Some pieces feature reclaimed architectural materials or are upholstered using fabric from designers Amy Butler and Anna Maria Horner.

Our pictures definitely do not do the store justice. Be sure to stop in and visit next time you're in town! Katie can be reached at katiepalmer@sbcglobal.net or www.sobostyle.com.

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