These are a few of our favorite things...

Simplify your holiday gift giving! Head over to FL Crooks & Co at 539 Main Street in Clarion or log on to our website at www.flcrooks.com. We have gorgeous clothing and accessories that would be just perfect for that special someone on your gift list. I asked everyone on our staff what they are excited about in the store for this season, and here are a few of our favorite things...

Zach likes The Mighty Wallet. Since 2005, the original Tyvek wallet is durable, adjustable, water-resistant, besides being "mighty thin and mighty strong". This wallet with a personality features a variety of super heroes, cartoon characters, and iconic artwork. Zach is planning to buy one for his younger brother. At just $15, you'll have some money left over after you purchase one of these cool wallets to put inside the wallet!
 

Santina gushes that her favorite treasure in FL Crooks & Co is "definitely Pandora". "I like Pandora because it's personal, simple, easy. It's good for every occasion. You can mark your moment, your memory." The Pave Lights beads are Santina's favorite beads. These shiny, beautiful, intricate beads come in 8 colors: Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Red, Brown, Black and Clear and are priced at $65. Each Pandora bead goes through 33 hands before leaving the production facility.

Rob emphatically states that he is a big fan of "Bill's Khakis" because of their exceptional quality. Rob points out that "wash after wash after wash, Bill's Khakis will maintain their form". Having their origin in a pair of original WWII issue khakis, Bill's Khakis continue to be made in the USA. Their slogan is appropriately, "We made Bill's better by not changing a thing!"

Rhianna promotes the Margaret M skinny jean by enjoying wearing them. "These jeans are very comfortable and can be worn dressy or casual. They are good to wear with tall boots. Margaret M's are a very classy fit, a very flattering fit, and repeat customers keep coming back and buying more Margaret M pants!"

Rachel is looking forward to receiving some Alex & Ani bracelets from her aunt this Christmas. These bracelets are "trendy, fashionable, and go with a lot of stuff. They are made in the USA - I'm real big on that!" FL Crooks & Co is pleased and delighted to be offering this fine jewelry to our customers and looks forward to expanding our collection.

I would like to ask you to take a look at our Kenneth Cole coats when thinking about holiday gift giving. "What a thrill to meet Kenneth Cole in person in NYC a few years back. He started out with shoes but now designs everything. His products are simply sensational substance and style!"

Jim is passionate about the Ibex Scout Vest. "This amazing all merino wool vest is soft and can be worn dressy or sporty." FL Crooks & Co is currently offering it in 3 colors: Black, Green Bark Heather, and Dark Pomegranate Heather. Ibex is made in the USA, and the quality is unsurpassable.

Darla is enthusiastic about Tees by Tina - "I love their colors, the rich fabric, and the slimming textures. They are very comfortable, and they don't wrinkle. Throw on a good piece of jewelry, and you're good to go." Known as the best in class one-size-fits-most seamless apparel, this exceptional clothing is made in the USA.

Cindy smiles and says her favorite thing in FL Crooks right now "has to be the Brighton jewelry. It's a step above. It's nicer than I expected it to be." FL Crooks & Co features a beautiful array of necklaces, earrings, watches and bracelets and some incredible Brighton handbags as well.

Christian comments on Frye boots - "cute, fashionable, comfortable, good high quality. Their leathers are like butter!" The history of The Frye Boot company goes back to March 10, 1863 when John A. Frye opened a small store on Elm Street in Marlboro, Massachusetts. Generations have made the company stronger, and Frye boots are experiencing a resurgence of interest and excitement.

Audrey debates whether her favorite thing in FL Crooks & Co was Snowskins or Clara Sunwoo. "What I'm wearing now is Clara Sunwoo. I like the fashion and the fit, and it's comfortable to work in. I thin it's overall just a great look. Personally, I always get compliments anytime I wear it."

There you have it - straight from our staff, recommendations of stylish clothing and accessories within our four walls! Come and see for yourself! Let us make your holiday gift shopping quest a simple, enjoyable experience for you. Gift wrapping is always free! We hope these suggestions of some of our favorite things prove to be helpful. May you and yours enjoy a happy, healthful and hopeful holiday season!
 

Merry Christmas!!
Lydia Crooks

#ladytrends #fashiontrends #look #lookoftheday #style #trends2014 #blogger #fashionblogger  #mensfashion 

A is for ... Alex and Ani! October 25, 2013

A is for Awesome Artistry...A is for Authentic Accessories...A is for Alex and Ani!

 

FL Crooks & Co is pleased to announce the addition of eco-friendly Alex and Ani bracelets to our store's jewelry offerings.  In just 2 short years this business from Rhode Island is on the way to becoming a household name with sales skyrocketing from $4.5 million to $80 million. 

 

While there are currently 1,500 free standing Alex & Ani stores in the US, there are none in Pennsylvania.  FL Crooks is only 1 of 3 stores in the entire Keystone state to carry this amazing line of jewelry.

 

Founded by Carolyn Rafaelian, Alex and Ani is a holistically inspired jewelry company named after her twin daughters.  Rafaelian herself comes from a family of jewelry designers from Providence, and she apprenticed under her father.  She designs each bracelet with an inspired message behind each creation. 

 

FL Crooks & Co is currently featuring two of Alex and Ani's collections - the Starry-eyed & Raw Collection and Eden's Equinox Collection.  The former collection encourages one "to celebrate big dreams, a grounded disposition, and the exhilarating journey that brings you to the place you are meant to discover."  These bracelets with a rock influence and a rocker edge celebrate enthusiasm, possibility, and originality.  The latter collection is all about growth, potential, and balance.  A tribute to the beauty and potential of Eden, this clean-cut collection with simple silver and gold designs encourages the wearer to flourish in the beauty of Autumn.

 

The staff of FL Crooks & Co is excited about Alex & Ani!   Rhianna points out that the line is "very fashion forward, very trendy" while Christian loves how "customizable" they are, how easily one can make them their own.  The bracelets are receiving a lot of celebrity backing, all the while coming in affordable prices.  Moreover, these unique bracelets translate across many age groups and can be worn stacked in 3's and 4's.   

 

The bracelets with their excellent craftsmanship come in two different band styles that are expandable and will fit anyone.  The hinge effect process consists of a double wire while the wrap bracelet doubles over to embrace your wrist.

 

The Alex and Ani company has a powerful commitment to charity and positive energy all the while being American made!  CEO Giovanni Feroce says, "Made in America is a statement of quality.  Made in America is a statement of pride.  At Alex and Ani, we're proud to be an American-made company."  Partnered with other charities for the "Charity by Design" jewelry line, the company has donated over $6 million to charity. 

 

Come and check out the Alex and Ani phenomenon at FL Crooks & Co, downtown Clarion!  It's where you have never looked so good!

 

Celebrate the beauty of the season!

Cordially,

Lydia

"What are your clothes saying about you?" September 26, 2013

A recent survey may reveal something about you and your personality by the kind of coffee you drink!  Psychologist Dr. Keith Ablow gave the results after over a thousand coffee drinkers were interviewed:

1). Black coffee - efficient, perhaps a little controlling;

2). Lattes - people pleasers; pleasure seekers;

3). Special Blends - trend setters; like to try new things;

4). Instant - laid-back, prone to be procrastinators.

 So, if our coffee is talking about us, what do other avenues of our lives reveal about us?

What are our clothes saying about us?  Walk with me through FL Crooks & Co, and let's allow the clothes to do the talking...

 For Fall/Winter 2013 you see a gorgeous array of color, color, and more color.  There are plenty of green-hued items in stock in various shades.  Green is king since Pantone's color of the year is Emerald Green.  You will see complementary shades of red, purple, and blues to round out the color palette.   Some lines that simply pop with color for women are Tulle coats, Michael Stars tops, Tresics tops, Laundromat sweaters, and new for Fall 2013 T's by Tina.  The colors of our lives are bountiful and bold!

 At FL Crooks & Co we embrace the active lifestyle that is you!  The North Face and Patagonia continue to move forward with the best in outerwear.  We have added to our Spyder collection with bold colors and designs, and we even offer Spyder for Kids this season.  American-made Ibex continues to delight with amazing pieces of tremendous artistry and quality.  We are a society on-the-go, and our clothing will take us there!

 Plaids and interesting patterns make a statement that 'old is new again'.  You will see plaid in all kinds of fabric in various articles of clothing ranging from Tommy Bahama shirts to Wigens caps.  With fabric made in Italy, Luchiano Visconti Black shirts for men simply dazzle the eye!  Robert Graham shirts with their colorful designs that make a nod to the past while ever edging forward have never looked better!  Men's socks by Ozone, Ugly Vix, Robert Graham, and V.K. Nagrani join the festive party of fanciful designs to keep your feet happy!

We have clothes that want to be a special part of your wardrobe!  Let our clothes do the talking for you!  FL Crooks & Co - downtown Clarion, PA! 

FL Crooks & Co: Celebrating over 100 Years!

Just a little bit of info for you history lovers out there!  When FL Crooks & Co celebrated our 100 year anniversary in 2005, local historian, Hank Hufnagel, compiled this look back at our past.  Here goes...

F.L. Crooks & Co.

 

In 1905, F. L. Crooks used his experience in retail sales to open a clothing store, F.L. Crooks and company. As inventory arrived and the Wilson Building (corner of 6th and Main) was not yet complete, he temporarily set up shop in the John F. Brown building two doors west of the Orpheum Theater.

The new store sold essential apparel of the era - red flannel union suits; dress shirts with high, linen, button on collars; four-button suits; and double breasted overcoats worn five inches below the knee.

Industry was based on natural resources, and it was a time of great prosperity. The store regularly sold $50 silk shirts, fine suits, and beaver and Stetson hats.

A 1906 "Removal" sale marked the store's relocation to the Wilson building. Advertisements promoted men's suits and young men’s clothing available at the "Sunny Front" of Crooks's store. F.L.'s brother, James M. Crooks, became a partner after 12 years as an on-the-road salesman. He sold dry good and hats to small general stores in rural villages.

The venture was a prosperous enough to exchange a horse drawn rig for the second automobile in Clarion County. F.L. Crooks retired in 1931.

 The Store: 1930-1950

When F.L. Crooks retired, he and James sold most of the store's merchandise.  James found himself with an established clothing business and no merchandise to sell.  Banks had little money available to loan, so James was able to borrow $2,000 from his mother to restock the store.  He moved the store across Main Street to the Kaufman Building where it remained for 17 years.

 

It was challenging to maintain trade during the Great Depression, but the store grew.

 

A master salesman, James used clever promotions.  Once, he hung a giant pair of overalls across the front of the Kaufman building.  He kept the store open until midnight, and welcomed locals to sit around the stove for social time.

 

All of his children were raised in the store and put to any task they could manage.  In 1938, James expanded the business, bringing his son, J. Paul Crooks, aboard.

 

James conducted buying trips to Pittsburgh and New York City, returning with a vehicle packed to capacity and merchandise heavy on the roof.  Shrewd bargaining skills allowed him to sell merchandise at prices that customers could afford - socks for 17 cents and overalls for 50 cents.

 

During World War II, domestic goods were even harder to find and demand for men's clothing slowed as many went to war.  James' son, Don, a graduate of Wharton School of Business, returned from the war in fall 1945 with an interest in meeting nice girls.  On a suggestion from his mother, he set up a blind date with Bernadette Hugus.  Despite some confusion about which of the Crooks boys would be taking her out, Bernie accepted.  Two years later, they wed and Don joined his father in the business.

 

Post-war demand for goods far exceeded availability.  When the store finally received a shipment of Woolrich merchandise, customers lined up outside for their chance to buy something new.

 

Don built a shoe store beside the main store in 1947.  When his brother, Paul, returned from military service, he managed the shoe store, and Don and Bernie worked in the main store which still stayed open late into the evening.  The next generation of Crooks were put to task and learned the trade.

 

 The Store:  1950-1980

Within a few years after World War II, space in the Kaufman building became cramped with no room to grow. James Crooks and Norman Rea purchased the Wilson building and modernized the first floor. The move, in 1957, established one of the most complete and up-to-date clothing stores in western Pennsylvania.
James was involved with the store into his 80s. Don and his brother, Dickie, opened a clothing store in Brookville. Don later purchased the Wilson building from his father and initiated major structural renovations which saved the integrity of the landmark.
Women became a target audience in the late 50’s just as professional careers evolved. In response to greater appeal for affluent customer, The Treehouse was built in a narrow lot next to the Wilson building in 1969. Bernie managed the store for 25 years. As in the generation before them, Don and Bernie’s children were commonly seen at the store. Son James, “Jim” Crooks, studied fir a year in Sweden and returned home to take up marketing and business at Clarion University. He joined the family business in 1974.
Involved in community affairs, Jim served as a celebrity waiter in a United Way fundraiser. The hostess was Lydia Pifer, reigning Miss Clarion State College. Jim was smitten, and the couple married in 1981.

FL Crooks & Co - The Sunny Future

At the turn of this century, Clarion presented a changing modern face to the world.  Gone were the five-and-dime stores and many of the older family businesses.  Often, sons and daughters did not care to take up the family trade.  To the Crooks family, it became apparent that retail clothing sales had to change with the times.

 

Many of the same goods were now available everywhere making serviceable work clothes and durable dress goods, the family trade for decades, impractical to merchandise.  As old brands were made more accessible across the market, quality was often compromised and original design was scarce.

 

Gone Global

 

Don and Bernie were nearing retirement when Jim purchased the business in 1996, and the building in 2000.  Jim's wife, Lydia, and their children, Nathan, Chelsea, and Patrick, became part of the store team.

 

In addition to high quality work clothes, Jim brought in new designer lines including Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Ben Sherman, French Connection, Calvin Klein, Lilly Pulitzer, and Tommy Bahama.

 

Marketing ingenuity came from a new generation when Nathan Crooks designed a Website for Internet sales.  Suddenly, F.L. Crooks and Company had gone global, resulting in 1,000,000 'hits' per month. 

 

A hundred plus years in downtown Clarion is something to celebrate!

Summer Weekend Wine Down!

Alfred Armand Montapert once wrote, "All lasting business is built on friendship."  With that sentiment in mind, we would like to cordially invite you to stop in to FL Crooks & Co every Friday evening from 4 to 7 this summer for our weekly Wine Down.  Take a brief respite from your busy life, and let us help you enter into your weekend in a relaxed mode. 

 

Each week we feature a different component of the amazing inventory that makes up what you see on the floor of FL Crooks & Co.  Week 1 we talked about the versatile JPK purses.  Following weeks highlighted the new Pandora bangle bracelet, the ever popular NAOT shoes, made in Israel, and cool, cool Native eyewear.  Upcoming events include Dansko shoes, Raffinella pants and shorts, Elle jewelry, Sperry shoes, Spanx, Brighton jewelry, and Olukai shoes.

 

Gain access to our exclusive Wine Down offers and receive promotional products.  Come and hear our thinking about why, in a field resplendent with products, we have chosen what we have to offer you.  Discover the quality and value in these wonderful clothing, shoes, and accessories that make our staff excited about we sell!

 

We thank you for your past patronage, and we look forward to doing more business with old and new friends alike.  We are committed to working every day to be your favorite clothing store by offering the best of what is available in the market.  Friends serving friends, since 1905.  Come and help us celebrate every Friday this summer from 4 to 7 at FL Crooks & Co.  See you soon!

 

Summertime cheer!

Lydia Crooks

Happy Father's Day!

June is bustin' out all over! All over the meadow and the hill!

Buds are bustin' outa bushes And the rompin' river pushes

Every little wheel that wheels beside a mill!

 

June is bustin' out all over! The feelin' is gettin' so intense,

That the young Virginia creepers have been huggin' the bejeepers

Out-a all the mornin' glories on the fence!

 

Because it's June!

June, June, June,

Jest because it's June! June! June!

 

So goes the lyrics of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Carousel, and so goes the promising month of June! Following the merriment of May, the promises of June are many... June brings to weary and anxious students the close of a school year. June brings to those with a green thumb the planting and continual care of gardens. June brings to the nation the patriotic celebration of our resplendant flag on June 14th, Flag Day. And, of course, June brings us a day set aside to honor and remember our dear dads!

 

Father's Day was first celebrated in June 1910 in Spokane, Washington. Fathers in church were given red roses, and people whose fathers were deceased wore white roses. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the 3rd Sunday in June. Six years later, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law which made the commemoration permanent. By the way, Mother's Day had been made a national holiday the 2nd Sunday way back in May in 1914!

 

So, even though Father's Day has gotten off to a slow start when compared to Mother's Day, the holiday is continuing to evolve into a cherished day of celebration. This year, Sunday, June 16, 2013 is a terrific time to show the men in our lives that we care! Gift giving is a fun and important part of Father's Day!

 

Men love presents as much as women do! The men in your life just might want more than a phone call and a card, as cool as those two sentiments are. Perhaps this might be just the right year to buy your dad a gift of fine clothing from FL Crooks & Co.!

 

How about a new pair of marvelous Merrell hiking boots or walking shoes? What about a beautiful Brighton belt? A terrific Tommy Bahama shirt is wearable art that never loses its luster! A pair of rockin' reversible shorts, solids to fun patterns, would take the recipient by suprise! Hats by Kangol, Wigens, The North Face, Patagonia, and Goorin Bros would make a big hit with your dad! New styles of Native eyewear feature among others the aviator look. The list goes on...

 

We will be glad to gift wrap your selection for you. Make shopping for fresh wardrobe additions for the men in your life at this time an annual tradition. FL Crooks & Co is bustin' out all over with the best selection around at a lively time of the year!

 

Jim Valvano stated, "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." Show your dad you care and that you believe in him with a cherished gift of clothing from FL Crooks & Co. Thank you, and Happy Father's Day!

 

Celebrate!

Lydia Crooks

The Business Quest - March 21, 2013

"First say to yourself what you would be: then do what you have to do." - Epictetus

At FL Crooks & Co, we want to be a place where you can take part in that grand adventure of shopping. We want to provide you with an element of unpredictability as well as delightful surprise when you walk through our doors. We want to educate and inform you. We want to entertain you and make you smile. We want to inspire you and help you realize your dreams. We want to help you become more energized and turn up the vibration of your life! How can we do this?

In a recent issue of Men's Wearhouse, Danny Paul discusses seven critical traits many successful retailers possess. Paul is the founder of Retail Communities and is a retail consulting specialist.

Let's apply these traits to the actual FL Crooks & Co retail clothing establishment:

1). Have Passion.

Passion helps to motivate us. Take the passion challenge. Step inside our store and see if the styles and colors of the emerging season help you leave the winter doldrums far behind. Along with the inventory, the staff will serve you with sincerity and a genuine willingness to help.

2). Be a good decision maker.

Fashion retail seems to be changing ever faster. We do our best to be decisive and sift through the myriad of fashion options available today.

3). Communicate the vision of the business.

We want to provide you with substance and style at the best price. That simple.

4). Be a good teacher.

To be a good teacher requires good listening skills. We make it a priority to listen to what you have to say.

5). Don't assume you see your business with clarity.

Again, we need and value your input. We are open to suggestions to how we can improve and grow better and stonger.

6). A good retailer must possess sound character.

Honesty is paramount. We want to earn your loyalty through our character and integrity.

7). Be a risk taker.

We are always trying new avenues - in clothing lines, in manners of presentation, and in methods of communication.

Joseph Epstein wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal entitled "In Praise of Shopkeepers". He comments on the challenges and worth of a shopkeeper:

"England is a nation of shopkeepers," remarked Napoleon, unconsciously quoting Adam Smith and suggesting that they, the English, as mere shopkeepers, were unfit to fight the French. Well, we know how the shopkeepers fared at a place called Waterloo. No great surprise, really. Considerable courage and perseverance are required to start and keep a good shop running."

Epstein goes on to point out that:

"Running a good shop is a service to one's community. A nation of shopkeepers, far from being the put-down Napoleon thought, sounds more and more like an ideal to which a healthy country ought to aspire."

We at FL Crooks & Co aspire to be a useful and helpful business while striving to provide the greatest level of service and product possible. We want to provide our community with a vibrant business to meet the desires and dreams of our valued customers, and we will work hard to bring it to pass. We want to make our customers love us as much as we love you.

Renovate, Invigorate, Inspire! - March 5, 2013

Renovate, Invigorate, Inspire!

 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step."

- Lao Tzu

 

The weather outside still looks, feels, and smells like winter, but step inside FL Crooks & Co for a taste of the long-awaited season of Spring! Especially check out the mid-section of the women's division where extensive renovations were made last summer. The dark wood in this area was removed along with the built-in horizontal bars. Marbelized slat walls are in place now along with silver fixtures set off with contemporary track lighting.

 

Women's division manager, Darla, states that the space "looks more light and open. People can now see the whole entire outfit complete with accessories. It has much better visual appeal." Delicious Spring, in abundant and glorious color, is bursting from the clothing on display.

 

Just like our buildings and businesses can benefit from renovation work, our lives can benefit from a bit of work and small changes. I just finished reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. Olson promotes turning simple disciplines into what can become massive successes. The slight edge philosphy is all about "simple steps and their compounded effect over time". Olson examines how simple, single, easy-to-do activities can, day in and day out, have a phenomenal impact on 5 areas of our lives:

 

- Your Health

- Your Personal Development

- Your Relationships

- Your Finances

- Your Career

 

The longer we make positive choices every day, the more accumulated success will impact our lives in each of these areas. Continuous improvement and refinement can come with having the discipline to do the little things consitently with a good attitude over a long period of time. It's about making easy, simple choices consistently.

 

Here are a few ideas from a recent Oprah magazine entitled "Small Changes, Big Results".

1). Eat an apple

2). Brush your teeth with your other hand

3). Drink filtered coffee

4). Power up your walk

5). Have a few walnuts

6). Time major decisions

7). When you learn something, say it out loud

8). Wake up with a plan

9). Practice the phrase, "I forgive you"

10). Chew gum

11). Purge toxic possessions

12). Stand on the balls of your feet

13). Add umami to your diet

14). Take 10 minutes for daydreaming

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, "The law of nature is, Do the thing, and you shall have the power." There's no time like now to renovate, invigorate and inspire. It's in the little things. Spring into action with little steps that can lead to big accomplishments for you.

 

 

In closing, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said it well, "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world!"

Once Upon a Time... January 29, 2013

Once upon a time there was a store tucked amidst the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania in the 'Norman Rockwellesque' town of Clarion. From its beginnings in 1905, the store worked hard to listen to the needs and wants of its valued customers. Through the rough times and in the boom times, fads and fashions would come and go. A women's division was added in 1969. An internet division became a viable component in the late 90's and packages were sent out from Dublin to Dubai, from the Netherlands to the North Pole. The 'little store that could' continued to carry on with a motto of bringing clothing and accessories of substance and style to their local and world-wide audience. And now, that store, FL Crooks & Co, finds itself caught up in a phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of customers both young and old alike. That phenomenon is none other than a word of 7 letters. A word packed with pugnacious power - Pandora!
 

Quite possibly becoming the world's most recognized and loved jewelry brand, Pandora was born of an idea of making quality jewelry accessible for all women of all ages. The signature item, a bracelet, is made of sterling silver, 14K gold, and precious stones. The pieces are mixed and matched to create a personal, individual and very unique look. The ever expanding universe of bracelets and charms now also includes watches, rings, necklaces and earrings.
 

The Pandora company was founded in Denmark in 1982 by goldsmith Per Enevoldsen and his wife, Winnie. In 2000 the Pandora charm bracelet was launched.

From Denmark, the company moved to Sweden, Norway and Iceland. In 2003, the brand came to the USA and Canada, and by 2009 was represented in 28 countries.
 

FL Crooks & Co began their adventure with Pandora in the Spring of 2009. Owner Jim Crooks was at a trade show when he learned about this exciting new line, and he made plans, albeit cautious plans initially, to bring the jewelry line to his store. He installed a single wooden jewelry case in the center of the women's division of FL Crooks & Co (directly across from its present location) and FL Crooks & Co began selling the unique bracelets and charms. As interest grew quickly and resoundly, it wasn't long, in the Fall of 2010 in time for the annual Autumn Leaf Festival, until he took out the center dressing rooms and created space for a Pandora 'Shop in Shop'. The 'Shop in Shop', the second in Pennsylvania, features glass counter unit display pieces, lighting fixtures, and a wooden floor unit. The Pandora inventory at FL Crooks & Co soon expanded to include rings, necklaces, earrings, and watches.
 

Pandora visual merhandiser Christian Green stated she is amazed at how the Pandora progression keeps gaining momentum, "I like that it's so personable. They have a charm for every occasion, event, or memory. We have our new Valentine's Day beads, about 10." She went on to explain that there are currently over 500 beads. The Pandora company periodically retires some and releases more beads two times a year. Christian pointed out some of the top sellers of beads are as follows: Queen Bee, Journey, Key to My Heart, Inner Strength, and Forget-Me-Not. Each piece is individually hand-crafted. Incredibly,  each murano bead takes 4 to 6 hours to be created.
 

The 5 Unique values that Pandora promotes through their distinctive jewelry include:

- Genuine (conveying originality, quality, integrity);

- Inspiring (aiming to inspire women to celebrate individuality);

- Passionate (living the life one loves);

- Joyful (sharing happy, personal stories);

- Aspirational (striving for the best).
 

Well, that's our Pandora story.   Perhaps it's time to begin your Pandora story.   Or perhaps it's time to continue on with your Pandora story.  Afterall, we all love a good story.   Timeless... Elegant...

Unique... Enduring... Creative... Effervescent... Universal... That's Pandora.   A phenomenon you want to be a part of.  At FL Crooks & Co in downtown Clarion.