Nov 12, 2009

Lavender Thymes has always been ahead of theirsBy Meg HeatonHudsonStarObserver.com

Since Jean Iverson opened her business more than 20 years ago, she has expanded twice, moved once and was ahead of her time when it came to the now common practice of “cross merchandising.”

She credits the success of Lavender Thymes to its mission. “We nurture our customers with good service and easily affordable pleasures.”

Always a working mother, the business began in her home with gift baskets she designed and sold. It is where the store’s famous attention to packaging came from, a tradition that remains important. The baskets, mostly filled with bath and body products sold well. Customers would frequently come back asking where they could buy the things they found in the baskets. She decided to set up shop downtown.

“When we first opened we didn’t have a lot of inventory. People came in and asked what we carried. I asked them what they would like us to sell. It seemed like a good idea and pretty soon people were coming with bottles and wrappers of things they liked and recommended. What better way to start a store than with things you know people already want. It guaranteed customers,” said Iverson.

The store was called Lavender and Lace at first but it wasn’t long before Iverson was carrying a more expanded, eclectic inventory. She heard about an espresso machine from a coffee shop at the Mayo Clinic that was for sale. She thought customers might like a latte while they shopped long before that trend became fashionable.

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