Beau Monde plans move to Ironwood Square
<p>Libby Elstad, sales associate for Beau Monde Exchange in Coeur d'Alene, left, helps Ashley Reineccius with a purchase Friday. The secondhand clothing store is moving and is scheduled to open at its new location on April 11.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The owners of Beau Monde Exchange, the popular buy-sell-trade clothing and accessory store, plan to move it to Ironwood Square.
Brooke Miller, who owns the store with her husband David, said Beau Monde will begin operating on April 11 at the square, near the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Government Way.
The store, which specializes in juniors and trendy women's clothing and accessories but has some men's and children's items, has been located at 6055 N. Government Way for the past five years.
It currently is operating in 3,600 square feet of leased space.
The new location, at 202 W. Ironwood Drive, next to smoothie and drink retailer Jamba Juice and Caruso's Sandwich outlet, will have 3,000 square feet of leased floor space.
Miller said the new location, while smaller, will actually provide the store with 25 percent more usable space.
At Ironwood, the existing clothing and accessories will all fit on floor fixtures.
"From there we can grow to the walls," Miller said.
The 10-year-old business has done plenty of growing, she said.
"It's kind of a recession-proof business," she said.
Business grew 78 percent in 2010 compared with 2009. That followed 50 percent growth from the previous year to year.
Miller said being located at Ironwood, with so many other retail businesses operating nearby, should significantly increase walk-in traffic for Beau Monde.
The new location also will be closer to an Interstate 90 exit, which should increase business from customers in Post Falls and other areas.
The store will benefit from being closer to North Idaho College, too, she said.
Beau Monde will be expanding its hours of operation at the new location. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It has been opening at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, she said.
The store is scheduled to be closed April 10 for the move, she said.
The store has been maintaining nine part-time employees, but she said that number is likely to grow at Ironwood.
The store sells name-brand, good-quality clothing at a lower price than new retail items.
Brands sold at Beau Monde include: 7 For All Mankind, Rock & Republic, The North Face, Element, Roxy, Quicksilver, Nike, Lucky Brand, and others. It also has used clothes from retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Aeropostale, Gap and American Eagle Outfitters.
Miller started Beau Monde in 2001. Four years later, the store on Best Avenue burned down. After the fire, the store relocated to 6055 N. Government Way.
More information about Beau Monde can be found on Facebook.