jessica harper john gessner howard lestrud
Eagan retail space plan revived 5A Food trucks vs. ballpark concessions 7A Bill aims to regulate pet sellers 7A
dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz
date ##, 2009 february 21, 2013
Volume 30, Number # VOLUME 33, NUMBER 52
Dakota County Tribune Since 1884
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Bridalwear in the Heart of the City
inside biz
New location a fresh start for Bridal Accents Couture
forum
by John Gessner
Rosemount pastor talks about the ways in which Dakota County congregations can learn from each other. rev. paul 4A jarvis
Dakota County Tribune
Always drawn to fashion and design, Michelle Beck has spent a lifetime working toward her goal of being a shopkeeper. It extended from her makebelieve games as a girl growing up in Burnsville to a six-year stint with Nordstrom, learning the ropes of fashion retail. Today Beck owns Bridal Accents Couture, the Savage shop she bought in 2009 and moved to Burnsville’s Heart of the City in late December 2012. Seeking a space more centrally located for a regional clientele, Beck purchased 5,600 square feet of suite space on the first floor of the Park Crest on Nicollet condominium building. Located at 12501 Nicollet Ave., the bridal shop is next to Jo Jo’s Rise and Wine and includes the space once occupied by the Double Dip ice cream shop. “I like the location and I wanted to freshen the brand and be brand new, and have a little more space as well,” she said of the shop that held a grand opening earlier this month. A 1992 graduate of The Academy of Holy Angels, Beck studied fashion merchandising and management at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She began her career at Nordstrom at the Mall of America, first as an intern and then as a full-time employee. She was hired as assistant manager of accessories after college, and within a few months had been promoted to manager of the store’s Savvy department, which handles women’s designer labels. “I ultimately wanted more of a small boutique setting where I could make a lot of the decisions with regard to marketing and buying,” Beck said. In 1999, after having her first child, Beck was hired as a parttime sales associate at Bridal Accents Couture, which had outfitted her and her sister’s double wedding in 1997. “Ten bridesmaids, 10 groomsmen, two brides,” said Beck, who now lives in Lakeville with husband Adam and their children, 13-year-old Morgan and 9-yearold Luke. “My mother got her gown there.” She became manager and buyer at Bridal Accents Couture, which was located in a cluster of wedding-related shops on West
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forum
Twin Cities church provides a Valentine’s Day gift that one couple will never forget – a free wedding and reception. don 4A heinzman
news
Photo by John Gessner
Michelle Beck has moved her bridal shop, Bridal Accents Couture, to Burnsville’s Heart of the City. County Road 42 known as the Bridal Retreat. Bridal Accents Couture owner Sonja Bomhoff eventually relocated to Texas, said Beck, who bought the business in 2009 from a subsequent owner. The Bridal Retreat eventually dissolved as businesses came and went, but one of the businesses — Kim’s Tailoring, owned by Angela Kim — followed Beck to Burnsville and rents space from her at Park Crest on Nicollet. “Our brides don’t have to use her, but most do,” Beck said. “She’s very talented.” Bridal Accents Couture offers brides selections from 14 designers, Beck said. It carries rental tuxes from two suppliers. The trend in bridalwear is toward lace and neckline variations, said Beck, who travels annually to an industry show in New York. Strapless gowns are losing some steam. “Certainly the royal wedding had an influence on that,” she said. The store employs eight people, including sales and marketing manager Aubrie Hansen. For more information, call (952) 846-4496 or visit www. bridalaccentscouture.com. John Gessner can be reached at john. gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook. com/sunthisweek.
anna wills
First-term state Rep. Anna Wills, R-Apple Valley, proposes bill that would encourage businesses to hire veterans. 2A
dakota arts
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