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28 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 8, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Silkeborg celebrates five years in downtown Oakville By Karen Alton SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Downtown Oakville is home to some distinctive, quirky little enterprises, but none quirkier than Silkeborg, the women's fashion boutique named for a town in Denmark. The eclectic product mix includes not only women's clothing, but men's wear by Blue Willi's, assorted home accessories and high-end jewelry by the well-known Danish firm, Georg Jensen. They also carry a line of leather recliners by Lafer from Brazil. Is there a problem with such diversity? "Everything is good and we only have beautiful merchandise here. There is no problem," explained Carl Jensen, the husband of owner Gina Jensen. Currently celebrating its fifth year in Oakville and 10th year in Niagara-on-theLake, with a storewide sale, Silkeborg is a family affair. The family includes Gina, of Brazilian descent, and Carl, who was born and raised in Silkeborg, Denmark, son Andres, and the family dog, Ryder, a Siberian husky, often seen outside the doors on Lakeshore Road. Gina was unavailable for comment as she was recovering from a fall, but Carl was happy to talk about the business. "We are pretty excited about being here in Oakville," the tall, fair Danish RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Silkeborg owner Carl Jensen relaxes in his Lakeshore Road store. import allowed. "We've lived in Oakville for 16 years. Our wholesale business is located here as well." According to Carl, their first retail store came about in Niagara-on-the-Lake more or less in response to another's misfortune. "We were in the wholesale business of importing the Blue Willi's line of clothing, my wife and I, and selling it to various retailers, independent stores, across the country. We were selling a lot in Niagara-on-theLake, but when the store we were supplying closed down, owing us quite a lot of money, we decided to open our own storefront. That's how it started 10 years ago." Five years ago Silkeborg opened the Oakville store in a renovated TD bank, an elegant space at 166 Lakeshore Rd. E., right in the heart of downtown. 3.9 LEASE RATE 2007 VOLVO S80 % $ * 595 A MONTH/ 48 MOS. W. BRONTE RD. PACIFIC RD. Q.E.W. E. 3RD LINE SOUTH SERVICE RD. WYECROFT RD. Currently they employ 12 people in the Oakville store and five in the Niagara-on-theLake shop. Carl said their stock is largely of Scandinavian origin, but it also has a strong South American flavour, as well as some Italian and German influence. In fact, when it comes right down to it, "cosmopolitan" really describes the product mix best. Gina is the buyer for the store and according to her niece, Priscilla Bajus, "Gina is the inspiration." "She only buys clothes she likes, with good quality and good fit," said Bajus, "things that she herself would wear. The home accessories are all of Danish design which means they are beautiful and functional." As for price points, Carl resisted the term upscale. "We offer good quality at the right price," he said. "Special sale pricing may well excite some people but that shouldn't be the main reason for people to come in and shop with us. People should come in and see what we have because there is something for everyone." Carl doesn't see the business making any radical changes in the foreseeable future, though Bajus pointed out that they are "always doing new stuff like finding wonderful new product lines to offer their clients and providing great customer service." "We are especially proud of our customer service," she said. "We've won the Diamond Excellence Award for Downtown Oakville's Favourite women's clothing shop more than once." One interesting innovation of the store is the bank vault left over from a former incarnation. It is now used as a change room and men's waiting room equipped with a television and magazines like Sports Illustrated. Silkeborg is located at 166 Lakeshore Rd. E. Join Us For Golf This Season! FAMILY NIGHT FOR JUNIORS AND ADULTS Still a few spots remaining in our Junior Summer Camps and Adult Golf Clinics. Book your spot NOW! Monday-Thursday After 6:30 pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday Evenings After 6:00 pm SPECIAL 905-336-3660 $ 50 per player BOOK NOW! 17 Visit Us Online: www.hiddenlakegolf.com