Susan Carlson, Principal/Buyer, Posh Essentials

When we decided to open Posh Essentials we chose Downtown Highland Park because it is such an incredible retail area. Since opening in April 2009 the response has been overwhelming. We find that besides our loyal local consumers we are really pulling people from all over the North Shore. People come to Downtown Highland Park as a destination and once they discover us, they keep coming back. Everyone has been very welcoming and when you show that you have something they like, they become loyal customers. And we really appreciate it when the locals shop here. It is vital for any community to have the people that live there support the local businesses. That is what keeps the community thriving. We consider ourselves not just a lingerie store, but a gift store where women can find something for any occasion within their budget. We appeal to women of all ages for any gift need they have, whether it be a graduation, birthday or hostess gift. At Posh Essentials you can find things for $10 or $100. And for women shopping for themselves, we carry fine lingerie at a mid-range price point. We carry the luxurious necessities for every day. One unique offering at Posh that sets us apart from similar stores is our concierge and personal shopping. A customer can tell us who they are shopping for and how much they want to spend, give us a credit card number and we'll take care of the rest. We will choose the perfect gift, wrap and mail it. And this fall we are launching our web store, where customers will be able to shop from directly from our website.