This shop is just fun. You feel it when you walk in the door at The Next Best Thing. There you're met by an explosion of colors, handbags, wine glasses, barrettes, headbands, flip flops and shiny jewelry. It's where I go when I want a little bedazzling pick-me-up, but don't want to break the bank.
"We want a variety of attractive items at a great price. We try to keep our price points down. We have a lot of people who come in here looking for gifts for friends and family," co-owner Lana Hines said.
In fact, you can find scores of earrings, bracelets and rings for $10 to $15. The costume pieces are well-made and are - you guessed it - the next best thing to pricey baubles. Co-owners Angela Stein and Lana say they can accessorize just about any outfit for anywhere from $8 to $80!And there's usually special finds upstairs where you can find lots of markdowns.
Lifelong acquaintances, the co-owners opened The Next Best Thing three-and-a-half years ago. Both women, westsiders, had long loved bright accessories and often dreamt of opening a shop where they could sell them.
Unbeknownst to each other, both women quit their day jobs on a Friday around Memorial Day weekend 2005. They met up at a holiday parish festival shortly after and discovered they both needed something new to do: a few months later they were business owners. The women's accessories shop sits in a renovated Cope Cod on Kenwood Road in downtown Blue Ash.
"We always complimented each other's outfits and accessories, and so we knew we had the same taste," Lana said. "We both decided to do it together."
Next Best things also hosts private fundraising parties for groups of 10 or more, where a portion of sales goes to your organization or school.
The Next Best Thing
9662 Kenwood Road
Blue Ash 45242
513-985-0888
Hours
MONDAY: Noon - 5 p.m.
TUES-FRI: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
SATURDAY: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
SUNDAY: Closed
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