l o c a l b u s i n e s s
A Garden of Delights b y L i e s e l S c h m i d t
from candles and room sprays to perfume. The store scent is usually the first thing mentioned when they enter the store,” Turner notes. Looking around the boutique—with its dark walls, massive chandelier, and bright, expressive art—Turner’s care in her merchandising as well as her thoughtful curation of ambiance is clear. “I put a lot of passion and thought into every piece I buy,” she says. “I want everything to be unique and different, unlike anything you can find in the States. Also, the atmosphere is cozy, yet elegant, and feels a bit like you’ve stumbled upon a cozy little bookstore, vintage shop, or florist in a small French or Italian village. The merchandise and lights sparkle—I want customers to feel like it’s an elegant VIP experience.”
Photos courtesy of Anthea le Jardin
operating 50 Effy jew- elry stores on cruise ships. But when the pandemic hit, all 50 stores were temporarily shuttered as the cruise industry shut down. Using jewelry she curated from 20 years of experience and con- nections in the fine jewelry and diamond industry, Turner has
The boutique is much more than a business to Turner—it’s a way of touching people. “Our mission is to spread love, and I put up a bright pink sign on the front of the store as a daily reminder of that,” she says. “We try to make every visit special, not just a transac- tion—a memory or an experience, so I think that some customers often come back to get a dose of happy and feel good about themselves. Others visit because they love the uniqueness of the product and knowing that they can always find a fun, quirky, distinctive gift for any occasion.” As much as she makes the shop a destination for others, it is the culmination of a lifelong dream for Turner. “I’ve dreamed of owning a store since I was a child, and it’s everything I ever wanted and more. My quality time with my mother as a child was shopping, and she used to take me antiquing,” she says, explaining that her mother always encouraged her to pursue her dreams and was a great inspiration for the shop. Unfortunately, Turner’s mother died only weeks before her entire cruise industry shut down. “The store owners were always so sweet and generous to me; so, at a very young age, I recognized the power of making someone happy in a short visit. I love the opportunity to make someone’s day brighter or their vacation better. It’s a very personal experience for me, and it brings me joy to have someone smiling when they walk out the door.”
Butterfly Ring
filled Anthea le Jardin with all that sparkles as well as a large collection of impressionist inspired art, vintage mid- century modern barware, fine fragrances, and other luxury gift items from around the world. And, of course, there are the flowers. “I wanted to create a floral inspired boutique with the soul of Europe,” says Turner. “It is meant to feel like you are stepping into an intimate and charming store in a small, quaint village in the South of France or Italy. That’s also, I think, what has been my success, even in opening during a pandemic. The lack of travel around the world has people pining for unique experiences, so a charming, European inspired shop with gifts that offer surprise and delight is exactly what everyone wants.” Among the most popular of the boutique’s offerings are Effy floral and butterfly diamond jewelry, diamond essentials, unique matchboxes and decorative trays, luxu- rious silk robes, and the fabulous Maison Louis Marie No. 4 fragrance. Fragrance, in fact, is a big part of the boutique’s appeal. “Customers absolutely love the scents,
M eaning garden, grove, or yard, the French word jardin is apropos for the small shop in Watersound, whose façade is almost complete- ly obscured by a wall of greenery. Broken only by a large placard bearing the name Anthea le Jardin and a happy pink neon sign in cursive script that says simply “Spread Love,” the lush green garden walls lead into another world—one filled with unique treasures waiting to be discovered. Opened in November of 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Anthea le Jardin was a risky proposition for owner Anthea Turner—but it was also a fulfillment of destiny. A woman whose professional history is filled with exciting travels and beautiful things, Turner left the fast-paced life of working in New York’s diamond district to move to 30-A, having made her mark in the fine jewelry and cruise industry for more than 20 years. That expertise took her far—both literally and figuratively—
Anthea le Jardin is located at 29 Hub Lane, Watersound, FL 32461. For more information, call (516) 830-5758 or visit www.anthealejardin.com.
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