Publications & Sites 
Big basement leads to big sales in Deerfield
“I have things for anyone from a little girl to her mom to a great grandmother," said Fisher, who has lived in Deerfield with her family for 18 years, and who started the business six years ago, “Four generations can walk in the door.” | Jackie Piloss
Accessorize Me
Elyse Fisher
Deerfield
(847) 217-1735
www.accessorizemeinstyle.com
Article Extras
Updated: January 30, 2013 9:38AM
Shopping in the basement of Elyse Fisher’s Deerfield home has been compared by some to having a spa treatment.
“It’s relaxing to shop here,” said Liz Schwaeber, who has been a long-time customer of Fisher’s, and who is now Fisher’s website designer and technical support person, “It’s quiet and peaceful and beautiful and it’s low key.”
Schwaeber is referring to the 2,500-square-foot, five-room space Fisher has devoted to displaying the merchandise of Accessorize Me, her accessory boutique, which she runs by appointment.
Accessorize Me sells casual and formal accessories that include jewelry, scarves, gloves, hats, head wraps, handbags, wallets and gifts for children, teens and adult women.
The layout of Fisher’s basement includes a handbag room, a finer jewelry room, a seasonal room, and two main rooms that have a little bit of everything.
“I have things for anyone from a little girl to her mom to a great grandmother ,” said Fisher, who has lived in Deerfield with her family for 18 years, and who started the business six years ago, “Four generations can walk in the door.”
Fisher, who holds a BA in communications, and who has worked in publishing and advertising in the past said she decided to start her business because she has always loved fashion and shopping, and that people were constantly commenting on the accessories she wore.
“People would always say to me and still do, ‘Where did you get that?’” she said, “I realized I could make money buying and selling things. I love negotiating and I love bargains.”
Fisher buys most of her merchandise wholesale, and said she charges 20-60 percent less than retail because she doesn’t have the overhead of rent, and the expenses of a retail location.
She buys from shows and vendors all around the world, Soho, New York being among her favorite places to shop. She said she looks for things that are unique and different from what other stores have, but that she also carries merchandise that’s comparable to high-end department stores.
“I’m buying from the same buyer that Nieman’s and Nordstrom buys from, and I’m charging so much less,” she said.
Sheryl Golden of Deerfield is a customer of Fisher’s, and said the reasons she continues to shop at Accessorize Me include the ease of going there, the prices, and quality and beauty of the merchandise.
“Elyse follows the very expensive designers carried in department stores, and the minute she sees something similar she goes for it,” said Golden, “She has an eye for that, and a flair for what looks good.”
“The reason people keep coming back here is because there’s no sales pitch, and she doesn’t follow you around,” said Schwaeber, “She doesn’t feel a need to push anything on you.”
Most of Fisher’s clients are on the North Shore, but she has customers from all over the area, from the city and several from other states.
In addition to appointments at her home, Fisher hosts periodic open houses for holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Graduation, Christmas and Hanukkah. She also participates as a vendor in several charity events throughout the year.
“I love that I have something that makes people happy, “ said Fisher, “People go to work every day and some of them aren’t thrilled about it, and me, I wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to start my work day. Even though I’m not changing the world, I’m doing something that makes people happy.”
“Elyse’s business has gotten so big that helping her has turned into a permanent job for me,” said Schwaeber, “Whenever I’m around town, people always come up to me and say, ‘Tell Elyse I want to come shopping.’”
