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Local shop carries variety of items for shoppers’ needs

 

By Anne Carmichael
For the Jessamine Journal
Carol Buford has owned the yellow Victorian-style house at 605 N. Main St. in Nicholasville for over 25 years but it wasn’t until she sold a previous business called Gift Baskets Galore that her friends and other residents encouraged her to turn the property into another eclectic boutique.
Her keen eye for both the classy and the sassy makes a visit to her shop a fun experience for anyone looking to browse the many nooks and crannies of the house for the perfect gift or just to treat themselves.
The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and currently closed Sunday.
The name Tickled Pink came to Buford when she was reading an article by a southern writer who declared, “I’m just tickled pink!”
“That was exactly the southern charm I wanted for my new venture,” Buford said.
“At first, I just envisioned a similar gift boutique to the one I owned prior. I didn’t anticipate that I would spend virtually every waking hour shopping for merchandise, stocking, displaying, doing all the bookkeeping and even some of the special orders, such as monogramming. I now have two monogramming machines and do all the work in-house.
If it weren’t for my sister, Lisa Tweeddale-King, and some part-time help, I would be totally overwhelmed. Business here has been great. I have many loyal customers and many other new customers come to browse and shop every day.”
What were once the sitting room, living room, and bedrooms on the first floor of the house are now display rooms brimming with alcoves dedicated to glitz, glamour and jewelry, UK memorabilia, items for the horse enthusiast, a section full of items for birthdays, baby showers and wedding gifts, as well as rooms which boast items geared towards the current season and special holidays.
“Right now, we’re heading into summer and beach season. We have flamingos everywhere. They’re trending on everything from articles of clothing, beach bags, and party décor to jewelry. They’re not just lawn ornaments anymore,” Buford said. “Pearls are another classic that’s making a resurgence in popularity. All the sparkle around Tickled Pink might make you think that items are expensive, but we bend over backward to make sure our prices are the best you’ll find. You won’t find many items over $50 here.”
A little bonus that customers seem to love, Buford said, is that no matter what you purchase in the store, it’s hand-wrapped in a very special way. Whether you’re purchasing the items as a gift or just to treat yourself, your purchase will be wrapped in decorative boxes, bags, color-coordinated tissue paper and even given a finishing mist of scent or glitter, all tied up with hand-curled ribbons.
As the friendly bell over the door tinkles and the girls thank you for dropping by, you’re guaranteed to leave with a smile that will have you saying, “I’m just Tickled Pink!”