Chamaeleon: Trendy Boutique Offers Gift Bargains on Small Business Saturday

If a person on your shopping list has everything, visit in Ambler on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, to snap up one-of-a-kind gifts and discounts up to 30 percent.  Trendy items and local artists' wares are offered by two sisters who turned adversity into a small business opportunity.

Rosa Zeibari, 35, of Ambler, and her 30-year-old sister, Ani Kechian of Blue Bell, fled warring Lebanon with their family 27 years ago. Friends liked Lebanese linens the sisters used for decorating, so they sold them at home shows.

Their business morphed into Chamaeleon in 2008 when Zeibari's husband, Andre, found office space for his pharma tech consulting business, Zeibari & Co., at 12 Cavalier Drive near .  Rosa said, "I thought, we can knock down office partitions in the front so I can have a store, and keep the back for Andre's office."  

The threesome play to one another's strengths.  Andre created the boutique’s web site and is the chief financial officer. Rosa said,  "Ani is an engineer.  At the store, she does back-end stuff, paper work, and keeps me organized."  Rosa is a part-time pharmacist and mom of three boys.   She focuses on "researching trends, color schemes, and what customers want," while the boys are at school and after they go to bed, she said.  

Tracking Down New Treasures

The sisters walk the streets of New York four times a year and browse showrooms. "We only buy what we love.  Our differing tastes create a good balance for our customers," said Zeibari.  

She focuses on new looks and offers hip items at a fraction of the price.  "Our fun, trendy purses are not $500 to $600, they range from $75 to $110," Zeibari said.

Store Offerings

Jewelry, cuff links, scarves, hand bags, stationery, baby gifts, holiday party fare, and houseware items are whimsically displayed.  Local artisans' jewelry, belts, oil paintings and hand-made soaps make for unique gifts.

Gift Ideas

Rosa suggested teacher gift ideas:

• Pashmina shawls  -- $15 to $28
• Teacher ornaments
• Hand-made soaps.

Small Business Saturday Discounts

• Customers who shop between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. will receive a 30 percent discount off their bills.  
• A surprise 5 to 25 percent discount off total sales will be handed to customers who shop between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.  
• All retired Chamilia beads will be sold at 50 percent off, said Andre. "Usually when these beads are retired, they sell for two to three times retail on eBay," he said.  
• Chamilia bracelet, necklace and earring sets will be reduced 20 percent.

To add to Chamaeleon's fun atmosphere, mimosas and croissants will be served.