A true gem of a boutique

From footwear to manicures, haircuts to clothing — and, of course, accessories — The Turquoise Chandelier in Paoli is a jewel of a business, and it sparkled with the New Business of the Year community excellence award from Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

Allison Horton, owner of The Turquoise Chandelier, was born and raised in Holyoke — and she relishes the chance to give back to the community.

“I’m very grateful for every person who walks through my door,” Horton said. “My customers are the heart of my business.”

The Turquoise Chandelier opened in 2019, and she just celebrated the store’s three-year anniversary, in which an outpouring of people came to the store. She has customers who travel from all over — even from the Front Range and outside the state.

She added that she was very excited to be recognized with the award and feels blessed to be able to do what she does.

“I’m super honored that people thought of me as new business of the year,” she said. “I appreciate that very much.”  

She noted that the store is geared toward women, and it’s a great place for men to get gifts for the special ladies in their lives.

The store also caries sizes ranging from small to XXXL in size. “Women come in all shapes and sizes,” Horton said. “We’re all built differently. It’s important, and they’re beautiful.”

She offers haircuts, coloring and perms, as well as manicures, pedicures and facial waxing. That doesn’t even begin to touch the other products The Turquoise Chandelier offers: jeans, dress pants, dresses, coats, jackets, sweaters, handbags, belts and much more.

The selection also includes authentic turquoise and sterling silver jewelry. Turquoise is Horton’s favorite color as well as her favorite stone.

Horton also offers shopping party opportunities, where groups of friends can get together and have the store to themselves for two hours, enjoying not only refreshments but also a 20% discount on their purchases.

“It’s not about the dollar for me. It’s about making people feel better,” she said, whether that’s through the offered beauty services or with clothes and accessories. “I think if everyone had that mentality, the world would be a more beautiful place.”

Amber Endres wrote in her nomination letter that Horton has brought to the community an exciting place for people of all ages to shop and that her “style and ambitious attitude keep the area women looking their best and give the local men options for gift giving.”

She started out making jewelry and refurbishing furniture, and she began to attend craft shows and started expanding, eventually having the opportunity to start The Turquoise Chandelier.

Horton has been in the beauty world since 2001, and her passion shows in everything she does at The Turquoise Chandelier. As a member of Boutique Hub, The Turquoise Chandelier was awarded storefront boutique of the year against other boutiques in Colorado — after only having been open a year.

“This place saved me emotionally,” she said, adding that once the business started, she stopped refurbishing furniture and began to incorporate selling clothes. “We all know we can cram way more clothes into our closets than furniture into our houses,” she said with a laugh.

In her nomination letter, Stacy Clodfelder pointed out that The Turquoise Chandelier “brings a bit of big city shopping to our small community” and that Horton “is always helpful and puts her customers and the community in the driver’s seat.”

Horton has shown many examples of her love of the community, and her mobile boutique can be seen at community events ranging from the county fair to rodeos, craft shows and more. She also takes the mobile boutique to other locations in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming, where she gets to meet new people and expand the business.

She said, “If you need a place to get away or sit and relax for a few minutes, I’m here for whoever needs it. That’s more important than making a dollar.” She added that Holyoke does a lot for her, and she wants to be there for the community as much as it is for her.

Horton played a crucial role in last October’s Firehouse Fashion and Fun fundraiser for Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department’s new firehouse. The fashion show portion of the event included 12 different looks that featured shoes, clothing and accessories from the store.

Many of the firemen’s wives modeled the outfits at the event, which Horton said was really fun. She commended them for being willing to do so, noting that it takes a lot to get onstage and walk in front of 350 people.

The fire department is close to Horton’s heart, as her grandfather, Pete Knight, was a fireman. She pointed out that everyone needs the fire department, and she was happy to donate over $500 back to HVFD.

“For me, it was important to give back. It should be important to everyone,” she said, adding that they’re all volunteers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe.

Horton had a very special helper for the fundraiser, as her 9-year-old son, Avery, assisted. He has wanted to be a fireman all his life, and he was excited to be featured on the January page of the fireman calendar alongside Mayor Orville Tonsing.

“I want to show my kids that volunteering and doing good is about so much more than making it all about yourself,” she said.

Horton acknowledged that as a small business owner, she wears a lot of hats, including being the buyer, maintenance worker, janitor and more. But all of her hard work has paid off and helped her grow in many ways.

Paoli means so much to her, and right across the highway from The Turquoise Chandelier is the business of her brother, Andy Gordon.

She was quick to add that her husband, Russell, is her support system, and she wouldn’t be where she is today without him. He helped with remodeling and renovation, building displays, putting in flooring, and pushing her to take the plunge and start the business.

“I’m living the American dream,” she said. “I am doing what I love, and I feel blessed to be able to provide this service to the community.”