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www.theconnectionsnj.com 25 South Finley Avenue soulsistersnj Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 @soulsistersnj soulsistersnj.com ARTISAN JEWELRY HOME DECOR’ ACCESSORIES GIFTS & SO MUCH MORE! Perfect Gifts to Give and Receive This Holiday Season... 908-340-3200 SOUL SISTERS 25 South Finley Avenue Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908-340-3200 By: Kaylynn Ebner Big box shopping may be conven- ient, but it’s missing two key elements: a personal touch and unique options. A new Basking Ridge boutique is pro- viding both of these things (and so much more) to area shoppers. Soul Sisters – founded earlier this year by sisters Lisa Plinio, Julie Pascarel- la, and Donna Arnold – fills its shelves with beautiful goods and gifts with an emphasis on original design, high qual- ity and value. The shop specializes in beautifully crafted jewelry designed by artisans from all over the country. Other unique offerings consist of cozy knit-wear, including sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens and socks, lacy bralettes, and versatile handbags and backpacks. A meticulously curated mix of home goods, accessories and small batch apothecary round out the diverse offerings at Soul Sisters. The distinc- tive selection you will find at this charming shop is far from vanilla. To make the cut at Soul Sisters, products must meet three main crite- ria: quality, value, and uniqueness. “We don’t bring anything into the store unless it meets our standards, and we are constantly reevaluating our inventory,” Lisa explains. “We’ve hand-selected everything that’s in our store. It’s a very personal experience for us.” The sisters are strongly drawn to local and fair trade designers as well as those with a unique backstory. “We build strong relationships with our designers, which helps us customize our inventory even more. Some design- ers will even tweak items for our clien- tele,” says Julie. The sisters are committed to making the shopping experience at Soul Sis- ters engaging and special. The unclut- tered layout, for one, is as inviting as the customer service. “We want peo- ple to love shopping here, from the music they hear, to the aroma they smell, to the way they feel when they’re personally greeted,” states Lisa. Unlike online shopping and chain stores , the sisters make it a point to tear down barriers; literally. “Nothing is behind glass. We want shoppers to pick up and touch items,” says Donna. Julie adds that one of the most rewarding parts of Soul Sisters is the personal touch she and her sisters pro- vide as retailers. “We love helping shoppers find the perfect item, listen- ing to their needs and being ‘problem solvers’ for them,” she states. Top Gift-Giving Ideas from Soul Sisters As the holidays approach, gift givers looking for something “different” and a personal shopping experience will be in good hands at Soul Sisters. What can you expect to find at the bou- tique? Here are three Soul Sisters picks of the month: • For the winter, Lisa loves the cozy, cute hats with interchangeable fur pom-poms for the perfect cold weather accessory. • Donna is thrilled with the sophisti- cated and breathtaking jewelry of New York-based designer Julie Vos. Earrings, bangles, pendants – this elegant collection has it all. • Last, Julie is excited about the boutique’s seasonally scented hand-carved wood tray candles as well as the whimsical holiday ornaments. Visi t www.soulsistersnj.com a nd fol- low the store on Facebook and Insta- gram (@soulsistersnj) to see more of their amazing selections. Basking Ridge Boutique Puts Heart and Soul into Gift GivingPAGE 20