Dale Lindholm, President, Pure Accessories

The first time I came to New York I was a buyer for what was at the time the trendiest accessories boutique in Los Angeles. Faux Body Ornaments exposed me to the creative combination of art and fashion. My customers included Heather Locklear, Jamie-Lee Curtis and Brad Pitt fresh off of the success of Thelma and Louise, not to mention all of the up and coming Hollywood starlets and moguls.

During my first buying trip to New York to attend the AccessorieCircuit I immediately knew that this was where I belonged. After numerous trips and expressing my desire to be in New York, I received a call from one of our designers, Kerry McBride, offering me a position within his company as Sales Director. I jumped at the opportunity and arrived two weeks later. I was concerned at first about switching to the wholesale side of the industry because I thrived on daily interaction with my regular customers, as well as the stream of characters that prowled Melrose Avenue daily. I came to realize that the wholesale business shared similar qualities as retail, yet added a stronger focus on trend awareness and the individual needs of each buyer.

My illustrious career did not last long at Kerry McBride and I was soon hired by Apropo Showroom. I quickly learned the ins-and-outs of the accessory market and the daily operations of a multi-line showroom. After spending four years at Apropo, I was ready for a new challenge and was hired by DP Accessories. I was given some of the key accounts, such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, and soon found that I was not only building sales volume, but also relationships.

After five years of continuous growth, and with the respect and encouragement of my buyers, I left DP Accessories to pursue my dream of opening a showroom. On March 1st, 2001, I through open the doors to Pure Accessories and the next chapter was beginning. My mission statement was simple; offer the buyers an array of accessories, including handbags, belts, jewelry and scarves in a comfortable, inviting atmosphere with a knowledgeable sales team, less the usual high-pressure tactics. By staying true to my vision, I have successfully established my showroom in the marketplace and created a positive reputation within the industry; not too mention having every buyer that enters give our famous showroom dog Sophie unlimited belly rubs.

I find my life and career fulfilling due to the ever changing market, the excitement and challenge of keeping my showroom unique yet competitive, and the ongoing adventure this industry provides. Six years later I find myself just as passionate and motivated to propel my leading showroom into the next phase.

- Dale Lindholm, President, Pure Accessories