KLASSY DIVAS
Location:
Hours of Business:
Phone:
Web Address:
#104 - 1505 Admirals Walk (in Admirals Walk Mall)
Mon 12:30 - 4:30pm; Tue to Sat 10-6pm; Fri 10-8pm
658-3831
no website
Chosen for:
Quality Antiques, Collectables & Fashions
Giving Back to the Community
A Hidden Treasure
Eighteen Grapevine participants showed up at Admirals Walk Mall on a gorgeous Saturday, April 14, 2007, all trying to guess where founders were going to take them. We led them on a wild goose chase through the plaza, finally entering the door of Klassy Divas consignment antiques, collectables and fashions. Co-owner Sherri Kask was on the phone: "Oh, I've got to go," she told her caller. "About 40 people just walked in!"
We found a soapstone chess set with its own intricately carved wooden
storage box and tile playing board lid ...
- Photos by Barbara McDonell, Sandra Tennent & Sarala Godine
The shop's eclectic offerings are invitingly displayed: a hand-woven Indian basket, lamps and mirrors, paintings, figurines and furniture, jewelry, collector cars, beer steins -- even a musical squirrel.
Participants were awed by the spirit of a 500-year old Vietnamese bowl that Sherri invited us to touch and hold. The barnacled base attested to its history of having sunk with a ship; the bowl was only retrieved from the ocean four years ago.
We found a nostalgic radio for $53, an 1885-1905 writing desk on silent auction until month's end, a soapstone chess set with its own intricately carved wooden storage box and tile playing board lid for $160, and a whimsical 1940 handmade, hand-painted wooden horse/dragon priced at $52.
...and a whimsical 1940's handmade, hand-painted
wooden horse/dragon
On request, Klassy Divas will create a gift basket of scents and candles. Soulful Sisters, a Victoria owned and operated aromatherapy company, offers their best-selling Bitchy Babe, as well as anti-stress holistic scents.
At the rear of Klassy Divas, we found consignment clothing for women. One recently engaged Grapeviner scored an elegant, brand new wedding dress that fit as though it had been custom-made for her!
Through consultation, Sherri can determine a customer's lifestyle and whether she's looking for a change, and then bring potential winning pieces to the fitting room for her to try. She particularly loves the challenge of finding new clothing for women who have recently gained or lost weight.
Word about the shop has reached Vancouverites, who occasionally bring a busload of women over for a visit. And every few weeks a Nanaimo Red Hats Society books the whole store, turning Klassy Divas into a loud laughter-filled haven.
Sherri accepts clothing on 50/50 consignment. If an item doesn't sell, she donates it to the CNIB, putting outfits together to aid people with vision impairments. She also donates articles to PEERS. Unsold collectables are given to the Cops for Cancer garage sale.
For 27 years, Sherri was a hair stylist. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which prevented her continuing that career. After allowing herself a half-hour pity party, she and her husband/business partner Kalle promptly bought this business – then a consignment clothing store.
In a back corner, Sherri has created a treatment area where she offers her signature "hair painting" for cancer survivors and others who have experienced recent trauma. She designs and paints three different personal colours onto the customer's hair, then applies face make-up to give them a no-cost lift.
Because she was raised in a heritage home, Sherri appreciates fine old things. It seemed natural, therefore, to use antiques and collectables to add atmosphere to the shop. But people kept wanting to buy her accessories... so, gradually, she incorporated more of that kind of stock.
Kalle was coaching a soccer game during our graping, so unfortunately missed all the fun. His former life was as a mechanic/owner of Oak Bay's Auto House that specialized in Mercedes Benz and Jaguar repairs. As a lover of auctions, and a long-time collector of antiques and fine art, he's very knowledgeable about the collectables industry. Not only does he help with sales, but he also handles the bookkeeping, makes deliveries, and assists in a myriad of ways. Apparently, Kalle's "gift of the gab" and sense of humour ensures an exciting atmosphere among staff and shoppers!
Sherri and Kalle have a passion for meeting new people and helping them experience the thrill of discovering treasures. Through their Wish Book, the couple do everything they can to help customers find particular articles, even making phone calls to track down items elsewhere.
Visit them at Klassy Divas and you may well catch Kalle wearing a crazy hat! Note that if you make a purchase you're eligible to enter that month's draw for one of their gift certificates.