Needles and Diamonds

In the age of Internet shopping, retail is an increasingly
difficult way to make a living.


When shoppers don't care if you're local and, no matter where
they live, want current fashion and accessories at a fair price,
how does a local business compete?


Scott Berg says it starts with service.


Scott has other strategies too, and proven successes to back them
up. Scott is Baton Rouge Market President of Lee Michaels
Fine Jewelry, including a Pandora franchise in the Mall of
Louisiana.


Scott was just a two-year-old when his father, Lee Michael Berg,
opened the first Lee Michaels in Cortana Mall in 1978. Today
Scott and his dad work closely together, and Scott's 15 year old
has some design ideas of her own.


Scott's daughter could learn clothing design and manufacture with
Andrea Eastin. Andrea's company, Fair Fit, is a boutique fashion
design studio with classes that teach people of all ages and both
genders to sew, design and customize our own clothing. And you
might be surprised to learn that a good number of Baton Rouge men
are sitting down designing and sewing their own clothes.


We often talk about Baton Rouge developing its own signature
style these days. Scott Berg and Andrea Eastin are part of that
emerging independent style.


Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the
Boulevard. You can see photos from this by Ken Stewart at our
website. Here's more lunchtime conversation about local couture.


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