Marchande focuses on women's fine fashions

Lore Durbin is bringing a touch of fine fashion to Springfield.

Durbin who opened Mar-chande, a women's clothing store, said she sells clothes and accessories that no other store in town sells. Marchande, which is French for merchant, is located in the French Quarter Plaza at 1626 E. Republic Road.

Before opening Marchande last month, Durbin took an informal poll with some of the women she knew. These women told her that they made trips to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and New York to find clothing items and brand names they couldn't find here in Springfield.

A few of the items Durbin said can't be found anywhere in Springfield other than her store, include Rayure of Paris shirts, Prada, Dior and Fendi bags and sunglasses. She said most items are priced in the moderate to upper end range.

"Rayure of Paris shirts are very distinctive shirts," she said. "It's hard to describe them. The collars, cuffs, the cut and design on each shirt are different."

Durbin said she orders a limited number of each style.

"Women need to feel distinctive and I want to help them do that," she said. "You won't find 10 items of the exact same thing here."

Durbin said she chose the location because it's close to her home and her children's schools, and because she feels the Chardonnay restaurant and other stores in the French Quarter Plaza complement each other.

"There's a Jellybean Child-ren's Wear store that sells children's clothes, an M B Tweens shop where preteens can get their clothes and The Alley, a hair salon and spa," she said. "We all complement each other. There are different resources here for customers. Women can do the shopping for themselves, as well as their children and have their hair and nails done, too."

Durbin said she has wanted to own her own business for as long as she can remember.

"I've always loved clothing and wanted to be able to provide the customers a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere to shop in," she said.

Once Durbin realized she wanted to open a clothing store, she decided her aim would be to sell clothes that are unique, meaning no one would find anything like them for sale anywhere else in Springfield.

In addition to clothing, sunglasses and handbags, Durbin sells belts and costume jewelry as well as some sterling silver jewelry.

The clothes are sold in sizes ranging from 2 to 16.

"I don't carry a great deal of sizes 2 to 4 or sizes 14 to 16 because most women wear clothes ranging from an 8 to a 14," she said.

Marchande is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

"I'm testing the market to see if women are shopping until 8 p.m. throughout the week," Durbin said. "Right now, things are slow after 6 p.m. I think that's because people are conditioned to boutiques closing at 6 p.m."

Durbin has one full-time employee and three part-time employees.

She found her part-time employees, who are paid interns, after talking with Michele Granger, an assistant professor in the clothing, textiles and merchandising program at Southwest Missouri State University. The program is part of the consumer and family studies department.

"I wanted to hire women with a true, true interest in the clothing industry," Durbin said. "One of the women is good with displays, one's good at buying, and one is especially strong in the area of merchandising. We have a great working relationship."

Marchande has about 1,400-square-feet of shopping space.