Faulkner Lifestyle October 2019 Issue

usiness feature
Fall Shopping with the
New Classic Touch
“
We also want to provide a service for this community we love.
Event design will be a new avenue for Classic Touch and one
I am excited to offer. Along with florals, we will provide event
planning and consultation services with inventory rentals.
”
—Kimberly Paladino, Owner
Classic Touch
BY JENNIFER STANLEY
PHOTOS BY BRANDY STRAIN-DAYER
Kimberly Paladino and her husband, Andy, took ownership
of Conway staple, Classic Touch, located at 2850
Prince Street, on July first. Kimberly also serves as floral
designer for the business, which offers gifts and design services.
Kimberly and Andy have three sons, Beckett, 8; Bennett, 6;
and Bash (Sebastian), 4. “We call ourselves the Paladino-5 and
refer to our boys as the BP3,” she adds. “Our family’s vision
for ‘our’ version of the new Classic Touch is to be a place
that meets any design need of our customers. Floral design,
home decor, event planning and rentals, and gift ideas for any
age – we want to be the place everyone comes to find that
perfect niche item or service they can’t find anywhere else,”
says Kimberly.
The Paladinos are thrilled to continue working with some of
the store’s established employees. “I was very fortunate to
inherit some amazing people who have made our transition
as owners of Classic Touch an enjoyable experience. Each one
brings a positive and unique asset I could not do without. They
have taught me so much during our first few months together
and have been my support team from day one,” she says.
A particularly special person during the transition is Emma
Vote, owner of the business for the previous 18 years. “Mrs.
Emma has been an amazing mentor to learn from and a great
supporter. I take it as an extreme privilege to have the opportunity
to build on what she created for Conway and cannot
thank her enough for all she has done for me and my family.
She is a remarkable woman, and it’s no wonder she is so well
received by the customers. I have big shoes to fill and hope I
make her proud with where we go from here.”
One goal for the reiteration of the store is creating a shopping
experience for all ages, styles, and budgets, right in the middle
of town. Classic Touch will cater to design trends for residential
interiors, events, and floral design and will also offer options for
that perfect gift item. “We want every person to love walking
into our store and enjoying the full experience. Whether simply
browsing to see what’s new or where I’ve moved things around
for the third time this month,” laughs Kimberly.
“We also want to provide a service for this community we
love. Event design will be a new avenue for Classic Touch and
one I am excited to offer. Along with florals, we will provide
event planning and consultation services with inventory
rentals,” she says. Planning services will include events from
full weddings to Christmas events and beyond. Patrons can
also rent as many, or as few, items as needed to complement
their own events and designs. “We want to assist our
customers with as much or as little help as they need.”
Kimberly Paladino, Owner
The Paladinos have already made significant changes to the business,
including repainting “almost every surface. We’ve moved
everything around! We’ve torn up carpet, added wall murals,
some personal artwork, changed our logo, added new displays,
built new shelving and counters to name a few. I have the best
husband, family, and friends who have put in numerous hours,
while keeping Classic Touch open during regular hours, to see my
vision come to reality.” More changes are in the works as well.
Kimberly cites the ability to work with her family in a career she
loves as her favorite part of owning Classic Touch. “…We have
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