Linda Parrent

If you’ve missed Linda Parrent’s smiling face and sunny disposition at Elegant Essentials, there is good news—she’s back! Not only is she back in the shop, she is excited about touching base with everyone and once again being ‘hands-on’ with the day-to-day activities of the shop.

If you thought her absence was due to a sabbatical in the Caribbean or some other grand adventure, Linda will tell you that the last few months were nothing of the sort. She had back surgery and was just recently released to return to work. “I am healing nicely and I’m thrilled to be back doing what I do and seeing all the faces that I’ve missed.”

The shoppers at Elegant Essentials will be pleased when they see all the things that Linda has lined up for the fall season. “We have the cutest fall and Halloween line coming in and people are going to love it. I’ll be bringing in really cute stuff like aprons, martini glasses, girlfriend things and lots more.”

Linda’s return also means that Chamilia Jewelry Parties are back in full swing at the shop. Elegant Essentials is the largest dealer of Chamilia jewelry in Knoxville. Be sure and book your party soon as the spots will fill up quickly.

“I’m excited to get the word out that Chamilia will be coming out with a children’s line and it is over the top. Adults and children are going to love it,” said Linda. “The children’s line is adorable and will offer Disney, little boys and little girls, different clasps than the adult line and more. They also just came out with a new line of necklaces and earrings that are phenomenal.”

If you thumbed through the July edition of Women’s Day you no-doubt noticed that Linda was featured in the magazine. Women’s Day contacted Linda for a series on ‘Women Following Their Dreams’. If you missed the article, you can find a link to it on the shop’s website at www.shopelegantessentials.com. The website is also a great place to stay current with all the happenings at the shop.

“Gift shops should be distinctive, and that’s what my shop is all about,” said Linda. “I’m always actively searching for things that are different, not typical retail stuff that can be found in other stores. I search high and low to bring something unique and different to the Knoxville market because people deserve it.”

Stop in and welcome Linda back to the shop as she continues her work to help Knoxvillians ‘Find a Treasure, Set a Trend and Make a Tradition’.

Elegant Essentials
7240 Kingston Pike, Suite 184
Knoxville, TN 37919
865.247.0157
www.shopelegantessentials.com

Going All Out
Linda Parrent doubles as a proud mom and business owner

Linda Parrent, owner of Elegant Essentials, a thriving new gift shop located in The Gallery Shopping Center in West Knoxville, is one East Tennessee mom who is not afraid to go all out. That’s why when she opened Elegant Essentials, which features 1,600 square feet of unique gifts and home décor, Linda knew that growing the business would take a tremendous amount of her time.

But before becoming a hard-working business owner, Linda was a full-time stay-at-home mom.

“I was the first person my children saw when they came home from school,” says Linda, who also volunteered for countless extracurricular activities, including cheerleading, swim team, PTA, and band. “It was a sacrifice to stay at home, but I think we raised dynamite kids.”

The Parrents’ three children, Brandon, 29, Jennifer, 25, and Kristen, 20, are all proud supporters of Linda and her business endeavor, something Linda says she takes great comfort in.

“The best compliment I get is when my kids say they are proud of me,” she says.

Linda’s consistent determination as a business owner has also led to success outside of the business arena as she recently took on the title of Managing Director for eWomen Network of Knoxville.

Linda credits the networking opportunities afforded by the organization with having a big impact on her new small business.

“In just two years, despite the dismal economy, we have managed to experience constant growth,” says Linda, who is also a certified interior decorator. “And networking has been so important in achieving that growth.”

Linda says that membership in the eWomen Network (www.ewomennetwork.com), an organization with 113 chapters nationwide and in Canada, gives women a chance to actively help improve each other’s businesses by engaging in monthly accelerated networking events.

“We haven’t been in Knoxville for very long,” says Linda, who runs the store along with her husband Stephen. “So for the chapter to put its faith in me is truly humbling.”

The Knoxville chapter boasts a little over 200 members and as the group’s new Managing Director, Linda is enthusiastically determined to expand that number to 500.

“We have such strong women in our Knoxville chapter,” she says. “Contacts are so important, especially nowadays. It’s all about helping other business owners.”

This summer, Linda will also appear in the July issue of Women’s Day Magazine in which she will be profiled for following her passion for flowers and small business ownership.

“In another six months, it might be a whole other story,” she says.

In the meantime, Linda and Stephen welcome you to find a Treasure, set a Trend, and make a Tradition at Elegant Essentials.