Syrian Native Creates Thriving Business in East Lansing

Syrian native, Siham Baladi, moved to East Lansing in 1975 so her husband could teach civil engineering at Michigan State University (MSU). But it didn’t take long for Baladi to create a place for herself. Since 2004, Baladi has operated a successful boutique, Silver & Beyond, in East Lansing's Marriott Hotel, and now she’s ready to expand.

According to excerpts from the article:

After so many years as a teacher, why did you open Silver & Beyond?

Baladi: The turning point in my life was when I turned 50 and my mom passed away. My dad passed away three years before my mom. It's a horrible feeling to be an orphan, and I had a new empty nest, too, with the kids gone. I had to take time off. I didn't do anything for two years. During this time my daughter kept saying to me, "Come on, Mom, what are you going to do, sit in a rocking chair? You know your dream is to have your own boutique, so why don't you do it?" ... And I didn't want to go back to teaching. I don't know how I did it, but here it is. I love what I'm doing right now.

What's best about it?

Baladi: I'm blessed to be able to travel all over the world. I believe traveling opens your mind. You don't live in a box anymore. If you don't travel, especially to poor countries, you don't know what you have. You have to see the poor to respect what they have and how they find happiness in life. And now my job takes me all over the world. ... I'm on a mission to find beautiful things to share with everybody around me.

What do you sell in your store?

Baladi: It's mostly jewelry and accessories: Designer purses, wallets, evening purses, scarves. I feel like it's my job to help everybody accessorize to reflect who they are, look stylish and have fun. You can have the most expensive outfit, but if you do not have the right accessories, it's not going to work. I believe beauty comes from the inside, but it's also very important how you present yourself. My friends always tell me I'm put together all the time. Well, you have to work at putting yourself together. Your look reflects who you are.

Why do you think your store has been successful?

Baladi: I work very hard. I work like 48 hours in 24 hours. I'm here all the time representing my business and helping the customers. And I love beautiful things and I'm trying to bring style we wouldn't otherwise have around this area. Why make people travel to New York, Chicago or Las Vegas to find these products? And I have customers from the hotel who are surprised we have these products in East Lansing. I have calls all the time from people who wished they bought something while they were here and ask me to ship it. Now I have customers from Atlanta, Chicago, New York and California.

Read the entire article here.