Siham Fannoun Baladi, owner of the East Lansing-based jewelry store Silver & Beyond, is growing into her 1,500 square foot expansion, completed in 2008.
“I honestly don’t know how I did it, but I did it,” says Baladi about starting Silver & 
Beyond. She says she continues to attract customers from all over the world despite the national economy. “I build friendships with these people when they come.”
Baladi opened Silver & Beyond in 2004 in downtown East Lansing inside the Marriott hotel. Baladi sells jewelry from all over the world. She’s also expanded into designer bags, travel luggage and other items.
When a neighboring tenant decided to leave their space, Baladi removed a wall and expanded her store by 1,500 square feet, doubling what is now a 3,000 square foot space.
“I travel all over for my unique product,” says Baladi, who travels to Thailand, China, Japan, Greece and France to find her designs. The artists Baladi works with frequently create designs unique to Baladi’s store, and the expansion has allowed her to expand her merchandise.
“We don’t have to go to Chicago or New York to shop, you can shop right here,” Baladi says, noting the she offers big city style at much more modest prices.
Source: Siham Fannoun Baladi, Silver & Beyond
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.