Cold Spring Shop Sells
Purses for a Purpose

COLD SPRING -For the last 10 years, Cold Spring resident Michele Tebrake has had a yearning to open a business of her own that also would make a difference.

After 18 months of research, her dream came true March 1 when she opened Trendsetters Jewelry & Purse Boutique at 318 Main St., Cold Spring.

Tebrake first started selling her merchandise in two salons. She brought the merchandise to Brooten in November and to Olivia on March 6.

Inspired by listening to missionaries at her church talk about their adventures, Tebrake hopes to donate $5,000 of her business profits by the end of the year to two missionaries who plan to open a House of Hope in Moldova for trafficked women.

She plans to continue to donate more funds to missionaries as the business profits grow.

Tebrake's boutique sells jewelry and handbags that missionary friends have brought back from various countries, such as India and Turkey.

"It's not your typical jewelry that you would find at a department store," Tebrake said. "That's what makes me a little bit different."

She also sells product lines of designer-inspired handbags, selling only one style of each purse. She also buys merchandise from fair-trade organizations.

The Cold Spring shop covers 700 square feet and has two part-time employees in addition to Tebrake.

"I had a desire to meet the needs of missionaries that I wanted to support," Tebrake said. "I feel like there is so many people who live without hope, and there is hope."