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Persian Peacock succeeds by daring to be different By
Julie Sulunga
Persian Peacock now has more room for its multi-purpose shop after moving from its old location right next to Trailhead on Main Street in Logan, to across the street from the LDS Tabernacle's front doors. "We wanted room to expand and we needed room to expand," said Persian Peacock owner Mehry Roshan. Persian Peacock opened its doors in 1976. Roshan had a bucket of wax that had been given to her and a positive attitude that she would be able to do business in Logan. From that bucket of wax she started making candles and her own hand-made jewelry, which were the first items to be sold in the store. She got the name Persian Peacock because she is from Persia and she likes peacocks. Everyone else liked the name, so after so many years, it has stuck. Roshan now lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., where she is a silent manager in the store. Jessica McWhinnie took over managing the store in 1997. Under her management the store has prospered and she is now a business partner in the store, Roshan said. "Jessica has managed the store for three years; she has put her heart and creativity into the store," Roshan said. "I turned the key on Jess and she took off. She is still going." Persian Peacock has had the main goal of wanting to stay unique -- carrying hip clothing lines, good natural body care, aromatherapy products, unique jewelry, an exclusive 18-and-older section and a chance to get body piercing done, McWhinnie said. "We want to stay unique, we don't want to have items in the shop that you could find in the mall," McWhinnie said. "We also want to build our clientele so we can get items that a person can't find anywhere else." With the added addition of having a piercer in the shop, the store has had an increase in body jewelry sold. The piercing will probably always be a permanent part of the store with Nate Burch as the only piercer. He works by appointment and is in the store every day except Monday, and after 3 p.m. He has his own studio above the store. "Nate has a clean, bright and very professional atmosphere," McWhinnie said. Along with the addition of a piercer, Persian may be able to bring in a tattoo artist once a week from Ogden, though this is not at all finalized yet. Persian has a varied clientele. The people coming in are either retrieving gifts for bridal showers, or are the young people from the university, the counterculture of Logan, or the curious passers-by. "There are things that are different about Persian. We also have more business with the funky clothing and body care plus merchandise variety," said store employee Sara Anderson. The store has remained an alternative stronghold in Logan, it has enhanced Roshan's life and in return she has been able to help others by having the store here, Roshan said. "Logan needs some shaking up. It is good to have someplace unique and different to fill that niche," McWhinnie said. What the new, major chain stores don't realize is "they are strangling the community feel. We are unique enough not to have any threat but other businesses are suffering. Local businesses are the heart of the working world in order to maintain that small town feel that people enjoy about Logan."
Store employees, from left, Sharon Senkalski, Nate Birch and Jessica McWhinnie. / Photo by Julie Sulunga
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