Business Spotlight
Boutique Offers Artistic Variety, By Maureen Alexander, Correspondent
At Artifacts Boutique, 1012 Main St. there is something for just about everyone. According to Liz Finegan, the owner of Artifacts, the commodities displayed there are "something different" and "off the beaten path."

Finegan, an artist by trade, said she uses her network of different local artists, featuring and selling their work in her store. For instance, she carries handmade beaded jewelry and employs a beadier who does custom pieces upon request. For Valentine's Day, the featured works of art revolve around a theme of romance, from cherubs to nudes. Similarly, she is to have a psychic doing readings about romance and love.

While a student at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Finegan's design of a hand-painted silk bonnet was featured on the CBS-TV Easter Parade. In addition to being a painter and sculptor, she designs one-of-a-kind hats & headpieces in her back-room workshop. During Halloween, she stays busy creating custom costumes, while a make-up artist does professional make-up, Finegan said.

Finegan has been in business for 10 years, but the address of Artifacts Boutique has changed several times. Starting out in Asbury Park, the moving to Bradley Beach, the store arrived on 10th Avenue in Belmar five years ago. Finegan and her husband, Sean, moved the store to Main Street two and a half years ago, doubling the space size, allowing them to add additional merchandize and fitting rooms, and enjoy more street traffic from the main street thoroughfare", Finegan said

It's good to create the right atmosphere to shop in, like music that makes for comfortable shopping," Finegan said of her business philosophy. "There is also a flow to life-treat people well, offer beautiful pieces at good prices, and everyone prospers."

The store is an emporium of merchandise that runs the gamut, from toys starting at $6 to prom dresses and evening wear, which are discounted 20 percent off the retail price. But these are not run-of-the-mill department store goods.

In addition to the contemporary sportswear and romantic (she carries in plus sizes), Finegan offers a variety of cotton and wool sweaters, hats, silk scarves, evening bags, sterling and costume jewelry. There is also an eclectic offering of gift items including antique-style frames and mirrors, prints, collage and paintings.

Artifacts Boutique is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. For more information, call (732) 681-2002