Profile: EB and Co.
Great things happen when female friends collaborate: Life & Style editor Annie Austen tells the story of Emily Bordner’s success + brand-new Brookside shop.
Emily Bordner and Annie Austen.
Tucked into an 800 square foot Brookside shop there exists an accessory lovers paradise where leather bags, earrings, silky scarves, greeting cards, and so much more can be found. Since August of 2019, EB and Co. has been making Brookside that much more stylish with their wide array of accessories for the modern gal.
Prior to taking her side-hustle full time, EB and Co. founder Emily Bordner worked as a visual merchandising designer at Hallmark. Her time in the corporate world taught her lessons in retail merchandising that would come in handy as she made her way into the small business retail world. The opportunity to dip her toe into the brick-and-mortar waters came via the Made in KC Marketplace on the Country Club Plaza, where Emily said she “loved having a space to cultivate.”
“I wanted to build on that feeling, grow, and really show off the brand's vibe and personality more,” Bordner said. And so began the journey to grow into her own shop in the Brookside neighborhood.
Photo by Annie Austen
Providing a great shopping experience in addition to having unique and beautiful products has been central to EB and Co.’s vision. Interior Designer Kristin Rieke of Rak Design focused on making sure the space was as beautiful as it was functional, and incorporated gorgeous Instagram-worthy moments starting outside the shop. The large front window serves as a canvas for a Kelly Castor illustration of a lady casually lounging with a purse, statement earrings, and a silky scarf.
Once inside, the first thing most visitors notice is the gorgeous wall of rosy neutral hued abstract shapes. Commonly thought to be wallpaper, the wall is actually a custom hand-painted mural by Deplume Stationers. Shelves line this wall and display custom designed jewelry and Kansas City designed and manufactured leather purses. The opposite wall is home to a variety of barrettes, headbands, scrunchies, bows, clips, and other hair accessories.
Tables running down the center of the shop serve as the perfect spot to display statement earrings, bracelets, and more. Easily cleared, they also serve as a great space for workshops or events featuring other local businesses.
Peacock chairs are positioned at the back of the shop, in front of a dried floral installation by Hitched Planning + Floral. The chairs serve as the perfect spot for gals to snap a quick pic worthy of any social media platform. They’re also a great relaxation spot for the occasional weary shopper (or shopping buddy)!
Emily Bordner. Photo by Annie Austen
Creating and curating products that appeal to a variety of styles and different generations has driven Emily and EB and Co. to expand their inventory and seek out collaborative opportunities.
I personally have had the opportunity to collaborate on a few different projects with Emily through EB and Co. Most recently, I built a few collections of hand-picked statement earrings- a pearl collection, jeweled collection, and some holiday oriented collections as well! Emily sees these collaborations and projects as an opportunity to let local bloggers and influencers find or create what they feel is missing in the accessory department.
When working on our collections, Emily has encouraged me to go with my gut and pick items I genuinely love rather than trying to overanalyze and think too much about what others might like. Our pearl collection is a perfect example of a collection that was driven primarily by my style and aesthetic. As a long time vintage pearl jewelry lover, I was excited to see pearl earrings and other accessories hit the runway in modern ways in early 2019. By curating a collection with pieces that range from modern to vintage, I was able to reflect both my personal style as well as a new take on a jewelry box classic.
Photo by Annie Austen
Emily also collaborated with another local blogger/influencer, Shelby Ditch, to design the perfect pair of huggie hoops with just a bit of sparkle. Shelby wanted to create a staple pair of earrings that would perfectly accent any outfit, any day of the week. “When designing these earrings I had the everyday girl in mind. I love how versatile and dainty they are, and how I can wear them from the office to happy hour,” said Ditch of the design.
After their initial huggie hoop collaboration, Emily and Shelby decided to take the collection one step further and produce a tinted lip balm with fellow Brookside business, Skin KC. Shelby described the development process:
“When creating this lip balm I wanted something that would go with my everyday natural makeup routine. It needed to be moisturizing but also add a little bit of natural color. I think we nailed it with this product! The subtle scent of orange with that gorgeous pink tint makes for the most delicious lip balm (it's also a plus that it’s made with all natural ingredients).”
Photo by Anna Petrow
EB and Co. has forged a strong bond with the broader KC blogger/influencer community as well. Building these relationships has helped Emily connect with individuals who have their ear to ground when it comes to style trends, and has increased brand awareness across a diverse audience. Emily credits strong and authentic advocates as one of the main factors contributing to EB and Co.’s overall success as a brand.
Another way that EB and Co. works with the maker community is through frequent pop-ups featuring Kansas City-based small businesses. Everything from children’s clothing to candles, handmade shoes to cosmetics, and vintage rugs to other jewelry brands have been featured during these weekend events. EB and Co. hopes to continue these pop-ups, and plans to explore workshops and other types of events with Kansas City creatives in the future.
Whether you’re in the market for a gorgeous leather bag, a little something sparkly for date night, or a thoughtful gift for a friend, this Brookside gem has it all! You can follow EB and Co. on Instagram, Facebook, and via their email newsletter too! Pop by the shop at 326 W 63rd St, Monday through Saturday from 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm.
