What makes Connie Bergman with Talloni Of Asheville a good neighbor?

In a world where retail businesses often struggle to maintain relevance and connection with their communities, Talloni of Asheville stands as a remarkable exception. The Good Neighbor Podcast recently featured owner Connie Bergman, whose journey from finance executive to boutique owner reveals how local businesses can become powerful forces for community good while offering exceptional products and experiences.

Connie's path to owning Talloni was anything but conventional. After spending twenty years in the finance industry, she was blessed with motherhood at age 42. When her daughter began pre-kindergarten, Connie found herself at a crossroads. Rather than returning to finance, she identified a gap in Asheville's retail landscape and decided to create something unique. Nearly two decades later, Talloni has become a fixture in the community, weathering economic downturns and natural disasters while maintaining its commitment to quality and service.

What makes Talloni special isn't just its impressive roster of luxury brands - Stuart Weitzman, Atulio Gusti, and Kate Spade among them - but its approach to customer relationships and community involvement. Connie emphasizes that despite carrying high-end products with shoes that can cost up to $700, the boutique maintains an accessible, neighborhood feel. Voted "best place to buy a gift," Talloni offers options at various price points, including $30 earrings. This diversity in pricing reflects Connie's understanding that luxury should be accessible in different ways to different customers.

The boutique's impressive longevity is reflected in its staff stability, with Connie's business manager having been with her for over 14 years and another associate - remarkably 80 years old - having served for 12 years. This continuity has allowed Talloni to build meaningful relationships with customers, many of whom have been shopping there since its opening. These relationships create a sense of community within the store itself, where customers are known by name and their stories and needs are remembered and valued.

Perhaps most impressive is Talloni's commitment to giving back to the Asheville community. Connie shares that she and her husband both "grew up with nothing" before finding success in their careers, giving them a deep appreciation for the importance of community support. This philosophy manifested powerfully after a recent hurricane, when Connie's relationship with Stuart Weitzman resulted in a personal $10,000 donation to the local YMCA that had provided shower facilities for residents without water. Additionally, the Coach Foundation sent $250,000 worth of merchandise to be distributed to people who had lost everything in the disaster.

Beyond her business success, Connie exemplifies work-life balance by prioritizing family time with her daughter and husband, caring for their four dogs (including two rescues), and enjoying Asheville's renowned food scene. Her personal story of overcoming hardship - being raised by a single mother who worked three jobs after Connie's father left when she was just two years old - informs her work ethic and values. These experiences taught her the importance of commitment and perseverance, lessons she's passing on to her 22-year-old daughter who is currently attending nursing school.

Talloni of Asheville, located in Biltmore Park inside the Hilton Hotel, has positioned itself as more than just a retail destination. It's part of a thriving district that has recently reached full occupancy after 20 years, featuring restaurants, a movie theater, and pedestrian-friendly spaces. Connie invites everyone to visit, emphasizing that there's never pressure to buy - the welcome and experience are what matter most. Through Talloni, Connie Bergman has created more than a boutique; she's built a community hub that elevates the concept of luxury retail by grounding it in authentic relationships and genuine community care.

To learn more about Talloni of Asheville go to:

https://www.talloniasheville.com/

Talloni of Asheville

828.681.5800