WHILE the jury is still out on how the retail industry fared this Christmas season, one Dockyard store opened its doors during the holiday despite the spreading global economic recession.

Bellissima, owned and operated by Bermudian Jaime Dawson, came online for a 'soft opening' on December 20 with a varied selection of designer products for both women and men. And, thus far, business has been good.

"Business is going well so far," said Ms Dawson, who grew up in Southampton.

"The Christmas season was a good time to start, and once the cruise ships come in I expect to be doing even better."

Geared towards a clientele that appreciates well-made handbags and small accessories, the store's name, the Italian word for beautiful, personifies the type and quality of items offered for sale.

"I sell high-end designer handbags, small accessories including wallets, scarves, keyrings, belts, and sunglasses," Ms Dawson explained.

"The designers for the handbags and other small accessories are Gucci, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana. I want to expand in the future and bring in more brands, but the space is limited in my store in Dockyard, so I decided to just start with a few of the popular designers that aren't available anywhere else on the island.

"As for the sunglasses, I will be offering Gucci, Dior, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, and a few others."

One would think, however, that a store offering high-end products would naturally fit into the Hamilton shopping landscape.

Although with the upcoming 2009 cruise ship schedule moving away from Hamilton's port, the traditional shopping scene is sure to change as well. Other retailers, including Bermudian-owned Daisy & Mac, have recently entered the Dockyard market as well, looking to capitalise on the expected tourist arrivals.

"Initially, we wanted to open in Hamilton, for obvious reasons. That is where the shopping is!" said Ms Dawson. "Then after problems with finding a space, along the cost of being in town, we decided to look elsewhere. We applied for a place in Dockyard just before it was announced that all the ships would be going there in 2009. Good timing for us.

"The West End Development Corporation liked the idea of a designer store, so they offered me a space for the end of 2008. Being in Dockyard has proved to be a good decision. Wedco has given me a great start, and Joanna Cranfield, who is Wedco's Assistant Business Development Manager, has proved to be both accommodating and supportive."

At 24 years old, Ms Dawson is a young entrepreneur who was originally destined to become a preschool teacher. Having attended Mount St. Agnes Academy in Hamilton and Bermuda College, Ms Dawson graduated from the distance education programme of early childhood education with Mount Saint Vincent University.

After a few years in the field of education, however, Ms Dawson knew she had to make a move to follow her dreams in an entirely different direction. Seeing a niche market that wasn't readily available to Bermudians, she tapped into her love for fashion and with the help of her boyfriend, made her vision become reality.

"Just over a year ago, I decided that I wanted to do something different with my life. I had been teaching preschool for a few years, and although I loved the children, it just wasn't for me," she explained.

"My boyfriend, David, was actually the one to convince me to open a business. We toyed with a few ideas, and then the concept of a designer store came up and we ran with it."

Being a fashion-conscious buyer herself, Ms Dawson knew that there were others in Bermuda that were interested in couture clothing and handbags but had to leave the island to get them.

"I have always loved designer fashions," she said. "I have an appreciation for the beauty and creativity that the designers put into their work, and I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to allow others the opportunity to buy and enjoy such items without having to leave the island."

Setting up the business, though, wasn't just an idea that came to fruition easily and Ms Dawson relied on her support system to guide her through the obstacles.

"There were times that I wanted to give up; starting a business is not an easy task," she said. "David kept me going though; his help was vital to the store's development and his support was exactly what I needed to put it all together. I couldn't have done it without him."

Next up for Bellissima is a scheduled renovation period when the store will be closed until January 15.

Designer handbag shoppers shouldn't despair though because Ms Dawson is planning a grand opening in January where fashionistas can take a sneak peak at the spring and summer 2009 Gucci line and peruse the stores offerings.

For more information about Bellissima, call 735-5595 or visit during store hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday in the Clock Tower Mall.