The gift of giving: Authentique sells a mix of new merchandise, vintage goods and handmade items

Nestled on the southwest corner of First Street and Nees Avenue, walking into Authentique entices your senses. You smell lavender and honey; you see vibrant colors; you feel comfortable and cozy.

Owned by Janice Helman, Authentique sells a mix of new merchandise, vintage and vintage-inspired goods, gifts, French-inspired home décor and handmade items. The hard-to-say name is a combination of the words “authentic” and “boutique.”

“Say ‘authentic’ and then say ‘Authentique.’ It’s French for authentic,” Helman said with a laugh.

Born and raised in Fresno, Helman went to school in Sanger before earning a degree in fashion merchandising from Fresno State.

In the late 1980s, Helman and her sister, Kathy Merlo, owned and operated a retail store for five years in Fig Garden Village.

When Helman got married, she decided to take a break from work to start a family. After a handful of years passed, she realized Fresno needed a specialty boutique.

“I love antiques. I love retail,” Helman said of her two passions.

With an idea planted, Helman took a few years to develop her inventory — traveling to estate sales and antique shops, and putting her degree to work. Her goal was to open Authentique by age 50. With a month to spare, she reached her goal.

In September 2013, Authentique filled the vacant space between Sushi Day and Sunsational Tans.

Cabinets, tables and walls are covered with new merchandise like jewelry, scarves, body products by Pré de Provence and Savannah Bee Company, candy bars and truffles by Seattle Chocolates, candles and the Kit-Cat Clock.

“I’m the only one in Fresno to sell the famous Kit-Cat Clock,” Helman said.

In 1932, during the Great Depression, the Kit-Cat Clock was developed by the Allied Clock Company. Now, the line of collectible, animated clocks include Kitty Cat, Lady Kit-Cat and various colors.

“They’re highly collectible,” Helman said. “I’m very proud to carry the Kit-Cat Clock.”

Prices start around $59.99 for the Kit-Cat Clock.

“I’m also proud of my price,” Helman added. “I want my prices to be fair.”

Going along with her logic, Authentique offers complimentary gift wrapping.

“I get a lot of customers who want a quick, little gift because we offer complimentary gift wrapping,” Helman said.

To make sense of Authentique, her inventory is divided into collections that change with seasons and holidays. Right now, it’s Bohemian Spring — “a potpourri of colors and styles,” Helman said.

Seaside Americana and Country Kitchen will follow after Bohemian Spring.

“I change collections frequently,” she said.

But having been to France a number of times, Helman loves and adores French-inspired home décor.

In fact, she studied French for five years.

Her inventory also includes handmade items like greeting cards by Leilani-Wing Shimizu, booklets by Elizabeth Knapp and invitations by Bella Carta Invitations.

Helman knows Allyson Adams, owner and designer of Bella Carta Invitations, from Not Just Paper in Fig Garden Village. Helman was a frequent customer who admired Adams’ personalized creations.

“She does exceptional work,” Helman said. “She works fast. She can do embellishments — rhinestones, glitter.”

Like Adams, Doris Simonian has know Helman for nearly two decades. In the early 2000s, they worked together at Kris Kringle & Co. in Fig Garden Village.

“It has been a joy. A pure pleasure,” Simonian said about working with Helman again. “It’s fun to come to work.”

“I have an excellent staff. So friendly. We work very well together,” Helman added. “We’re like a sisterhood.”

“I’m their mother,” Simonian said.

“No, you’re a sister,” Helman interjected.

When Helman isn’t working at Authentique, she’s with her two sons, 23-year-old Alex and 21-year-old Austin, and husband of 27 years, Don.

Together, they live in a redwood-stained house — overlooking the San Joaquin River — with five cats and a rat named Oliver.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, Authentique is offering an incentive to shop. Now until Saturday, May 7, receive a gift when you spend $50 or more — just in time for Mother’s Day.

GO: Authentique, 7751 N. First Ave., Fresno.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "The gift of giving: Authentique sells a mix of new merchandise, vintage goods and handmade items."