ONTARIO — Becky Sipe started PurseSnickety exactly one year after learning her breast cancer was in remission.

“I didn’t even think it would last longer than three to five months because I was only getting rid of some of my own stuff,” Sipe said.

The “stuff” was glassware and collectibles she kept through the years. Sipe hoped the money she earned from selling it would offset some of the insurance bills.

Then the store grew. When she ran out of her stuff she started reconnecting with a friend in California. That led to to selling off-brand purses. Then she named the store: PurseSnickety.

“Our first big vendor that took a chance on us was Vera Bradley. That kind of put us more into a, ‘Oh I guess we’re going to continue to do this,’” she said, chuckling.

The store continued to grow, until 10 years later when the women’s boutique in Lexington blossomed to two additional stores in Ontario and Wooster, a bakery and 22 employees between the affiliated establishments.

When she started, the store had an inventory amounting to $5,000. The stores currently carry nearly $350,000 worth of clothing, purses, jewelry and various small furniture.

Sipe continues to travel seven times per year to cities like Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta to seek the newest and hottest brands.

“We always want to find new brands. There isn’t anywhere around here that carries the brands we carry. We wanted to be exclusive in brands. That’s the reason we go to these places,” she said. “We invest our time and money to bring the best products to Mansfield.”

It’s that service-oriented ethic that drives the what PurseSnickety is today, she said.

“We offer great products, but it’s primarily relationship building. It’s about people and the relationship. When we hire, we look for people who relate well. Sometimes we even pray for people who walk in,” she said. “Ultimately, I hope they leave our store and have a great experience regardless if they buy anything.”

Giving back

The relationships that have grown over the years, with coworkers and customers alike, inspired Sipe to throw a party Saturday, Oct. 15.

The day marks PurseSnickety’s 10-year anniversary — it also marks Sipe’s eleventh year being cancer-free.

“I want to celebrate the success with breast cancer and support women going through it right now,” Sipe said, adding she knows the tribulation it causes.

“The hardest part for me was not knowing if I would live to see my children grow up,” she said. Sipe and her husband, Todd, have been married 26 years and have two children in their 20s.

“And then going through chemotherapy … that was, yeah,” she said, trailing off. “My advantage is I was younger.”

She said most of the women who were going through treatment were elderly. Sipe was 48 when she underwent therapy.

The celebration, lasting throughout the day, will raise money and awareness for the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund. The store will sell raffles for a chance to win select name-brand purses from Fossil, Louis Vuitton and Hobo.

A disc jockey from WVNO will play tunes from the 70s and 80s throughout the day and all clothing in the store will de discounted 30 percent.

“It’s our birthday, but you get all the presents,” Sipe said, smiling.

The store will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It closes Sunday and reopens Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit its website and Facebook page.