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Establishing a Retail Destination
Several years ago, J. Banks design turned the warehouse where the company stored its furniture and accessories, into a retail showroom. “Our clients were always begging us to go into the warehouse,” recalls Vanderslice. “Finally we thought, why not just open it to the public?”
Today, the retail showroom has become the face of
J. Banks design, a place where prospective clients
can get a sense of the company’s aesthetic, where past clients can shop for a few pieces to refresh their home or to give as a gift, and even where other designers
can find a few pieces needed to complete a project. The 3,000-square-foot retail space includes furniture, including Vanderslice’s own licensed lines for EJ Victor and Stanford Furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, rugs and more.
Just like J. Banks Design has created spaces that reflect the unique personalities of its occupants, or that embody the special attributes of its location, the retail showroom expresses the personality of the design firm.
Simply put, says Vanderslice, “It’s our living room.” ■ For more information, visit J. Banks Design Group at
jbanksdesign.com or call 843.681.5122. Images courtesy of J. Banks Design Group
An Essential Resource
J. Banks clients are able to try out a chair or
feel a fabric in the design firm’s retail showroom; similarly, Vanderslice says that the showrooms at AmericasMart are essential for sourcing products for their commercial and residential projects.
“It’s so important to see and touch the product, especially to understand the scale,” she says.
What’s more, the halls of AmericasMart have become invaluable resources for unique products. “We find accessories and lighting through some
of the smaller booths and showrooms; we never would have known about them if we only attended shows for the contract furnishings industry. I love being able to see everything that can make a project special and amazing: antiques, sculptural elements, lighting, and unique accessories.”
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