Many of us have fond memories of retail establishments that wowed us, leaving indelible marks of excitement on our hearts. Some recall the magic of Hudson’s in Detroit; others remember the windows and visual experiences along Manhattan’s storied avenues. Wherever these memories were born, the heart never forgets great visuals and exceptional service.

As many of my readers and longtime clientele know, we never intended to build a retail arm into our business. Several factors gently persuaded us to delve into retail commerce. After spending tens of thousands of dollars with local shops that offered lackluster service, we dove deep into the world of retail ourselves. Fortunately for us, we have a distinct voice and eye that attract many to our business. Equally as important as the objects we assemble for sale is the baked-in ethos of good old-fashioned retail service and experience.

We strive to make every turn and every corner a discovery of inspiration. Creating the feeling of stepping out of one’s everyday world when shopping here has always been our goal. Magic is beginning to disappear from the retail world. We all love Amazon and social platform shopping, but we must ensure there is always room for destination brick-and-mortar experiences.

Built out from our landscape office location, our shoppes became repositories for our Bowerbird activities. We seek out things and objects that we love. We have built and designed experiential environments for a true destination retail experience. People want to visit and shop with us, making the effort to drive to our design campus. For some, the trek is Herculean—traveling across the state—and many others come from even farther away to experience fleurdetroit. These are good pressures to have. We keep things fresh and thrilling, and our adoring client base is happy.

We take great pride in everything we do across every department of fleurdetroit. Many of our clients and longstanding customers have become fixtures in our lives and in the lives of our staff. These relationships, both new and old, are the secret to maintaining a “golden age” retail experience. A sense of belonging is innately ingrained in many of us. Testimonials often proclaim the same sentiment upon walking through the gates: “This is my happy place!” People are warmly welcomed and genuinely made to feel they are in a space where magic happens.

For other retail establishments, commerce can become too formulaic and, often, boring. We have found that although we meticulously plan and adhere to budgets for each segment, our magic comes from spontaneity and creative zeal. We are businesspeople and have grown sharper over the years, yet we do not lose the creative magic that has propelled our brand into a new world of retail. Old-school retailers like Hudson’s and Bergdorf’s have always been our beacons of truth and continuity. Their teams and management were trailblazers of experiential retail. Aspirational products in aspirational environments with superb service seem simple enough, yet most cannot achieve it—let alone maintain the magic.

Labor pools, financial commitments, and, in our industry, cultivating a unique voice can all be difficult barriers to entry. Staffing in most markets can be tricky. For any business, friendly, qualified staff can make or break a customer’s experience. We are fortunate that our reputation now attracts people who truly want to be part of our story. Our business thrives, and our clients feel our genuine commitment to being good community members.

Our immersive displays, dedicated staff, keen design insights, discretion, and, of course, regimented follow-through have nurtured and grown a zealous and discerning clientele. We never say we are lucky, for we have worked hard to build the reputation, environment, and business that attract and sustain success. Of course, we embrace social platforms and always stay current. With our solidly rooted brick-and-mortar operation, we feel confident we will continue to offer customers an experience that is rare in today’s world of commerce.

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