In a small courtyard setting in the Scottsdale, AZ, suburb of Carefree, Denise Turner is building a successful business with Turn West Design.
She started the business three years ago as a 1,000-sq.-ft. design center for her own interior design business after spending 10 years working for Robb & Stuckey, the large furniture store group.
She added custom furniture, mostly case goods, and gave her store unique appeal with paintings from local artists, priced at $3,000 to $9,000. Because the Scottsdale area has heavy tourist traffic, Denise added candles and tabletop and other smaller items for that clientele to take with or ship.
Denise says a variety of IMAX products works particularly well in her store. She lists copper chargers, canisters, mirrors, large Italian-style jugs and lamps as items that sell well. The Southwest décor is complemented by many of the metal wall décor items in the IMAX catalog.
Much of the advertising for Turn West Design is word of mouth and she has an attractive web site, TurnWestDesign.com. Denise said there also is an upscale restaurant in the same courtyard so diners stroll and check out her front windows while they wait for tables. She has done limited print advertising in Cowboys and Indians magazine and has begun offering an online shopping experience.
Denise describes her core customer as sophisticated, professionals with disposable income, mixed with a goodly number of tourists. She keeps in touch with regular customers with personal notes.
One note: Turn West Design is closed the month of August. “It’s 114 degrees outside –nobody moves,” she said. She uses the time to catch up on her design business and rejuvenate herself for the fall season.
