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November 5, 2007
Would Bed Stuy Benefit from Luxury Bed / Bath Store?
Hi Brownstoners,
My husband and I live in Bed Stuy on Halsey Street and are tossing around the idea of opening up a luxury bed and bath linen store somewhere in the neighborhood. We are thinking of offering designers like Frette, Sferra Brothers as well as lesser known brands that offer Egyptian Cotton sheets with high thread count at slightly discounted prices. My question is, would our neighborhood benefit from having this business? I'm not even sure of having a retail space, I may just advertise on this site to the right and take orders from a home office.
What do you think? Honest opinions are appreciated...even if you think this idea would not work.
Thanks, Brownstoners.
Comments
My husband and I live on Putnam and would love a store like that...too bad we're moving to San Fran for my job!
We're addicted to Frette sheets.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:46 AM
I live on Halsey too, and I'd definitely shop at your store! Bed-Stuy could use a dose of luxury. What location do you think you would open in, if you proceed?
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:58 AM
So, how much are these frette sheets?
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:58 AM
OP here.
Thank you so much for our comments - keep them coming.
10:58 - 2, I am attaching a link to a webiste that offers some pics and pricing of the Frette Hotel Collection.
10:58 - 1, I am not sure of where I would open the store and in all honesty, I think I would start from home and go by appointment so I don't get into a lease situation until I know it would be succesful as they do require minmum orders. I would be setting this up without a business loan so overhead is a major concern.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:04 AM
sounds good can you email me at imcwil1065@aol.com so i can give you some other information
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:04 AM
http://www.pioneerlinens.com/frettehotel
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:05 AM
The idea for the same kind of business has been rolling around with me for years, as well. I just never had the wherewithal to do anything about it. I do custom bedding, pillows and tabletop and other home furnishing items from my home, so if this is something you are serious about, and need some other local imput or even potential vendors or partners, please contact me, as well. I have over 20 years in the home furnishings design industry.
montrosemorris@yahoo.com.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:21 AM
Buying sheets is a fairly rare occurance for me. I don't see how a local store could make a living selling items that even high end households would only buy once a year at absolute most unless it sold a lot of other things as well.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at November 5, 2007 11:23 AM
OP here again,
Mrs. Limestone,
Your point presents my hesitation is actually renting out a retail space and going the home office route while advertising on this website.
The other thing I thought about was also offering decorative / ornamental plaster molding since we are a brownstone neighborhood and very few are move-in ready. I really want to find something special to offer the neighborhood.
Thanks everyone and please keep posting.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:33 AM
Yes, Luxury Store = Luxurious Robbery. Great for Bed Stuy residents - Those that need high end places to rob.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:13 PM
I don't think that store would even work in Park Slope. Those sheets are expensive. The molding, brownstone improvement angle sounds more feasible.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:25 PM
i live in clinton hill and would love to shop in such a store in nearby bed stuy. i would be less inclined to shop without a retail space, though i realize that would lower your overhead considerably.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:26 PM
my mother always said if you dont have anything positive to say keep you dam mouth shut so we will never know what an ass hole you are, as if to say all stores in Bed-Stuy get robbed.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:31 PM
For some years, I ran a contemporary fine art gallery out of the parlor floor of my PLG home. The works I sold ranged in price from the mid hundreds to low five figures. As you are contemplating, I self-financed this business and it was tricky proposition staying afloat. I held gallery hours on the weekends and by appointments because it my was my full-time gig that provided the capital for the business. After about three years of blood, sweat and tears, the business really started to get some legs. But, then came 9/11. The economy took a nose dive and the rest is history.
My point is this: For a good while, I was definitely able to run a "high end" business out of my home in the "hood." It took time to build a steady customer base, but clearly, one existed -- and still exists! Had I had a partner, and/or investors or bank financing, or a spectacular terrorist attack had not occurred in NYC while the business was still in its toddlerhood, maybe my story would have been different. But I know enough to know that with the right combination of wits, creativity, timing, marketing, capital, etc., you can run that the business out of your home in Bed Stuy. And contrary to the ignorant theories mouthed by 12:13, not once was there an attempted robbery of my business or home during this period.
BTW, you might also want to check out the history of "African Home," a fabulous art/craft/interior design business that was run out a Bed Stuy home on Decatur street for many years back in the late 80's -early 90's. I don't know why it closed, but it had a pretty good run for a while.
I say go for it! If you start it, I, for one, would certainly come over from PLG to patronize your business.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:43 PM
wow, people really pay $600 for a set of sheets? i guess if there is a market for that, more power to you!
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 1:17 PM
Bed and bath stores always sell more than just sheet sets. The OP can offer top of bed: duvet/comforter sets, as well as decorative pillows, throws, draperies and curtains and rugs. In the bathroom there are towels, shower curtains, bath accessories: wastebaskets, toothbrush holders, tissue box covers, etc. She could offer custom and interior design, as well as special order items such as beds, tables, chairs, lighting, hardware, even tiles, fixtures. Then there is tabletop, which can lead into anything used in a dining room.
Go for it - you would only be limited by what you want to do. If you keep your inventory small, arrange to be able to special order everything else (with a quick turnaround), and offer a lot of personal care and custom attention, you can create a wonderful business. Very successful companies such as Waterworks started small and grew to the successes they are.
Good luck.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at November 5, 2007 1:53 PM
I don't think that bed-stuy is ready to support that kind of store if its a retail venue. I would look to Ft. Green as an example. It can barely support its one home store. But if it's a home-based business without walk-in customers, you're considering, it doesn't matter where you are. You can sell them online via amazon store or ebay stores and you can advertise all over the web. Good Luck. I think being your own boss is the key to happiness, even if you work harder.
Posted by: CrownGardener at November 5, 2007 4:23 PM
I think you should talk to the wonderful woman who opened up IBO Landing on Tompkins between Hancock and Jefferson and is closing at the end of the month. ALSO, post on the bed-stuy blog if you haven't already. I live in bed-stuy and would LOVE love love to go into your store and buy what I could (and would even love it more to have it in the neighborhood), but honestly, I am in the process of buying sheets right now and I just got some on overstock.com for cheap - that is what I can afford because the rest of my money is going into moldings - NOW THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD (and do) BUY.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 5:38 PM
As much as I would love to see such a high-end store in Bed-Stuy, I think it would be better to think about what the neighborhood needs - not what you want to sell. There are few things more wonderful than a Frette bathrobe, but will you have many repeat customers?
If you could do it in your home, I would say go for it, but with the added overhead of a retail space, I'm sad to say that I don't think it would work.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 8:39 PM
OP here,
Brownstoners, you all rock!!!
Thanks so much, I appreciate all of your feedback and based on what you have to say, I have come up with a wonderful idea that will serve all of us looking to dress up our homes and I know it will work. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please continue to respond to my question as I came up with my home run idea based on what you have to say. All will be revealed in early Spring and I will be running this business as a strore from my home open on Saturdays and Sundays only and during the week by appointment only.
Again, please keep the comments coming so I can bring us what we all need and want on a luxury level. Thanks, guys:)
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:07 PM
good luck thats what we are here for
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:24 PM
It would be wonderful to have a store in to browse and dream in -- some place to indulge yourself when the renovation gets too much. Even better to have a store that stocks things that Bstone owners need--mouldings, tin ceilings, cool fixtures, how to books---maybe even have a support group and workshop (for paint stripping..?)---ok now I probably am dreaming
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at November 5, 2007 10:34 PM
Thank you, to the PLG former gallery owner, for sharing his story. Very interesting!
There was a famous gallery owner with his longtime gallery on Rogers in PLG who was an early champion of now world famous African American painters, who died recently. You must have known him.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:49 PM
I am a designer of High End Residential Interiors. A High End Bed and Bath Shop will be difficult anywhere park slope, brooklyn heights, dumbo, tribeca, soho,... you get the picture.
In my opinion, you should build a strong client base first then open your shop. And because it would be difficult anywhere, why not open in Bedstuy? your overhead would be much lower. I live in Bedstuy and Love it.
Carole's Daughter started from her home and Bedstuy and it grew into a very profitable national business - That is to say that you can do it, but do not delude yourself - even the well monied is loathe to spend large amounts on certain items therefore variety would be key in both the merchandise selection and the range of "luxury" price points. It is always best to 'handle' these items that way you hook folks.
For homework, take a 1st hand look at theses stores that do Luxury Bed and Bath Very well:
ABC Home 5th Floor
Calypso Home on Lafayette Street
And yes the neighborhood would benefit from it.In any case best of Luck and Skill to you. I'll keep an eye out for your ad and or grand opening.
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 4:06 AM
i'm very excited about your idea. i think it if you can incorporate bath products, that would be great. in bed stuy, you'll be the only store offering luxury bed and bath drawing your bed stuy, clinton hill, fort greene (and other brooklyn neighbors), eventually you may become a true destination. hey, people travel from all over to aj madison for appliances.
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 10:13 AM
OP here again,
4:06 - thank you for your comment and Carole's Daughter example, very inspirational as I remember her store on Dekalb and now I see her products in Sephora.
I should have been a little bit more clear on the "luxury" front - I am a firm believer that we are all entitled to a little luxury from time to time as we work so hard for our money. That being said, luxury is different for everyone - for some it does mean sleeping on $500 sheets but for me, one of my favorite luxury indulgences is a $12 bar of soap from Takashimaya. My point is that luxury does not have to cost a lot of money. $12 is a lot of money for a bar of soap but that's what you spend on two cups of coffee these days unfortunately so it doesn't have to break the bank.
You guys are all so wonderful and giving in your opinions and advice. I promise I won't let you down when I open up and I will re-post closer to our "grand opening" to gather email addresses so I can send everyone invitations to join us for another little luxury, a glass or two of wine after a long day at work and you can walk through and see and touch everything that I will have to offer. I'm so excited:)
In the mean time, please continue to post what you think we need like 10:34 suggesting workshops (thanks HomeSweetStuy). I want to be the weekend destination for Brownstone Brooklyn!!!
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 12:26 PM
4:06 here.
I love your idea. Feel free to contact me. design@hmia.net We could exchange ideas more freely.
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 1:03 PM
I suggest you open a supermarket.
Posted by: donatella at November 6, 2007 5:11 PM
11:49, PLG ex-art gallery owner here. You are talking about Lawrence Dorsey! Dorsey ran a framing business and gallery in the PLG community which he grew over the into a true arts institution. When Dorsey would have an exhibition opening, it was always more like a family party. Tons of people, food and drink and lots of great spirit. At Dorsey's you would never encounter the kind of snobbery and forced pretentiousness that is too often the norm in the NYC art scene. He was a master framer and gallerist who will definitely be missed! For more about Dorsey and his gallery, check out this link: http://www.newsday.com/news/obituaries/ny-nydors145412385oct14,0,1767253.story
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 9:56 PM
I just moved in to Bed Stuy from Mnhattan a few months ago....bought a brownstone. Ive also been thinking of how could invest some money in a retail business there. I'm concerned because I don't see a lot of crowded nights in the three higher end dining establishment...Bassam, Brooks Valley and Solomon's Porch; although Solomon's does get some very crowded nights.
I was thinking along the lines of "what does the neighborhood need" and have come up more along the lines of a hgher end food/meat/produce outlet. Manhattan literally supports two small grocers on a block but the hi rise density is higher there. The Food Town actually has a fantastic offering of everything so I'm not sure yet what will work
An more thoughts out there on this???? I'm looking for a partner on something and I can be the financial backing.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 12, 2007 8:29 AM
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