Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Buxkamper.
Rachel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career in the fashion industry, as an assistant buyer for Neiman Marcus. I went through the ranks with buying positions in both the fashion and home areas, as well as buying for both store and web divisions, and as VP, Divisional Merchandise Manager over the Horchow brand and the home decor division of Neiman Marcus’ catalog and web business. A talented group of buyers and I traveled the globe – to Italy, Portugal, France, Indonesia, the Philippines and China – to develop and source product.
At the 20-year mark of my career with NM I decided to take a break and do something different. Local non-profit Dwell with Dignity had captured my heart, as a sort of “gift” to myself, I decided to leave NM to help DwD establish a new position of Development Director. With some amazing teammates and founder Lisa Robison, I got to leverage my business strategy skills, feed my interest in interior design, and see the impact of good design firsthand through the homes we designed for families transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.
While at Dwell with Dignity, I met AD100 interior designer Jan Showers. She was on our board, and we connected right away. When it was time for my DwD “sabbatical” to come to an end, Jan let me know that she wanted to create a new position over her growing furniture and lighting collection. I took on the new challenge, and I learned how interior design and “to the trade” business models work from the “inside out.” And I was exposed to some outstanding design talent as a perk!
In late 2017 I left my last corporate position (with At Home Group), to pursue interior design and decorating full-time, and I haven’t had a moment to even look back since!
Has it been a smooth road?
Transitioning from a large corporation to small companies was a learning experience that I would not trade. It was invaluable to have the ability to develop strategies across multiple areas – marketing, ecommerce, product development, PR, sales management, fiscal planning – when you work for a small business, you do it all! While it was trying to realize there was no IT department, or no one to write copy for the website…it provided a breadth of experience that resonated with me. I found that I had an entrepreneurial spirit that thrived on “figuring it out” — on finding a problem or an opportunity — and going about working on a solution.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with TATE studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company is called TATE | studio and I provide interior decorating, organizing and holiday decorating services. I have both residential and commercial projects, and a few contract employees who have enabled the business to grow quickly.
We believe that good design does not have to be intimidating, and that it should be accessible and flexible. I do not operate on the traditional designer model of sourcing only to-the-trade product and working on markup. I charge a competitive hourly rate, and I pass discounts on to my clients. I shop everywhere – high-end trade showrooms, big box retailers, local shops, the Dallas Market Center, local workrooms, and even Target and Home Goods! I believe it is about the mix, and that we do not have to spend every penny on decor for a home to look terrific. Sometimes you don’t need to buy a thing – you just need help re-styling what you have. And I absolutely love supporting local and other original artists. Art is much more accessible than people think, and I love connecting clients and artists!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Dallas has such a broad range of styles and talent. My clients are as varied as our neighborhoods – from Lakewood to Preston Hollow, to Oak Cliff to University Park to White Rock Lake – each area has a unique vibe, and the shops and artisans to fit. I love shopping in smaller local stores like Birchwood, Tallulah and Hess, Caitlin Wilson, Favor the Kind, Roam, Coco and Dash and Scout Design Studio. And I love that we have not only the Dallas Market Center here, but we also have amazing brands like Arteriors, Wisteria, Global Views, and Sutherland all based in Dallas. That gives designers and clients unique access to some incredible deals as these brands have occasional sample and warehouse sales, I also love the local art scene in Dallas, and the overall entrepreneurial spirit of the city.
Pricing:
- Initial Design Consultation $100
- Hourly Design Rate $75.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thetatestudio.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @tate_studio
- Facebook: @TATEstudio
Image Credit:
All images Kelly Christine Photo
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
