Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Howell.
Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was asked to have my home on the Rowlett Women’s League Christmas tour of homes in 2001. During the home tour, I had so many people ask if I would come and help decorate their homes. I was a stay at home mom at the time and wanted a creative outlet and possibly a small income, and so Vintage Home was born. I began by gathering one of a kind things and painting pieces of furniture and setting up at shows (Chi Omega Christmas Market, Neath the Wreath Plano Junior League, and Aspasians art festival in Rockwall). That led to design work for clients and a retail space in a small house in downtown Rowlett that was open once a month and by appointment.
In the meantime, I got requests for some wedding planning and ended up going to UT Arlington and getting certified for wedding and event planning/coordination, so I closed the Rowlett shop and focused on design work and wedding design and coordination for several years. I really began to miss the retail side of things and the thrill of the hunt for one of a kind pieces and opened a space in Frisco Mercantile in 2013. When I had only been there 1 year, I got the opportunity to open a storefront on the downtown Main Street in Wylie, Texas. I had originally looked on the downtown square in Rockwall, but nothing was available.
When I had been at the Wylie location for exactly a year, a perfect space on the corner on the historic downtown square in Rockwall came available and I was incredibly fortunate to get the space. My husband and I had sold our home in Rowlett and were moving to Rockwall about the time-space came available, so it was the perfect timing. That was almost 4 years ago, and I am still in my great location on the square and doing design work as well.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Retail is a tough industry. In the years I have been doing this so much has gone to online shopping. Even though we have a website for online shopping it is difficult to keep up with that and the storefront, not to mention client work outside of the store.
Also, since I am on a thriving downtown square there is always competition, so I have to stay on my toes to keep different and unique merchandise that the other shops don’t have. I always try to find merchandise that other stores don’t have and keep the prices reasonable, and that is a challenge.
Vintage Home – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Vintage Home is a mixture of cottage, farmhouse and industrial style home décor. I also have a small and unique selection of ladies clothing and jewelry. The store is all neutral colors, so it is very soothing and a calming atmosphere. As I mentioned in a previous comment, I really try to keep our merchandise different and well priced.
I love that customers comment that our shop always smells amazing and prices are great. We offer great customer service and love offering our customers help with putting things together for their home.
Contact Info:
- Address: 102 N. San Jacinto, Rockwall, Texas 75087
- Website: www.shopvintagehome.com
- Phone: 469-314-1164
- Email: vintagehomedesigns@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintagehomedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vintagehomedesigns/
Image Credit:
Meggie Taylor Photography
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