by ATLANTA — Ballard Designs, a multichannel home decor and furniture design company based in Atlanta, plans to open its first Design Studio in West Palm Beach, Florida, later this summer. It’s part of a longer term, multistate expansion, the company said.
The new Ballard store is designed as a studio concept that will provide customers with furniture and decor and a streamlined process for what the company describes as “design individuality and customization.”
Unlike a traditional Ballard store, which typically stocks a wide range of products that customers can buy and take home right away, the Design Studio will offer customers a one-on-one experience. An onsite team of professional design consultants will help customers bring their home ideas to life and will provide a streamlined process for ordering and installation. The Design Studio team will also assist local trade professionals with their clients’ needs.
The 2,500-square-foot studio will feature lifestyle vignettes of Ballard’s most popular furniture; fabric, rug and finish samples from Ballard’s entire assortment; and accessories, books, pillows and throws customers can purchase and carry out “for an immediate home impact,” according to the company. Ballard already has two retail locations in Florida.
Ballard Designs is also expanding its footprint of brick-and-mortar stores across key U.S. markets. By early 2023, it plans to open new stores in Austin, Texas; and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; and will relocated a store in Jacksonville, Florida. This follows store launches in Nashville, Tennessee, in late 2020 and in Houston in early 2021.
“Not only do we plan to service existing, loyal customers, but we’re looking to attract a whole new audience that’s passionate about home decor in untapped areas of the country,” said Karen Mooney, Ballard Designs president.
Ballard uses several store formats, including large stores with a wide range of products; medium stores with a selection of the company’s best products; outlets, and now studios that focus on one-on-one design consulting.
Founded in 1982, Ballard Designs is part of Qurate Retail Group, which includes the retail brands QVC, HSN, Zulily, Frontgate, Garnet Hill and Grandin Road.
