Debbie Wentzell had been selling insurance for years when it occurred to her that there was something missing from her professional life.
She wanted to own her own business.
It was a big step but in 2006, she opened Images Home Decor & Gifts in West Bradenton. On Wednesday, she will celebrate her second anniversary as a small-business owner.
"I'm very creative, I wanted to create from the bottom up," she explained. "I love owning my own store and everything that goes along with it. It's very satisfying, a real sense of pride. I'm working with things I love."
The business sells a variety of home decor items such as lamps, accessory furniture, wall decor, gift items, inspirational books and jewelry, said Wentzell, 50, of Bradenton.
Her business slogan is simple, tasteful, elegant.
Wentzell's primary focus is excellent customer service since her clients tend to be active, busy women who lead full lives and who are frequently short on time.
She enjoys pampering them.
"We try very hard to offer what the customer needs," said Wentzell. "People come with pictures of a shelf or room they want to accessorize, and we go around and give them advice."
Among the most popular items is a line of handcrafted aluminum serving pieces from Mariposa, such as barware, trays and napkin baskets. Handpainted wine glasses also are popular with her clients, as is the gift-wrap service the store provides.
Wentzell enjoys choosing what she will stock in the store and likes to chat with customers. Some of the challenges of running the business include long hours and a struggling economy, which makes retail sales particularly hard, she said. Still, revenues at the business have grown 10 percent over last year's, she said.
The store might even be benefitting from high gas prices since now, people clearly prefer to shop close to home, she said.
"I love her store," said long-time client Nancy Allen, a real estate agent for Wagner Realty. "It's really classy stuff but it's so affordable. You're not paying Williams-Sonoma prices or Pottery Barn prices, so you're getting good or better merchandise at a good price."
Sara Kennedy, Herald business reporter, can be reached at (941) 748-0411, ext. 4500.
Images Home Decor & Gifts
Location: 5917 Manatee Ave. W. #207, Pebble Springs Plaza
Founded: 2006
Owner: Debbie Wentzell
Employees: 2 part-time
Contact Information: (941) 795-4909, www.images homedecor.com
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@