No matter the industry, it’s no secret that any woman who wants to stay on the top of the proverbial mountain of success must always be reinventing herself or her brand. If you don’t believe me, just look at two of the most successful pop icons of our time – Madonna and Taylor Swift. Both women have gone through multiple “eras” throughout their career to provide their fans and followers new iterations of their craft. Haven’s Furniture owner and operator Angie Balderson, seven-time Best of Mount Pleasant winner, has been taking notes.
In fact, in their nine years in business, Balderson has gone from a 1,500-square-foot showroom of consigned high-end furniture to over 25,000 square feet of highly sought after new pieces with locations book-ending the Lowcountry in Summerville and in North Mount Pleasant. Although the business model has changed, one thing has always remained the same and that is Balderson’s personal belief that high-end doesn’t have to be high-priced. In fact, it was through her experience sourcing pieces for her own home that she discovered that most furniture and home décor stores were short on selection and customer service but high in terms of price. To combat this, she developed a model in this industry that eliminates the additional fees that most outfitters pass along to their customers, allowing her to sell for 20-50 percent less than others. By selling today’s new favorites directly from her showroom floor, both she and her team of interior design professionals can affordably solve most shoppers’ needs the exact same day. With seven consecutive wins in her category for the Best of Mount Pleasant, I would say they’ve done just that.
However, she’s not one to rest on her laurels – or rest at all for that matter. As a recent empty-nester, Balderson has now found herself with additional time on her hands since her daughter and inspiration, Haven, is off at Clemson University chasing her own dreams. This additional time has allowed Balderson to once again inspect the competitive landscape, leading her to the newest addition to the Haven’s brand, appropriately called The Retreat. Located in The Market at Oakland Shopping Center near their other Mount Pleasant location, The Retreat gives special attention to the spaces in your home that you retreat to. From beautiful pieces for your bedroom to other gathering places around your home such as your dining room and outdoor living space, this new concept pays close attention to both the homeowner and their guests.
When asked what makes this location special compared to the others, Balderson commented, “It’s not supposed to be ‘more’ special. It’s supposed to make furniture shopping easier. By segmenting out specific items for our customers’ homes, we are improving the entire furniture and decor shopping experience. That’s why we’re here – to make lives easier and more affordable.”
I can cheers to that.
By Rhetta Cloyd
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