Creative Curators

Rich Designs Home in Colorado Springs, Colo., showcases the discriminating taste and creative flair of owners Rich Schell (standing in photo at right) and Greg Wragge, in a successful furnishings retail and design business that does double duty as a fine art gallery and floral design boutique. A consignment shop off-site handles slow movers and special finds. Partners for more than 25 years, both men admit to being very dedicated to the two businesses, “very driven, constantly working, thinking and doing.”

The retail gallery had its early beginnings as a florist shop, the result of a lifelong passion for Schell, who began working in flower shops at age 13. Fresh cut flowers and “over-the-top” arrangements are but one of the owners' specialties, evidenced by the number of private parties and charitable events their floral designs have brought to life. Schell and Wragge also use their floral displays to dress up the shop's home decor collections and interiors.

“We've had people who will just walk in because they're having a rough day or bring a sack lunch and ask if they can just eat lunch in one of the galleries because they love the environment,” Wragge said. “It's like someone's living room that you love to visit.”

Flowers are their forte and rare is the local fund-raiser or social event that doesn't incorporate some of the duo's floral designs. “Above all we love to fill homes with fresh-cut flowers and design over-the-top arrangements for dinner parties and special events,” said Schell, for whom flowers have been a lifelong passion. “I began working in Charoletts Flower Shop in Casper, Wyo., at age 13 and worked my way up through other flower shops from delivery to designer. The only major floral holiday I have missed was the year I traveled with 'Up with People' in 1979-80.”

Up until a few years ago when they began adding more furniture, the majority of the store's home decor sales were in accessories. Retail price points in the 6,000-sq.-ft. space range from $25 to $10,000. Candles, art glass vases and small, unexpected treasures add interest and work well as impulse buys.

Both Wyoming natives, the partners have spent the last 20 years in Colorado Springs, home also to about a half million people. They describe their average customer as female, age 35 to 65, up-and-coming professionals with discretionary income.

The work of more than 40 local and regional artists is represented in the gallery spaces, offering all original pieces in a variety of styles and media. Sometimes visitors will drop by just to peruse the newest additions. Schell also promotes the artists in an art and design column he pens for a local magazine.

As the economy continues to slow, Schell and Wragge are maintaining a positive attitude and promoting their business more than ever. “Trying to go into some new directions, we're spending more on advertising than we've ever spent,” Schell said. “I can't say it always comes back to you but a bad economy is not the time to cut back.”

The store's florals and gallery layout enable Schell and Wragge to rearrange and fluff more often, thus giving the appearance of an ever-changing inventory.

Visibility is also maintained through consistent advertising, most of it conceptualized and brought to life by Schell and his strong natural talent for creativity. He writes a monthly column on art and design topics for a local magazine, and has toyed with the idea of taking his ideas on the road in the form of store consultations. “I would love to take a mom-and-pop store with potential and go in and shop for them — help them become a greater force than they are.

Schell continued, “We're not ego guys. We are proud in that we do know what we do and at the level we do it, and so what keeps us different is the level of quality and sophistication that we have going in all departments of what we are.”

“There is not another business like ours in Colorado Springs,” Wragge added. “We're different and people know that. We even find that when we travel — we like to try to see other stores in our category and seldom do we see anything that compares.”