New Offerings Will Include Luxury Furnishings From Palecek
From left: Brad Engel, Melissa Simpson, Tiarra LaBranche, Colleen McClure, Brian Brown, Chandra Wright, Krista Wall and Mariya Yatsyk
CAMPBELL RIVER – Colleen McClure Designs is excited to announce that they have moved all their Design Services to one location to serve customers in 2023, and the growth of the business is what owner and founder Colleen McClure calls “job creation at its finest”.
Prior to starting the company in 1997, she was a professional career counsellor and life skills instructor, working for a federal contractor to help people find work. Born and raised in Campbell River, Colleen took job creation to another level with the opening of her blinds and window treatments boutique in Willow Point 7 years ago.
Colleen McClure, founder and owner of Colleen McClure Designs
With client interest for her interior design and renovation services, she originally offered these services out of the Willow Point location. But with increasing demand she opened the Design Center at 1401 Maple Street in early 2023 and will be consolidating her team of eight and all design services in a one stop shop for her clients.
“We try to find the right people, and in a smaller town in this industry, it is not the easiest to secure trained people,” Colleen notes. “However, we now have a full slate of staff in our Design Studio from office manager to site supervisor, residential and commercial designers, and project coordinators. At Willow Point we have a blind ambassador and installer, and a blind salesperson.”
The new Campbelltown location features custom blinds, window coverings, draperies, and custom bedding, including a full line of duvet fabrics. It also offers interior design services, build plans and renovations including project management services. Additionally, a new offering will be luxury coastal furnishings from Palecek that clients can see in person before buying.
“Business just keeps walking through my door, and I have a hard time saying no,” she says, explaining her reason for expansion. “I’ve always had the idea that everyone should have a designer, so my door is always revolving with projects: small renovations for kitchens and baths and it continues to get bigger and bigger, and I couldn’t do all of this on my own.
Office Manager Chandra Wright
“Where most businesses slowed, we got even busier through Covid, as we were considered an essential service, with our blinds and bathrooms. While people stayed at home, they wanted to beautify their places, so we went full steam ahead,” she says.
Office Manager Chandra Wright adds “There is such a diverse number of products and ser-vices that this company offers – everything from cosmetic up-dates to full on builds and extensive renovations, commercial design and staging services for property management clients.”
Colleen McClure Design is also known for its consultative approach with customers.
“At our preliminary meeting, which is complimentary here in our Design Studio, we find out what the job entails and determine the requirements moving forward.” Chandra states. “From there we go into more of a planning stage with in-home consultation, then the design finishes are chosen, and a presentation of what the project will look like in 2D and 3D renderings is created so the client can actually ‘walk through’ it to see it before it’s done, in 3D.”
Colleen says she’s been told the approachability of the staff has been very well received in the community.
“I’ve been told we make things really easy,” she says. “They like the fact that we actually listen to people and do what they want.”
Business Examiner Staff