For 12 years, Bets Miller’s Nest Inspired Home store in Rye thrived as a leading home décor and furniture destination, but by 2022, her business partner was looking to retire. That’s where Miller’s longtime friend, Michelle Sriubas, entered the story as – coincidentally – she reached out to Miller to seek her help about opening a store of her own in South Carolina.
The two friends decided that two stores were better than one, and that’s how – with a store apiece, one in Rye, one in Bluffton, South Carolina – their new business, now known as Finch & Co.. was born.
“The idea from the start was that we would be equal partners but each lead a store in our own community. Despite the distance, it’s a real partnership,” Miller told Westfair’s Westchester Business Journal, in a recent interview, highlights of which follow:
Bets, Finch & CO. is both an interior design consultancy and a retail store. How does it work?
“Both stores are calling cards for our interior design studios and also serve as a local “D&D” (decoration and design) building for local designers unable to travel into New York City for samples and trade only products. We both believe strongly in the importance of local retail and have built our stores around the concept of immediate gratification. Buying online is fraught with challenges. What if the fabric is not the color pictured? Or the sofa is uncomfortable, or is the wrong scale for your space? We help clients avoid costly mistakes.”
How do you shop for your stores?
“We travel to both Highpoint Market (held each October in Highpoint, North Carolina), and Atlanta twice a year (for the Atlanta Design Festival) and work with our vendors to make sure we get the best product and accessories. We have decades-long relationships with key vendors and the majority of our furniture is made to order in the USA, so we’re getting great investment pieces for your family at the most competitive prices.”
What are your top-selling categories or lines and how do they contribute to your overall revenue?
“Furniture is our leading item, but gifts and decorative accessories run a close second. The stores both drive our interior design business – the leading driver of revenue for both locations – and advertise our services well. Unlike most designers, we can provide better discounts as we are stocking dealers for so many lines. And thanks to our staff of 11, we have the talent and bandwidth to take on smaller projects as well as full houses without a minimum fee.”
And how is charging for your interior design service structured?
“We charge hourly for our time but extend discounts to our clients based on what they purchase. We do complete room designs with CAD (computer-aided design) to scale and comprehensive design boards. It’s the most creative and challenging part of our business, but we love it.”
Doing business online – are you fully signed up?
“Online and social media are key drivers in small business today and something we’re learning more about every day. We’re learning to embrace it more and treat it like our third location.”
And any plans for future growth? More stores or new product lines, perhaps?
“We’re looking to build up our online presence first and also considering opening a third location someday, should we find a strong interior design partner to work with us. We are also working on more Finch & Co.-branded furniture and pillows to ensure we can provide our clients with special items they can’t find anywhere else.”
Lastly, have recent economic factors affected your business operations and pricing strategy?
“The tariffs have unfortunately hit our industry hard, and it’s not letting up. Pricing fluctuations are a daily issue, and we can’t pass the added fees on to our clients and remain competitive, so we have to be quick and fluid with orders and pricing. We’ve literally had freight lost at sea on the way and damage during their transport to our warehouses is a daily headache. But it’s not life or death; it’s furniture.”
