Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Rees.
Lisa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Sometimes luxury can only be recognized when it’s experienced at close range! Since 1995, FRENCH STUDIO IMPORTS has continued the legacy of importing the finest brands in European personal care, home fragrance and decor brands to the North American market.
Our exclusive brand portfolio of luxury curated collections offers niche products inspired by European history and culture. We continue to grow our reputation as an American ambassador for European luxury and we exceed to provide our retailers with quality over quantity with personal service and sourcing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Importing from different countries is certainly challenging! There are many obstacles along the way. Since we partner with each brand we import there is a learning curve as well as sometimes a language barrier. Before we import any new brand to the United States, each brand/product goes through a testing stage by each French Studio Sales Manager. During this time, we provide detailed feedback report to our brand prospects regarding the products/brand. If we find that the brand could be a fit for French Studio and for our market, we continue the conversation with a business plan for developing the North American marketplace.
Bringing in the right brand for the US market can also be an obstacle. For instance, some brands are highly established in Europe but then we find out that they are not a right fit for the US customer. This may be due to price point, fragrance and or size of the product. In this aspect, importing can be a risk as you don’t always know how the market will react. While this is also a challenge, the reward is that we will import a brand that is unique and so special that the market loves!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about French Studio Imports – what should we know?
FRENCH STUDIO IMPORTS specialize in products that are created by highly skilled craftsmen with amazing levels of expertise. We import from master perfumers in many countries and all these brands/products have a story. A good example is the LALIQUE Voyage de Parfumeur range of scented candles from Paris. Drawing upon the swallow – a bird which was believed to traverse every corner of the world in search of paradise – LALIQUE’s products offer a balanced and beautifully free-spirited olfactory journey through perfumery’s most beautiful scents. With ingredients ranging from Balinese vetiver to Moroccan orange blossom.
Then there are CULTI perfumes from Milan, Italy. CULTI was the originator of the home diffuser! CULTI’s range of home fragrances offer excellent craftsmanship and the olfactory pleasures evoked by Mediterranean culture.
What sets us apart is not only our niche selection of imported brands but our personal service and wide-range of sourcing. Anyone needing European luxury can rely on it to be personal, discerning and attentive one-stop shop!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I owe credit to my In-House Sales Managers! Without my team we would not be able to conquer the entire US and Canada! By keeping our portfolio small and diversified, we only select brands into our brand portfolio that are approved by each sales manager. It is also of utmost importance that we believe in every brand’s story, mission as we can only sell a brand and that we each love and use!
Pricing:
- Inspirational Candles from Amsterdam: $28.00 retail
- Personal Care from Belgium: $10.00 to $42.00 retail
- Home Decor designed in Australia: $10.00 to $55.00 retail
- Luxury home fragrance, candles, diffusers from France and Italy: $42.00 to $325.00 retail
Contact Info:
- Address: 7301 Ridgeway Avenue
- Website: www.frenchstudioimports.com
- Phone: 3126421300
- Email: info@frenchstudioimports.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/french_studio_imports/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frenchstudioimports
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
