by Coty Dolores Miranda - Sept. 18, 2012 06:53 AM
Special for The Republic
When Rosanne and Rick Youngblood look at the past eight years operating their Ahwatukee retail, painting and remodeling businesses, they're thankful for not only surviving the economic downtown, but emerging from it successfully.
Their secret?
"Versatility," Rosanne Youngblood replied. "We found ways to expand in different areas. That's the whole concept of how we got through the crisis."
When Prickly Pair Home Décor opened in 2004 at 4025 E. Chandler Blvd. in the Safeway retail center -- now more apt to be called the Trader Joe's shopping center -- times were good. Homes were selling briskly, often above listing price. Cash drawers were ringing as residents were spending more freely.
It was good enough that seven years ago, the couple considered opening a second store. "But something in me said to hold off, and now I'm so glad I did," Rosanne said.
Instead, she and her husband established Youngblood Painting Designs, a move that was to presage the increased interest in home remodeling during the economic downturn.
Rick Youngblood, who headed a security team responsible for protecting former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, earned his Arizona contractor's license in 2009, allowing him to offer a full-service home-remodeling operation through Youngblood Remodel and Designs.
That expansion, combined with Rosanne's interior-decorating degree and years of experience working as a buyer of housewares and furniture for a 30-store chain in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, helped their family business survive.
The couple, married 24 years, have twin children, former Mountain Pointe High School students who went on to Arizona State University.
Prickly Pair Home Décor Store is a small boutique with a wide and artfully displayed assortment of home accessories, art, lamps, jewelry and hostess gifts. A more recent addition is clothing from UbU, a line for mature women.
Rosanne also consults on design services at her store reviewing drapery, upholstery fabrics and custom furniture when not out making interior-design house calls.
"No longer can a small-business owner be a one-subject store," she said. "You need to add variety and change to keep customers coming back."
Since opening day, she has trained her sales staff in customer service, including greeting customers when they walk in the door.
"The comments I've had back from my girls giving friendly greetings are, 'You all are so friendly, I feel so comfortable here.' When you feel comfortable, you trust. That's what I want my customers to feel. I want them to enjoy all those qualities of customer service that seem to be lost now."
Besides her store, Rosanne is a muralist and faux painter who will add minor touches of faux or glazing to remodels or painting jobs at no extra cost.
"We've been doing a lot of cabinet painting lately. Ahwatukee houses were built with the white-washed cabinets, which was very trendy at the time," she said. "It took me five years to find my cabinet painter, and now all those ugly white-washed cabinets are gone."
Celebrating the start of their ninth year this September gives Youngblood pause.
"It is so possible to make something of yourself in America," she said.
Information: 480-236-8831 or www.youngblooddesign.biz.
18 Sep, 2012
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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2012/09/18/20120918ahwatukee-family-business-versatility-helps-endure-recession.html
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